Louisiana football releases 2023 football schedule. These are the biggest takeaways
Louisiana football has known its Sun Belt Conference cross-division opponents for a few weeks. Now, all 12 games for UL have dates and its 2023 football schedule is complete, the team announced Friday.
The Cajuns, who disappointingly finished Michael Desormeaux's first season as head coach with a 6-7 record, will kick off the season at Cajun Field against Northwestern State on Sept. 2. They'll wrap up their nonconference slate before the first month is through, featuring matchups at UAB on Sept. 16, against Buffalo at home Sept. 23 before closing out at Minnesota on Sept. 30.
Here are the biggest takeaways from Louisiana's 2023 football schedule:
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Only one midweek game for Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Ragin' Cajuns have been raging about it for some time, their team playing far too many midweek games for their liking. And it seems the Sun Belt listened, at least for the upcoming season.
UL will play one midweek game, Thursday, Nov. 9, at home against rival Southern Miss. The midweek slot seems to set up a potential nationally televised TV designation.
Last season's meeting in Hattiesburg was on a Thursday night that was carried on ESPN2.
Matchup with ULM football back to regular-season finale
It was likely a product of the Sun Belt having to quickly adjust to adding four new member schools and having just a few months to shuffle its football schedule around, but last season's annual meeting between the Cajuns and Louisiana-Monroe was oddly played in September.
The UL-ULM game is back to its final Saturday of the season date, with this season's game coming to Cajun Field on Nov. 25.
Louisiana football to start Sun Belt Conference play early
It won't take long before the games that help decide a conference championship run will start for Louisiana.
The Ragin' Cajuns will travel to Old Dominion in Week 2 (Sept. 9). UL has never played Old Dominion and the road trip this season will be not the first one of the season but to an unfamiliar setting.
Back in 2020, Louisiana opened conference play in Week 2, a trip to Georgia State, and it won that game, 34-31, in overtime.
Toughest stretch for Ragin' Cajuns
The hardest stretch of games for UL will come in during the make-or-break stretch of the season, and will feature three road games.
UL will travel to South Alabama Oct. 28, followed by road game Nov. 4 at Arkansas State, which many believe will be much improved after signing the Sun Belt's best recruiting class in 2023.
Southern Miss comes calling to Lafayette on a short week on Thursday, Nov. 9 and Louisiana closes the crucial four-game stretch with a road trip to the defending Sun Belt champion Troy on Nov. 18.
Louisiana football 2023 schedule
Sept. 2 vs. Northwestern State
Sept. 9 @ Old Dominion
Sept. 16 @ UAB
Sept. 23 vs. Buffalo
Sept. 30 @ Minnesota
Oct. 7 vs. Texas State
Oct. 14 OFF
Oct. 21 vs. Georgia State
Oct. 28 @ South Alabama
Nov. 4 @ Arkansas State
Nov. 9 vs. Southern Miss
Nov. 18 @ Troy
Nov. 25 vs. Louisiana-Monroe
*Bold indicates Sun Belt Conference game
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Louisiana football reveals 2023 football schedule. biggest takeaways
