
The 2026 college football season is officially underway, and on Thursday night, a massive upset took place.
Louisiana Christian, a private Baptist university located in Pineville, La, defeated Northwestern State (which plays in the FCS Division I), 42-37 at Turpin Stadium in Natchitoches, La.
In turn, Louisiana Christian made history by becoming just the second NAIA team to defeat a Division I school. The only other time this took place was when Sioux Falls defeated North Dakota in 2009.
Northwestern State jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first few minutes of the game, and they went into halftime with a 27-14 lead.
However, Louisiana Christian scored two touchdowns right after halftime to take a lead before Northwestern State took the lead back on a field goal.
Louisiana Christian then scored two touchdowns, including one on a 52-yard pass from Bryce Perkins, which gave them a 42-30 lead.
In the end, Northwestern State couldn't come back.
This is not a dream, Wildcats. This did happen.
— LCU Football (@LCU_ftball) August 28, 2026
It's in the record books for all eternity.#cLawsUp @Sooner_Athletic @NAIAFBALL @NAIAFootballVSN @NAIA #NAIAFB #SACFB pic.twitter.com/yIkb2LF1Hm
Louisiana Christian saw Perkins throw for 178 yards and two touchdowns, and running back Datlan Cunningham had 117 yards on 14 carries and two scores.
Louisiana Christian has an enrollment of just 1,062 students. Northwestern State, which plays in the Southland Conference, is now on the wrong side of college football history with one of the worst losses we have ever seen.
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