Last year, the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns non conference slate was one of the toughest in the nation.

2016 may be even tougher.

Coach Tony Robichaux released the 2016 schedule Tuesday and the Cajuns will have their hands full.  Louisiana will play Texas Tech, Rice and TCU in the Houston College Classic at Minute Maid Park next season on the second weekend (Feb. 26-28) after hosting former assistant Matt Deggs and Sam Houston State on opening weekend.  The Cajuns will also host Sacred Heart University before opening league play at Troy on the fourth weekend.

Once again, the Cajuns will have a bye week in league play and will play a split series with Southland Conference power Southeastern Louisiana, with the Friday game in Lafayette and the final two games in Hammond.

The league schedule gets tougher as well.  The Cajuns will host the three teams that failed to make the conference tournament last year (ULM, LIttle Rock, Appalachian State) and must travel to face the top two teams (South Alabama, Troy) and fourth place Georgia Southern.

For the second year in a row, the Cajuns will face LSU at the Wally Pontiff Classic in Metairie.  Louisiana will play weekday home and home series with perennial opponents McNeese State, Northwestern State and Nicholls State.  The Cajuns will also play two games against New Orleans and will play Louisiana Tech twice, the first time the teams have played since 2008.  In addition, the Cajuns will renew a rivalry with in-state opponent Tulane, and will travel to Southern Miss for a weeknight game.

Two of the home weekend series will be Thursday-Friday-Saturday affairs as the Cajuns will host Georgia State on Easter Weekend and face ULM at home on the final weekend of the season.

Louisiana has won 100 games in the past two seasons and advanced to the NCAA Super Regional both years.  They return their three weekend starters, their top relievers, and six players who garnered at least 100 at bats.  In addition, the Cajuns welcome a recruiting class that was ranked in the top 35 by Perfect Game USA.

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