RUSTON – Louisiana Tech returns to Origin Bank Field at Joe Aillet Stadium for the first of two consecutive home games as the Bulldogs open Conference USA play against New Mexico State on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Tech is looking for its third 2-0 start at home in the last four seasons and its fifth home-opening CUSA win. The matchup will serve as the conference opener for both teams and will air on ESPN+.
 
The Bulldogs enter Saturday's meeting with a 1-1 (0-0 CUSA) record after falling 23-7 to No. 3 LSU last Saturday. The Aggies enter 2-0, marking their first 2-0 start since 2014. NMSU defeated Tulsa 21-14 last week.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, Sept. 13
Time: 6:30 p.m. CT
Location: Ruston, La. (Origin Bank Field at Joe Aillet Stadium)
TV: ESPN+
Live Stats: LATechSports.com/Stats
Radio: LA Tech Sports Network | LA Tech Athletics App

SERIES HISTORY
Series: LA Tech, 8-6
In Ruston: 5-1
In Las Cruses: 3-5
Neutral: 0-0

This will be the 15^th all-time meeting between LA Tech and NMSU. The Bulldogs hold an 8-6 advantage despite dropping the 2023 and 2024 contests. Prior to the 2023 CUSA meeting, the Bulldogs and Aggies had not played each other since 2012.
 
The two schools met eight seasons in a row from 2005 to 2012, with LA Tech winning six straight from 2007 to 2012. The Aggies and the Bulldogs first met in 1967, with NMSU earning a 48-7 win in the inaugural meeting.
 
Head coach Sonny Cumbie will be in search of his first win against the Aggies after falling 27-24 in 2023 and 33-30 in double overtime last season.

ABOUT LA TECH
 
The Louisiana Tech defense turned in a masterful performance against No. 3 LSU, holding the Tigers to 128 rushing yards on 34 attempts. 91 of those yards came on two carries, while the Bulldogs limited LSU to 37 yards on the other 32 attempts. LA Tech allowed only two touchdowns in the loss, while recording three sacks, one interception, eight tackles for loss and one forced fumble.
 
Several Bulldogs recorded career firsts in the matchup against LSU. Devin Gandy made his first FBS start and scored his first touchdown, while Michael Richard recorded his first interception. Jojo Odom, Christian Davis, and Jadon Mayfield each registered their first career sack in the contest.
 
Redshirt sophomore Blake Baker saw his first action of the season at quarterback as he took all snaps in the fourth quarter. The Texas native led LA Tech on its lone scoring drive of the night as he found Devin Gandy wide open after a cornerback blitz, resulting in a 33-yard score. Baker finished the quarter 3-of-8 for 46 yards with the one score.
 
The Bulldogs are averaging 15.50 points per game through the first two contests, while allowing 11.50 defensively. Through two games, LA Tech posting 208.0 yards per contest, with 111.0 through the air and 97.0 on the ground.
 
Clay Thevenin leads the running backs with 13 carries for 83 yards and one touchdown. Quarterback Trey Kukuk has 21 rushing attempts for 64 yards. Tight end Eli Finley has a team-high eight receptions for 77 yards. Omiri Wiggins and Devin Gandy have each scored through the air, with Wiggins posting two catches for 18 yards and Gandy registering two receptions for 43 yards.
 
LIVING BEHIND THE LINE
 
The LA Tech defense raised its season total to 20 tackles for loss after recording eight against LSU. Nine players registered at least half a tackle for loss, while five finished with one or more. The Bulldogs have had 14 players record at least half a tackle for loss this season. Tech is tied for sixth nationally with 20 TFLs. Mekhi Mason leads both the team and the nation with six, followed by Sifa Leota with 3.5 and Kolbe Fields with 2.5.
 
CEDRIC SET FOR 50

Sixth-year senior cornerback Cedric Woods will play his 50th game as a Bulldog on Saturday against New Mexico State. The Monroe native joined the team in 2020 and is one of four current players remaining from the Skip Holtz era.
Woods has started 47 of his 49 career games, including 10 as a true freshman in 2020. He started all 12 games in 2021, appeared in three games with one start in 2022 due to injury, and returned to start 10 games in 2023 and 12 in 2024.

GANDY GETS HIS FIRST
 
It was a night of firsts for Sacramento State transfer wide receiver Devin Gandy, who made his first FBS start and caught his first FBS touchdown against No. 3 LSU in front of more than 100,000 fans Saturday night. Gandy hauled in a 33-yard reception from quarterback Blake Baker late in the fourth quarter to get the Bulldogs on the board. The sixth-year player has reeled in two passes for 43 yards and one touchdown through two games.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
 
101,667 – The announced attendance for the LSU game marked just the fourth time in program history that LA Tech has played in front 100,000+ fans. It was the Bulldogs' second time doing so at Tiger Stadium (102,321 in 2018).
 
400 – Tight end Eli Finley surpassed 400 career receiving yards after catching four passes for 17 yards against LSU. Finley's 401 career yards at the FBS level leads all LA Tech players.
 
50 – LA Tech linebackers Mekhi Mason, Kolbe Fields and Sifa Leota all rank among the nation's top 50 in tackles per game. Mason (18th, 10.0), Kolbe Fields (25th, 9.5) and Sifa Leota (42nd, 8.5).
 
20 – Linebacker Mekhi Mason became the first Bulldog to reach 20 tackles this season. His 20 stops through two games are the most by a Bulldog since Tyler Grubbs registered 28 tackles through the first two games of the 2020 season.
 
8 – For the second consecutive game, eight different Bulldogs hauled in at least one pass against LSU.
 
7 – Punter John Hoyet Chance leads the CUSA with seven punts inside the 20-yard line. He landed four inside the 20 against LSU and three versus SLU.
 
3 - The number of sacks that LA Tech registered against LSU. It is the most sacks given up by the Tigers since they allowed six to Florida on Nov. 16, 2024.  
 
1 – Defensive back Michael Richard recorded his first career interception on Tech's opening drive against LSU, as he reeled in a tipped pass after cornerback Cedric Woods deflected it.
 
ABOUT NEW MEXICO STATE
 
New Mexico State enters Saturday's matchup in search of its first 3-0 start in 26 years. The Aggies, who have opened the season 2-0, are averaging 20.0 points per game while allowing just 8.50 defensively. NMSU is producing 298.0 yards of total offense per game, with 239.5 coming through the air and 58.5 on the ground.

Montana transfer Logan Fife leads the Aggies at quarterback, completing 42 of 76 passes for 479 yards and three touchdowns. His top target has been Donovan Faupel, who has 13 receptions for 177 yards and one score. Gavin Harris and PJ Johnson III have six catches and one touchdown apiece. Kadarius Calloway leads the team in the ground game with 17 carries for 47 yards and one touchdown.
 
The NMSU defense is led by linebacker Tyler Martinez who leads the team with 17 stops. Jamall Thompson Jr., leads the group with 4.0 tackles for loss and two sacks, followed by Ezra Christensen who has 3.0 tackles for loss and two sacks.