Preview: LA Tech At Baylor

RUSTON – The Bulldogs are prepped for a second-straight road test against a Power Four conference opponent, set to take on the Baylor Bears at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas on Saturday, September 19. Kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m. CT on ESPNU.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, Sept. 19
Time: 3:00 p.m. CT
Location: Waco, Texas (McLane Stadium)
TV: ESPNU
Live Stats: LATechSports.com/Stats
Radio: Z107.5 | LA Tech Sports Network | LA Tech Athletics App

SERIES HISTORY
Series: Baylor leads 5-1
In Waco: Baylor leads 3-1 (First meeting in McLane Stadium)

Saturday's matchup marks the first time LA Tech (1-1) and Baylor (1-1) take the field together since a neutral matchup in Shreveport in 1996, and the first time in Waco since 1994.

The Bears were victorious in both of those games following a narrow 10-9 win in Tech's favor in Waco on September 5, 1992. Bulldog kicker Chris Boniol nailed a 30-yard field goal as time expired at Floyd Casey Stadium.

This will be the first matchup against a Big 12 opponent for the Bulldogs since 2019, opening the season visiting No. 10 Texas before eventually falling to the Longhorns, 45-14. The program is seeking its first win over a Big 12 member since 2002—a narrow 39-36 win over Oklahoma State in Shreveport, and first win over a P4 program since shutting Miami out, 14-0, in the Independence Bowl in 2019.

MAGIC MICKENS

Jalen Mickens has surged as a top target through the first two games, posting a Sun Belt-leading 234 receiving yards and becoming the first Bulldog with back-to-back 100-yard receiving games since Tru Edwards achieved the feat in 2024 during his tenure in Ruston. The second-year receiver has nine catches to lead the Bulldogs and sit in the top 10 among Sun Belt wideouts and is one of six SBC players with multiple receiving touchdowns through two games.

ALONZO IN THE ZONE

Alonzo Jackson Jr. was a dominant force in Saturday's game visiting LSU in Tiger Stadium, posting a game-high 12 total tackles with 3 sacks and 3.5 tackles for a loss along with a pass breakup. Jackson Jr. is the first Bulldog with 3 sacks and at least 3 TFLs in the same game since Willie Baker recorded 5 TFLs and 4 sacks in the 2018 Hawai'i Bowl victory over Hawai'i (W, 34-14). The third year Bulldog leads all Sun Belt players with 5.0 TFLs and is tied for the most sacks at 3.0 thus far. His sack and TFL totals also rank among the top 5 in FBS.

MCRAE MAKING HISTORY

Defensive back Jordan McRae made program history against LSU on Saturday, returning a goal-line interception all the way back for a 100-yard pick six in Tiger Stadium. It is the longest interception or fumble return in program history, and McRae is the first player in 2026 with a 100-yard interception return after there were four recorded last year at the FBS level. The third year Bulldog posted a game-high 13 tackles which was also a new single-game career high, and his interception was the second pick six of his career--had an 83-yard interception return for a touchdown his freshman year at Georgia Military College.

DO-IT-ALL 'DOGS

LA Tech has consecutive games with two Bulldogs posting 100 all-purpose yards with Jalen Mickens (164 in Week 1, 101 in Week 2) doing so in each of Tech's first two games. Dedrick Latulas (107) was alongside Mickens in Week 1, while Jordan McRae (100) was the second Bulldog with triple-digit all-purpose yards in Week 2. It is the first time in the Sonny Cumbie era to start the season with multiple 100 all-purpose-yard players through the first two games of the season, and the first time it has happened since 2017--Teddy Veal (126), Boston Scott (110) and Jarred Craft (103) acheived the feat in Week 1 against Northwestern State, followed with Marcus Gaines (104) and Scott (104) in Week 2 against Mississippi State.

PICK SIX U

The Bulldog secondary has been on lockdown consistently over the past decade while also contributing to the scoring side for LA Tech. Since October 2017, the 'Dogs have returned 24 interceptions for touchdowns—leading the country at the Division I FBS level. Utah and Pitt are tied for the second-most in that span with 22, followed by Alabama (19) and Notre Dame (18).

LEXINGTON WITH THE BOOT

Punter Lexington Matthews had four of his six punts travel at least 50 yards in Saturday's game at LSU with a long of 58 yards. It was his first time as a Bulldog to eclipse the 50-yard punt mark, having previously recording 10 punts of 50+ yards in 2024 during his playing career at Savannah State.

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Schedule

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Players Mentioned

Alonzo Jackson Jr.

Dedrick Latulas

Lexington Matthews

Jordan McRae

Jalen Mickens

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Upcoming Events

Upcoming Event: Football at Baylor on Sep 19, 2026 at 3:00 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Football versus Army on Oct 3, 2026 at TBA

Upcoming Event: Football versus UL-Lafayette on Oct 10, 2026 at TBA

Upcoming Event: Football at ULM on Oct 17, 2026 at TBA

Upcoming Event: Football versus Old Dominion on Oct 24, 2026 at TBA

Results

Completed Event: Football at #8 LSU on September 12, 2026 , Loss , 14, to, 45

Completed Event: Football versus Northwestern State on September 5, 2026 , Win , 80, to, 6

Completed Event: Football versus Coastal Carolina on December 30, 2025 , Win , 23, to, 14

Completed Event: Football at Missouri State on November 29, 2025 , Win , 42, to, 30

Completed Event: Football versus Liberty on November 22, 2025 , Win , 34, to, 28 , (OT)