Cajun Nation is hurting right now. A frustrating loss to Rice, paired with the injury to quarterback Walker Howard, has plenty of fans ready to hit the panic button. But let’s take a step back before we declare the sky is falling.

First off, it’s Week 1. One game does not define a season, and one injury — no matter how gut-punching — does not erase the talent, depth, and culture this Louisiana program has built.

Yes, Walker Howard going down is tough. He was the hometown kid, the story everyone wanted to see play out. But football is never a one-man show. This roster still has playmakers across the board, from the backfield to the receiving corps to a defense that, despite the Rice game, is built to keep the Cajuns in striking distance against anyone in the Sun Belt.

I firmly believe that we have the best QB room in the Sun Belt. There’s not going to be a drop in talent with Daniel Beale getting the start. Both Beale and Lunch Winfield are extremely talented and while Beale will get the start, Lunch will still play in the game. It’s going to be Beale’s first collegiate start but he came from one of the best high school programs in the state of Louisiana. He threw for nearly 3,000 yards and 39 TDs his senior year of high school. He also has won 3 state championships. He has been put in some tough situations but he’ll have a week of practice with the first team under his belt. He’ll be prepared for the moment. He’s a winner.

Let’s also be real about Rice. They’re not the same pushover program people remember from a decade ago. They’ve invested in football, they’ve recruited well, and they’ve been a scrappy team on the rise. Losing to Rice isn’t a badge of shame — it’s a reminder that college football parity is real, and the Sun Belt isn’t the only league with teams capable of pulling off upsets.

Most importantly, the Cajuns have been here before. Injuries, setbacks, and early-season struggles aren’t new to this program. What’s new is the expectation of winning every single week, a credit to how far Louisiana football has come. A loss to Rice used to be shrugged off. Now it stings because this program expects championships. That’s growth, not regression.

The Cajuns still have everything to play for. The Sun Belt race hasn’t even begun, and this team has shown time and again that it knows how to respond when backs are against the wall. Fans have to hold onto that. Support the guys who are stepping up in Walker’s absence, keep Cajun Field loud, and remember that this season is far from lost.

So no, Cajun Nation, don’t smash that panic button. Injuries heal, young quarterbacks grow up fast, and early stumbles often pave the way for stronger finishes. If history tells us anything, it’s that Louisiana football doesn’t fold. They fight. And this team still has plenty of fight left.