The Sun Belt Conference announced on Monday that 13 Texas State and Louisiana players were disciplined after a mass brawl at Saturday’s game in Lafayette, Louisiana.
SBC authorities handed the harshest punishment to a Louisiana safety, who was caught on video swinging his helmet towards Texas State players. He was banned for the remainder of the season, including any potential bowl game.
A Texas State defensive end was given a two-game suspension, while 11 other players received a one-game ban following the incident.
Sun Belt Conference Bans Louisiana Safety for the Rest of the Season
The incident occurred at the end of the Texas State–Louisiana matchup, where the Ragin’ Cajuns narrowly defeated the Bobcats, 42-39. After the final whistle, head coaches GJ Kinne and Michael Desormeaux met at midfield to congratulate each other on a hard-fought game, which was immediately followed by a scuffle.
During the ensuing altercation near the Ragin’ Cajuns’ logo, players, coaches, and staffers jostled one another. As staff and players attempted to intervene to prevent further escalation, safety Tyree Skipper was caught on video swinging a helmet at Texas State players.
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The Sun Belt Conference investigated the footage and suspended Skipper, a redshirt senior from New Orleans, for the rest of the season, while Texas State defensive end Tymere Jackson was handed a two-game ban.
𝗦𝗨𝗡 𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗧 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧.
Sun Belt Conference issues suspensions for actions following Texas State at Louisiana football game. ☀️🏈
📰 » https://t.co/s449BeXv3x pic.twitter.com/1gJmOzBH1W
— Sun Belt (@SunBelt) November 10, 2025
Louisiana players Courtline Flowers, Kody Jackson, Kailep Edwards, Collin Jacob, Evan Stroman and De’Antonio Lesueur were given a one-game ban following the altercation. On the other side, Texas Tech’s Khamari Terrell, Justin DeLeon, Kyran Bourda, J.P. Deeter and Devarrick Woods were each handed one-game suspensions.
The punishment halts the safety’s excellent 2025 college football season for Louisiana. Skipper played in all 10 games, registering 52 tackles with one sack and one interception this season. He has eight interceptions and 15 total passes defended for his career.
According to Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Keith Gill, the incident overshadowed the competitive regional rivalry game on the field, and he emphasized there’s no place for this behavior in sports in general and college football in particular.
“While the spirit of competition is central to what we do in college athletics, postgame actions like these will not be tolerated in the Sun Belt Conference,” Gill said.
After the game, Desormeaux expressed disappointment over the incident and described the Texas State’s actions as “classless.”
“After the play when we’re trying to kneel the ball, it starts there, and then it continues all the way up the tunnel. So I think there’s no room for that in college football,” he said.
Louisiana Athletics released a statement after the suspensions were handed. The school understood the conference’s decision to hold everyone accountable for their actions.
The program will use the experience to ensure its actions are connected with the values of the conference and the university. The conference said the matter is considered close and will not issue any comment related to the incident.
The suspensions are expected to dampen Louisiana’s chances to be eligible for a bowl game. At 4-6, the Ragin’ Cajuns will meet Arkansas State on Nov. 20 and will host UL Monroe on Nov. 29.
On the other hand, Texas State (3-6, 0-5 in Sun Belt) is on a must-win situation following the loss. The Bobcats need to win all their games to be eligible for a bowl game. They are scheduled to face Southern Mississippi on Nov. 15, UL Monroe on Nov. 22, and South Alabama on Nov. 29.
