Louisiana Christian Makes History as 1st NAIA Team to Beat NCAA D-I Team, HC Talks Upset on Video
Bleacher Report • • sports
Key Points:
- Louisiana Christian made history in the 2026 college football season by becoming the first NAIA team to defeat a Division-I program, beating Northwestern State 42-37.
- Despite Northwestern State's larger enrollment and Southland Conference experience, Louisiana Christian executed a strong game plan and overcame a halftime deficit to secure the win.
- Key plays included Datlan Cunningham's 37-yard touchdown run, Ernest Mitchell's pick-six, and Bryce Perkins' 52-yard touchdown pass to Omarius Davis, which helped Louisiana Christian pull ahead in the second half.
- Northwestern State narrowed the gap late in the game but was unable to overcome Louisiana Christian's lead, with the Demons holding on in the final minutes.
- Wildcats head coach Ben McLaughlin praised his team's effort and resilience despite the loss.
