Photo by: Josh McDaniel
11/12/2026 3:46:00 PM | Football
The Bulldogs return home to Joe Aillet Stadium for the 55th all-time meeting with the Golden Eagles.
RUSTON -- Louisiana Tech returns to Origin Bank Field at Joe Aillet Stadium on Saturday as the Bulldogs welcome longtime rival Southern Miss for a Sun Belt Conference showdown. The upcoming matchup will be the first time LA Tech and Southern Miss meet as conference opponents since the 2021 season.
The Bulldogs enter Saturday's matchup following a commanding 41-17 road victory over Troy, extending their winning streak to six games for the first time since 2019.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, Nov. 14
Time: 4 p.m. CT
Location: Ruston, La. (Origin Bank Field at Joe Aillet Stadium)
TV: ESPN+
Live Stats: LATechSports.com/Stats
Radio: Z107.5 | LA Tech Sports Network | LA Tech Athletics App
SERIES HISTORY
Series: Southern Miss leads 36-18
In Ruston: Southern Miss leads 17-10
Streak: W1
WHAT'S AT STAKE
BULLDOG STORYLINES
The Bulldog offense has been firing on all cylinders after opening SBC play with a perfect 5-0 start. Offensively, LA Tech is top 3 in SBC-only contests in passing effiency (1st - 174.39), completion percentage (1st - 76.87%), passing yards/attempt (1st - 8.56), offensive touchdowns (2nd - 20), passing touchdowns (3rd - 12) and scoring offense (3rd - 31.6). The Bulldogs are the only team in the Sun Belt with an overall completion percentage above 75%.
After their 41-17 win on the road at Troy, it marks the Bulldogs' largest win on the road against a conference opponent since a 31-3 win at UTSA on Oct. 13, 2018.
Marcus Calwise Jr. set new career highs in Saturday's victory at Troy with nine receptions for 137 yards while adding his third receiving score as a Bulldog. With his performance, he has multiple 100-yard games to give Louisiana Tech a Sun Belt-best three players with multiple 100-yard receiving games.
Among all FBS programs, the Bulldogs rank among the top 10 in fumble recoveries (9), completion percentage (71.3), interceptions (12), team TFLs (8.3/game), average turnover margin (+1.22/game) and turnovers forced (21). The Bulldogs are also one of 26 programs to have only thrown 3 or less interceptions.
The Bulldogs' 5-0 record in Sun Belt games is their best start to conference play since 2019, which is also the last time they held a six-game winning streak.
The Bulldog defense has more points scored (6) than they do points allowed (0) in their last four second halves played.
Alonzo Jackson is the only player at the FBS level with 15 tackles for a loss, 9 sacks and 3 fumble recoveries. He is the only player from a Group of 6 conference and one of five FBS players with 3 recoveries, one of five with 15+ TFLs and one of seven with 9+ sacks. His efforts in Week 10 earned him Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week.
The Bulldogs had five turnovers and a defensive touchdown in the same game since doing so at UTEP on Sept. 27, 2025. The four fumble recoveries at Troy marked the first time to do so since Sept. 22, 2012 at Illinois.
TECH #TAKERS / DEFENSE CONTINUES TO DOMINATE
The Bulldogs have 12 consecutive games forcing a turnover dating back to the 2025 season, with 19 interceptions and nine fumble recoveries in that span. LA Tech also has a turnover forced in 20 of their last 22 games since the start of last year. Among those contests, the Bulldogs have forced multiple turnovers in 12 of them. Since the start of 2025, the Bulldogs have picked off opponents on 34 separate occasions along with 11 fumble recoveries. Since the start of 2025, the Bulldogs have nine games with multiple interceptions--tied with Notre Dame for the most in the country over that span.
Louisiana Tech's defense entered Week 10 leading the Sun Belt with 10 interceptions, a conference-best 8.4 TFLs/game and 67 total team TFLs for the second-most. The Bulldogs also lead the Sun Belt in turnovers gained (16), and are top 3 in the conference in opposing 4th-down conversions (.333), passing defense (197.3), scoring defense (20.9), opposing passing efficiency (118.81), team sacks (2.75/game) and total defense (332.6). Alonzo Jackson Jr.'s two fumble recoveries are in a massive tie for the fourth-most in FBS and an eight-man tie for the most in the Sun Belt. Janard Lockhardt's 1.25 passes defended/game are tied for the fifth-most in the country and second-most in the SBC, and Jordan McRae's Bulldog-leading three picks are tied for the third-most in the SBC and top 20 in the country.
