RUSTON – Louisiana Tech looks for its first 2-0 start since 2020 and its first SEC win since 2011 on Saturday when the Bulldogs travel to Baton Rouge to face No. 3 LSU at 6:30 p.m. The Bulldogs are coming off a season-opening 24-0 shutout of Southeastern. The game will be streamed on SEC Network+.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, Sept. 6
Time: 6:30 p.m. CT
Location: Baton Rouge, La. (Tiger Stadium)
TV: ESPN+
Live Stats: LATechSports.com/Stats
Radio: LA Tech Sports Network | LA Tech Athletics App

SERIES HISTORY
Series: LSU, 19-1
In Ruston: 1-4
In Baton Rouge: 14-0
Neutral: 0-1

Saturday will mark the 21st all-time meeting between the Bulldogs and Tigers, a series that dates back to 1901. This weekend's game will be just the fifth meeting between the two schools this century and the first of the decade.
 
LSU holds a 19-1 advantage in the series, with Tech's lone victory coming in 1904, a 6-0 win in Ruston. LA Tech has faced LSU 14 times in Baton Rouge, dropping all 14 contests. The Bulldogs are 1-4 against the Tigers in Ruston. The two programs have also met once at a neutral site, with LSU taking that matchup in a 23-0 victory in Alexandria in 1909.
 
The last 10 meetings between Tech and LSU have taken place on the road in Baton Rouge. The Tigers have not traveled to Ruston since 1913.
 
The Tigers have ranked in the top 10 in each of the last four meetings against the Bulldogs. LSU, who enter this week at No. 3 in the nation, was ranked No. 6 in 2018, No. 9 in 2009, No. 2 in 2007 and No. 7 in 2003.
 
LA Tech has scored at least 10 points in each of its last four meetings with LSU, including a series-high 21 points in the 2018 matchup.

ABOUT LA TECH
 
The Bulldogs could not have asked for a better defensive performance in the season opener, pitching their second consecutive shutout at Origin Bank Field at Joe Aillet Stadium, dating back to last season's regular-season finale. Tech's defense lived up to its "take-it" mentality, forcing three turnovers and scoring one defensive touchdown.
 
After scoring just three points in the first half, the LA Tech offense found its rhythm with back-to-back touchdown drives to open the second half. The Bulldogs posted a balanced attack against Southeastern, finishing with 136 rushing yards and 126 passing yards. Junior college transfer Trey Kukuk made his first career start, completing 72.2 percent of his passes (13 of 18) for one touchdown with no turnovers. Running backs Omiri Wiggins and Clay Thevenin also scored, with Wiggins hauling in a 17-yard pass from Kukuk and Thevenin punching one in from 2-yards out. 
 
Tech's trio of starting linebackers of Mekhi Mason, Kolbe Fields, and Sifa Leota combined for 35 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, and four sacks against SLU. Mason was named the Conference USA player of the week after registering nine tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and a pass breakup. Fields and Leota both finished with 13 stops, while Leota added 3.5 TFLs and .5 sacks. Fields was credited with 1.5 TFLs and 1.5 sacks.
 
John Hoyet Chance was named the CUSA Special Teams Player of the Week after punting seven times for 336 yards, while landing three of his punts inside the 20-yard line, for an average of 48 yards per kick. Chance's longest punt of the night went for 59 yards, while he had three others also travel 50 or more yards. The second-year Bulldog was perfect on four kickoff attempts, recording a touchback each time.
 
BULLDOG DEBUT
 
LA Tech had 25 players make their Bulldog debuts in the win over Southeastern. Of those, four earned their first start — three on offense and one on defense. Quarterback Trey Kukuk, wide receiver Marques Singleton Jr. and offensive lineman Dane Benedix debuted as starters on offense, while defensive lineman Emmanuel Oguns made his debut and start on defense. All four are junior college transfers.
 
WENT AND TOOK IT
 
The LA Tech defense set the tone early against SLU as Jakari Foster intercepted a pass on the game's opening drive. The Bulldogs forced two more turnovers in the second half, with defensive lineman Zion Nason picking off a pass in the red zone and returning it 25 yards, followed by a forced fumble from Amari Butler that was scooped up and returned 80 yards for a touchdown by Oklahoma State transfer Kam Franklin.
 
HAVE A DAY BIRTHDAY BOY
 
Second-year Bulldog Mekhi Mason had a 21st birthday to remember against Southeastern, setting career highs in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks. The Syracuse transfer was named Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week after recording nine tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and one pass breakup. Mason's 4.5 tackles for loss are the most by any player in a game this season and the third most in a single game in program history.

SPREAD IT AROUND
 
Eight different players caught a pass in the opener against SLU. Tight end Eli Finley led the team with four grabs, followed by receiver Marques Singleton Jr., who snared three passes. Dedrick Latulas, Omiri Wiggins, Devin Gandy, Jacob Fields, Jalen Mickens and Dane Benedix all caught one pass each.
 
ABOUT LSU
 
LSU enters Saturday night's matchup as the No. 3 team in the country after defeating No. 4 Clemson 17-10 on the road to open the season. LSU held Clemson to just 261 total yards including 230 through the air and just 31 yards on the ground.
 
LSU ran 70 plays on offense and registered 356 yards. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was efficient through the air, completing 28-of-38 passes for 232 yards and one touchdown. LSU racked up 108 yards and one score in the ground game.
 
Caden Durham led LSU with 74 yards and one touchdown on 17 carries. Aaron Anderson led the Tigers with six grabs for 99 yards, followed by Ju'Juan Johnson who caught five passes for 31 yards.
 
The LSU defense registered four tackles for loss, two sacks and one interception in the 17-10 win. Harold Perkins Jr. led the Tigers with six stops, 1.5 TFLs and one sack. PJ Woodland tallied six tackles, one sack and one tackle for loss.

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