TROY, Ala. - For UL's football team, the hopes and dreams of winning an outright conference title - program's first in 38 years - disappeared with Saturday's 48-3 loss to Sun Belt foe Troy at Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium.

While the Trojans clinched at least a share of its third consecutive league championship, a small piece of optimism resonated for the Ragin' Cajuns (5-6 overall, 4-2 Sun Belt) in the cool air of rural Alabama.

UL, despite a three-game losing streak and numerous injuries, can still earn a piece of the conference crown by beating Middle Tennessee in its Dec. 3 regular season finale and a Troy loss on Dec. 6 to Arkansas State. The Cajuns and Trojans would be declared co-champions under that scenario, with Troy earning the league's automatic berth to the New Orleans Bowl.

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Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • November 24, 2008