LET BLAKE BAKE
Quarterback Blake Baker is off to a strong start in conference play, with 1,144 passing yards on a completion rate of 76.5% and an efficiency rating of 174.31, 12 total touchdowns and no interceptions. He had a career day in the program's first-ever Sun Belt game with 319 passing yards on a career-best 76.2% completion rate (min. 25 attempts) along with 3 passing touchdowns and 1 rushing score. It was just the second time in his career with 300+ passing yards and the first time to do so along with multiple passing touchdowns. His three scores through the air tied his career high from the season-opening win over Northwestern State and his 54 rushing yards marked a season high for the Cypress, Texas native.
Baker continued to dominate through the air, posting his third game of the season (and his career) with 300+ passing yards and his third consecutive game with multiple touchdowns and no turnovers. His 82.4% completion rate was a new single-game career high for the Cypress, Texas native.
SUPPORT LA TECH ATHLETICS
Championships require championship resources. Fans can make a direct impact on the success of LA Tech Athletics through LTAC, Aillet Society, T-Club, and Young Alumni program as well as the CHAMP fund, a revenue-sharing initiative designed to directly support LA Tech Athletics through NIL and marketing opportunities for Bulldog and Lady Techster student-athletes. Visit BuildTheLegacy.com today.
BARK LOUDER
Our mission is to engage, develop, and advance the Louisiana Tech Athletics brand. You can do that by spending time consuming our content and by investing your talents. By barking louder with your time and talent, you can affect progress and brand advancement in a meaningful way. Visit LATechSports.com/BarkLouder today. You bark. We bark. Louder together.
SOCIAL MEDIA
For all the latest in Bulldog Football, follow us on X (@LATechFB), Instagram (@LATechFB), and Facebook (LATechFootball).
The Bulldogs enter Saturday's matchup following a commanding 41-17 road victory over Troy, extending their winning streak to six games for the first time since 2019.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, Nov. 14
Time: 4 p.m. CT
Location: Ruston, La. (Origin Bank Field at Joe Aillet Stadium)
TV: ESPN+
Live Stats: LATechSports.com/Stats
Radio: Z107.5 | LA Tech Sports Network | LA Tech Athletics App
SERIES HISTORY
Series: Southern Miss leads 36-18
In Ruston: Southern Miss leads 17-10
Streak: W1
WHAT'S AT STAKE
- Would be Sonny Cumbie's 27th coaching win at LA Tech and 29th win of his career
- Would give LA Tech it's first 6-0 start in conference play since 2014
- Would extend LA Tech's winning streak to seven games--the first such streak since 2019
- Would give LA Tech consecutive seasons with at least 8 wins for the first time since 2018-2019
- Would make LA Tech 11-2 in their last 13 games--the first time recording 11 wins in a 13-game span since 2019-2020
- Would make the Bulldogs the SBC West Division Champions, earning a trip to the SBC Championship Game on December 4
BULLDOG STORYLINES
The Bulldog offense has been firing on all cylinders after opening SBC play with a perfect 5-0 start. Offensively, LA Tech is top 3 in SBC-only contests in passing effiency (1st - 174.39), completion percentage (1st - 76.87%), passing yards/attempt (1st - 8.56), offensive touchdowns (2nd - 20), passing touchdowns (3rd - 12) and scoring offense (3rd - 31.6). The Bulldogs are the only team in the Sun Belt with an overall completion percentage above 75%.
After their 41-17 win on the road at Troy, it marks the Bulldogs' largest win on the road against a conference opponent since a 31-3 win at UTSA on Oct. 13, 2018.
Marcus Calwise Jr. set new career highs in Saturday's victory at Troy with nine receptions for 137 yards while adding his third receiving score as a Bulldog. With his performance, he has multiple 100-yard games to give Louisiana Tech a Sun Belt-best three players with multiple 100-yard receiving games.
