RUSTON – The Louisiana Tech football will travel to Las Cruses, N.M., to take on New Mexico State for their second consecutive weekday game of the season. The Bulldogs come in with a 2-3 (1-1 CUSA) mark, while the Aggies carry a 1-5 (0-3 CUSA) record. The game will be nationally televised on ESPNU.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Date: Tuesday, Oct. 15
Time: 8 p.m. (CT)
Location: Las Cruses, N.M. (Aggie Memorial Stadium)
TV: ESPNU
Live Stats: LATechSports.com/Stats
Radio: LA Tech Sports Network | LA Tech Athletics App
SERIES HISTORY
Series: LA Tech leads 8-5
In Ruston: 5-1
In Las Cruses: 3-4
Neutral: 0-0
This will be the 14th all-time matchup between LA Tech and New Mexico State. The Bulldogs lead the series 8-5. This will be the second CUSA contest between the two after first meeting in CUSA play last season.
The Bulldogs and Aggies competed in the Western Athletic Conference for eight seasons from 2005-2012, with LA Tech winning seven of those matchups. The two teams first met in 1967 with NMSU earning a 48-7 victory. The Aggies returned the trip to Ruston in 1968, marking LA The's first victory over the Aggies.
LA Tech is 3-4 when playing in Las Cruses, while posting a 5-1 mark in Ruston.
ABOUT LA TECH
LA Tech moved to 2-3 (1-1 CUSA) after defeating MTSU 48-21 for their first CUSA win of the season. The Bulldog offense posted 500+ yards of total offense for the first time since Nov 13, 2021, after accumulating 551 yards against Middle Tennessee.
The balanced attack saw the Bulldogs pass for 329 yards, while adding another 222 on the ground. The Bulldogs' 48 points against MTSU marked the most in CUSA game since the 2019 season, while their 34 first half points were the most in half since 2022.
Redshirt freshman quarterback
Evan Bullock will make his third career start against the Aggies, just days after a career performance against Middle Tennessee. Bullock completed 18 of 25 passes for 290 yards and five touchdowns, while also adding a rushing score. His performance earned him Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Wide receiver True Edwards logged his second 100+ receiving yard game of the season after finishing with 127 yards and one score on six grabs against MTSU. Edwards recorded his second touchdown of 70+ yards after scoring from 75-yards out. He has had three receptions go for 40+ yards and leads the team with 23 receptions for 335 yards.
The Bulldog defense continues to play as advertised, ranking in the top 25 in total defense and rushing defense. LA Tech's 306.8 yards allowed ranks 23rd in the FBS, while the 93.0 rushing yards per game comes in at 14th in the FBS. The Bulldogs have allowed just 85 first downs through five games, ranking sixth in the nation for fewest first downs allowed.
BY THE NUMBERS
14 - The LA Tech defense is ranked 14th in the FBS in rushing yards allowed per game. The Bulldogs are allowing just 93.0 yards per game on the ground.
10 - Head coach
Sonny Cumbie earned his 10th career win after defeating MTSU last time out. The win marked his 8th victory at LA Tech and his 10th overall, after going 2-3 as the Interim head coach at Texas Tech in 2020.
6 - The Bulldog defense has allowed just 85 first downs this season, good for 6th in the FBS ranks.
2 - The Bulldogs have earned two Conference USA Player of the Week awards this season. Quarterback
Evan Bullock joined kicker
Buck Buchanan as the second Bulldog to earn a weekly award. Bullock was named the CUSA Offensive Player of the Week following his performance against MTSU.
ABOUT NEW MEXICO STATE
The Aggies, who were picked to finish tied for 5th in the CUSA Preseason Poll, have struggled to find their footing this season, posting a 1-5 record with no FBS wins. NMSU defeated FSC foe Southeast Missouri in the season opener and have since dropped five straight.
The Aggies have used two quarterbacks this season, with neither of them completing more than 50 percent of their passes. NMSU is averaging 278.2 yards per outing which ranks 128th in the FBS. The Aggies are posting just 185. Points per game, which ranks 121st in the nation. They have given up 30+ points in four of their five games.
