The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Battle on the Bayou

UL Monroe16-25Louisiana
Regional Program VI#137 of 138–Regional Program I#69 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
Next meeting: Thu Nov 12 · 9 pm ET, 8 days away.

1 player crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

Louisiana leads the all-time series 25-16. They've met 41 times since 1976. Louisiana has won the last 3.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

UL Monroe
Win total
4.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
+10
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: +15
Louisiana
Transfer portal
-17
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -12

Stature & the series, 1976–2025

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeUL MonroeLouisianaevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: UL Monroe won, gray: Louisiana won)198020002020

The identity war

UL Monroe has been the more pass-heavy program more often than not.

Across 23 seasons of real play-level data (2004–2026), UL Monroe led 17 and Louisiana led 6.

more passmore runUL MonroeLouisiana2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262005UL Monroe 19.3 ptsLouisiana won 54-212014UL Monroe 19.0 ptsLouisiana won 34-272020UL Monroe 18.8 ptsLouisiana won 70-20
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

Louisiana once won 5 in a row. The biggest win was Louisiana by 50 in 2020. The biggest crowd, 25,309, was in 2013.

The coaching duels

Charlie Weatherbie vs Rickey Bustle4-3
Todd Berry vs Mark Hudspeth1-4
Bobby Keasler vs Jerry Baldwin1-2
Matt Viator vs Billy Napier0-3
John David Crow vs Augie Tammariello0-2
Ed Zaunbrecher vs Nelson Stokley2-0

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
21-28
Louisiana leads
1st-rounders
1-0
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
UL MonroeLouisiana
1970s4-0
1980s3-3
1990s9-5
2000s3-4
2010s2-7
2020s0-9

Best picks, either side

1971Joe Profit Running Back · Atlanta FalconsRd 1, pick 7#7 overall
2003Charles Tillman Defensive Back · Chicago BearsRd 2, pick 3#35 overall
1995Shawn King Defensive End · Carolina PanthersRd 2, pick 4#36 overall
1998Anthony Clement Offensive Tackle · Arizona CardinalsRd 2, pick 6#36 overall
2020Robert Hunt Offensive Guard · Miami DolphinsRd 2, pick 7#39 overall
1995Orlando Thomas Defensive Back · Minnesota VikingsRd 2, pick 10#42 overall
1993Roosevelt Potts Running Back · Indianapolis ColtsRd 2, pick 20#49 overall
1994James Folston Linebacker · Los Angeles RaidersRd 2, pick 23#52 overall

Recent meetings

Gate premium

UL Monroe1.07×its own average home crowd

A modest gap over a small sample of games — real, but not a dramatic swing.

2025Louisiana30-27
2024Louisiana37-23
2023Louisiana52-21
2022UL Monroe21-17
2021Louisiana21-16
2020Louisiana70-20
2019Louisiana31-30UL Monroe — decided by 1
2018Louisiana31-28UL Monroe — decided by 3
2017UL Monroe56-50
2016Louisiana30-3
2015Louisiana30-24
2014Louisiana34-27
2013UL Monroe31-28Louisiana — Louisiana favored by 17.5
2012Louisiana40-24

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is UL Monroe’s chance to win through that meeting. UL Monroe is 1-3 in the meetings since 2018 that were still close in the fourth quarter.

2025Louisiana 30-27UL Monroe lost 27-30 at Louisiana. Chance to win started at 8%, low under 1%, high 73%.
2024Louisiana 37-23UL Monroe lost 23-37 vs Louisiana. Chance to win started at 27%, low under 1%, high 45%.
2023Louisiana 52-21UL Monroe lost 21-52 at Louisiana. Chance to win started at 19%, low under 1%, high 23%.
2022UL Monroe 21-17UL Monroe won 21-17 vs Louisiana. Chance to win started at 29%, low 3%, high better than 99%.
2021Louisiana 21-16UL Monroe lost 16-21 at Louisiana. Chance to win started at 7%, low 2%, high 18%.
2020Louisiana 70-20UL Monroe lost 20-70 vs Louisiana. Chance to win started at 5%, low under 1%, high 7%.
2019Louisiana 31-30UL Monroe lost 30-31 at Louisiana. Chance to win started at 14%, low 2%, high 67%.
2018Louisiana 31-28UL Monroe lost 28-31 vs Louisiana. Chance to win started at 51%, low under 1%, high 51%.

Meetings with their own story page

2 meetings in our archive, 2017 to 2025.