Among all FBS programs, the Bulldogs rank among the top 10 in fumble recoveries (9), completion percentage (71.3), interceptions (12), team TFLs (8.3/game), average turnover margin (+1.22/game) and turnovers forced (21). The Bulldogs are also one of 26 programs to have only thrown 3 or less interceptions.
The Bulldogs' 5-0 record in Sun Belt games is their best start to conference play since 2019, which is also the last time they held a six-game winning streak.
The Bulldog defense has more points scored (6) than they do points allowed (0) in their last four second halves played.
Alonzo Jackson is the only player at the FBS level with 15 tackles for a loss, 9 sacks and 3 fumble recoveries. He is the only player from a Group of 6 conference and one of five FBS players with 3 recoveries, one of five with 15+ TFLs and one of seven with 9+ sacks. His efforts in Week 10 earned him Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week.
The Bulldogs had five turnovers and a defensive touchdown in the same game since doing so at UTEP on Sept. 27, 2025. The four fumble recoveries at Troy marked the first time to do so since Sept. 22, 2012 at Illinois.
TECH #TAKERS / DEFENSE CONTINUES TO DOMINATE
The Bulldogs have 12 consecutive games forcing a turnover dating back to the 2025 season, with 19 interceptions and nine fumble recoveries in that span. LA Tech also has a turnover forced in 20 of their last 22 games since the start of last year. Among those contests, the Bulldogs have forced multiple turnovers in 12 of them. Since the start of 2025, the Bulldogs have picked off opponents on 34 separate occasions along with 11 fumble recoveries. Since the start of 2025, the Bulldogs have nine games with multiple interceptions--tied with Notre Dame for the most in the country over that span.
Louisiana Tech's defense entered Week 10 leading the Sun Belt with 10 interceptions, a conference-best 8.4 TFLs/game and 67 total team TFLs for the second-most. The Bulldogs also lead the Sun Belt in turnovers gained (16), and are top 3 in the conference in opposing 4th-down conversions (.333), passing defense (197.3), scoring defense (20.9), opposing passing efficiency (118.81), team sacks (2.75/game) and total defense (332.6). Alonzo Jackson Jr.'s two fumble recoveries are in a massive tie for the fourth-most in FBS and an eight-man tie for the most in the Sun Belt. Janard Lockhardt's 1.25 passes defended/game are tied for the fifth-most in the country and second-most in the SBC, and Jordan McRae's Bulldog-leading three picks are tied for the third-most in the SBC and top 20 in the country.
LET BLAKE BAKE
Quarterback Blake Baker is off to a strong start in conference play, with 1,144 passing yards on a completion rate of 76.5% and an efficiency rating of 174.31, 12 total touchdowns and no interceptions. He had a career day in the program's first-ever Sun Belt game with 319 passing yards on a career-best 76.2% completion rate (min. 25 attempts) along with 3 passing touchdowns and 1 rushing score. It was just the second time in his career with 300+ passing yards and the first time to do so along with multiple passing touchdowns. His three scores through the air tied his career high from the season-opening win over Northwestern State and his 54 rushing yards marked a season high for the Cypress, Texas native.
Baker continued to dominate through the air, posting his third game of the season (and his career) with 300+ passing yards and his third consecutive game with multiple touchdowns and no turnovers. His 82.4% completion rate was a new single-game career high for the Cypress, Texas native.
SUPPORT LA TECH ATHLETICS
Championships require championship resources. Fans can make a direct impact on the success of LA Tech Athletics through LTAC, Aillet Society, T-Club, and Young Alumni program as well as the CHAMP fund, a revenue-sharing initiative designed to directly support LA Tech Athletics through NIL and marketing opportunities for Bulldog and Lady Techster student-athletes. Visit BuildTheLegacy.com today.
BARK LOUDER
Our mission is to engage, develop, and advance the Louisiana Tech Athletics brand. You can do that by spending time consuming our content and by investing your talents. By barking louder with your time and talent, you can affect progress and brand advancement in a meaningful way. Visit LATechSports.com/BarkLouder today. You bark. We bark. Louder together.
SOCIAL MEDIA
For all the latest in Bulldog Football, follow us on X (@LATechFB), Instagram (@LATechFB), and Facebook (LATechFootball).
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