Nov. 20, 2015 RUSTON, La. - Louisiana Tech plays out in the West Texas town of El Paso Saturday as the Bulldogs look to continue their drive to the Conference USA Championship with a game at UTEP.
Saturday's C-USA tilt is scheduled to kickoff at 2:30 p.m. CT/1:30 p.m. MT and will be televised on FSN with Brendan Burke (play-by-play), Ben Leber (analyst) and Christian Steckel (sidelines) calling the action.
For UTEP (4-6, 2-4), the game marks the Miners' last chance at bowl eligibility for the season. A loss would end UTEP's chances of going to back-to-back bowl games.
But for Louisiana Tech (7-3, 5-1) the team's goal of back-to-back bowl games and a conference championship are very much alive.
Technically Saturday's game won't have an impact on the league's West Division champion but it could play a factor in who hosts the C-USA Championship Game based on who wins the East Division.
However, the team's focus has to be winning in El Paso before it can look to winning the division. In a similar situation last year -- also coming off its bye week -- Louisiana Tech was upended in overtime at Old Dominion, 30-27.
Winning games at the Sun Bowl is no easy task, either. The Miners are 8-2 over the last two seasons at home with one of those being a four-point loss to Texas Tech.
"I think UTEP is a very dangerous opponent," Louisiana Tech head coach Skip Holtz said Monday of the Bulldogs' upcoming opponent. "I say that because they need this game for bowl eligibility. With two games remaining, they are in a win or else situation. Not only do they play hard every game, but we are going to get everything we can get. They will throw the sink at us. They are in a one game season. It is a very dangerous game. The most important thing is that we understand what we are walking into. They are 8-2 at home over the past two years. They are very difficult to beat at home. This is going to be a heck of a challenge for us going on the road. I think Sean Kugler does a heck of a job. They are hard-nosed, physical and tough. They control the line of scrimmage."
While Kenneth Dixon has a chance at the NCAA career records for touchdowns and points scored, UTEP is not ignoring the potent passing game Louisiana Tech brings to El Paso as the Miners head coach pointed out at his weekly press conference.
"I feel that they have the most explosive group of receivers we'll face all year," UTEP head coach Sean Kugler said Monday. "It starts with Trent Taylor, who's over 1,000 yards with 75 receptions and seven touchdowns -- averages 100 yards per game. Paul Turner has 31 receptions, 13.2 per catch and three touchdowns. Carlos Henderson, who I feel has some big-play ability, has 27 receptions, 21.6 per catch and three touchdowns. This guy is an explosive player."
Kugler continued to heap high praise on the Bulldogs.
"I really feel this is the most complete team in Conference USA," said Kugler. "It's very experienced. They have 13 senior starters and in first place in Conference USA West."
KXKZ 107.5 FM will serve as the flagship station for the LA Tech Sports Network for the 17th straight year as the 100,000-watt station will carry all of the Bulldog football games in 2015. Additional affiliates carrying Bulldog Football games this fall on the LA Tech Sports Network include WUBR-AM 910 (Baton Rouge/Zachary), KJVC-FM 92.7 (Shreveport/Mansfield), KTKC-FM 92.9 (Shreveport/Spring Hill), KRMD-AM 1340 and KRMD-FM 100.7 (Shreveport), KVCL-FM 92.1 (Winnfield) and KDBS-AM ESPN Radio 1410 (Alexandria/Pineville).
All Bulldog football games can also be accessed online (audio for all games) by purchasing a subscription to LA Tech All-Access on LATechSports.com. Cost of a subscription to LA Tech All-Access is only $9.95 per month or $79.95 for the entire year (which includes all live broadcasts for all of Tech's athletic teams).
Fans can also choose to purchase the C-USA Digital Network subscription for $14.95 per month or $119.95 per year, which includes all of the above content as well as audio and video for all road C-USA games along with additional video content throughout the year.
This fall, all of the Tech football broadcasts can be heard on the LA Tech Sports Network as Dave Nitz, Teddy Allen, Thomas Graham, Malcolm Butler and Bennie Thornell comprise the broadcast team. Nitz -- one of the longest-tenured broadcasters in college football -- is entering his 41st year of broadcasting Bulldog Football games.
For complete coverage of Bulldog Football, please follow Louisiana Tech on social media at @LATechFB (Twitter), /LATechFootball (Facebook) and @LATechFB (Instagram) or visit the official home of Louisiana Tech Athletics at LATechSports.com.
