Utah State is 5-4 heading into its game against the 4-5 Privateers, a member of the Southland Conference.
These schools aren't exactly arch-rivals. They have played twice, the last time in 1976.
According to Duryea, getting New Orleans on the schedule came down to need, as well as his friendship with Privateer head coach Mark Slessinger and assistant Jody Bailey.
"A lot of it is connections and, sometimes, two desperate teams coming together because nobody else will play them," Duryea said. "… They needed a game just before Christmas, we needed another home game and the date worked.