Top 25 dreams: Where UL football sits at Week 12 plus bowl projections
Louisiana football can practically smell a Top 25-ranking after beating Arkansas State 55-19 in Week 11 to push its overall record to 8-1.
With that victory, the Ragin’ Cajuns have notched their sixth win in a row and fifth in Sun Belt Conference play, remaining as the only undefeated team in conference play. That success has created a buzz for the Cajuns who received 42 votes in the coaches poll and 14 votes in the AP Top 25 poll.
This marks the second week in a row that the Cajuns are receiving votes for the Top 25 as their stock continues to rise on a national level. As the stock rises so do UL’s slim chances of sneaking its way to the 2025 College Football Playoff 12-team bracket. On3’s Andy Staples has the Cajuns listed as a Group of 5 contenders alongside Army, UNLV, and Tulane.
While the College Football Playoffs remains a longshot for UL, a bowl game is a sure thing. Here's a look at where major media outlets have UL bowling at Week 12 of the 2024 college football season.
Louisiana Ragin’ Cajun football bowl projections: Week 12
Action Network’s Brett McMurphy has picked UL to compete in the Gasparilla Bowl taking on Boston College in his most recent bowl game projections. That matchup is set for Dec. 20 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
ESPN’s Mark Schlabach has the Cajuns a little closer to home, playing against Cincinnati in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl on Dec. 27 at Independence Stadium in Shreveport.
His colleague Kyle Bonagura picked the Cajuns for the Birmingham Bowl, facing Michigan State also on Dec. 27 at the Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama. On3’s Nick Kosko also has the Cajuns taking on the Spartans in the Birmingham Bowl in his most recent bowl game projections.
In CBS’s most recent bowl game projections, Jerry Palm still has UL facing Western Kentucky in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl on Dec. 19. This remains the same from Week 11’s projections.
Similar to McMurphy 247Sport’s Brad Crawford has the Cajuns bowling in Florida but in a different bowl game. He has them taking on Toledo in the Boca Raton Bowl which is set for Dec. 18 at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton.
REQUIRED READING: 'A championship game for us': UL football host South Alabama for Week 12
Shannon Belt covers high school sports and the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow her high school and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ShannonBelt3. Got questions regarding HS/UL athletics? Send them to Shannon Belt at sbelt@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Here's where experts have UL football bowling at Week 12
