Preview: LA Tech vs. Northwestern State

Saturday, September 5

Ruston, La.

6:30 p.m.

Louisiana Tech University

Northwestern State

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Photo by: Josh McDaniel

Preview: LA Tech vs. Northwestern State

9/4/2026 5:50:00 PM | Football

LA Tech Game Notes NSU Game Notes

The Bulldogs open up their first season as members of the Sun Belt hosting the Demons at Origin Bank Field at Joe Aillet Stadium on Saturday night.

By: Drew Parsley

RUSTON – Louisiana Tech begins its 124th season of football on Saturday when it hosts Northwestern State, marking the fourth-straight home opener for the Bulldogs. It is the third-straight season to open up with an in-state Southland Conference opponent after hosting Southeastern Louisiana in the 2025 season opener.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, Sept. 5
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 leads 55-20-5
In Ruston: LA Tech leads 14-3-2

LA Tech looks to secure a win in their fourth-straight opener and 13th consecutive home opener. Kickoff at Origin Bank Field at Joe Aillet Stadium is set for 6:32 p.m. CT on ESPN+.

Louisiana Tech football team brings back a lot of experience from their successful 2025 season, which ended in a 2025 Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl win over Coastal Carolina with 60 returners, yet just 10 of them made at least 4 starts last year (7 on offense; 3 on defense).

Under first-year defensive coordinator Luke Olson, the Bulldog defense saw one of the best statistical seasons in the country last year. The country was led by LA Tech's 7 defensive touchdowns (5 INT returns, 2 fumble returns), and the second-most interceptions in FBS with 22 behind Southern Miss' 23 to lead the country.

The Bulldogs ranked first in Conference USA in red zone defense (71.8%), rushing defense (134.6 yards/game) and scoring defense (20.8 points/game), along with opposing quarterbacks having only completed just under 55% of their passes with an efficiency rating of 113.01.

Eli Finley led the Bulldogs with 38 receptions and 444 receiving yards despite not finding pay dirt for the entire season (has not scored since Nov. 23, 2024 at Arkansas). The Heath, Texas native needs 232 receiving yards to reach the 1,000-yard mark of his career, and is 35 catches shy of 100 career receptions.

Along with Finley, Tech's offense will feature some key returners in Blake Baker, Trey Kukuk, Jalen Mickens along with Hayden Christman and Ashanti Cole on the offensive line. Mickens saw a surge towards the end of the 2025 season, making 14 of his 20 catches on the season across the final six regular season games.

LA Tech's linebacker room features some high-level experience with the return of local talent in Jadon Mayfield and Zheric Hill, as well as Kolbe Fields, who is coming off a season-ending ACL injury from last year.

A Bulldog Win Would…

Would give the Bulldogs their 56th win all-time against Northwestern State and 14th when playing at home (4th at Joe Aillet Stadium)

Would give Sonny Cumbie his 20th win as LA Tech's head coach

Would mark the fourth-straight year to open the season with a win

Would give the Bulldogs a third-straight win when playing Northwestern State at home

With the departure of Clay Thevenin and Omiri Wiggins to the transfer portal following the 2025 season, LA Tech had some holes to fill. Along with having to replace the team's leading rusher, it was also vital for Sonny Cumbie to find a way to fill the hole of losing the team leader in rushing touchdowns in Andrew Burnette. In doing so, the Bulldogs brought in Jaden Miller, a stand-out running back who transferred in from Keiser.

During his time with the Seahawks, Miller was named First Team All-Sun Conference and is coming off a stellar season with 1,127 yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground, becoming the fourth player in Keiser program history to rush for 1,000 yards. He tied for the most rushing touchdowns in a single game with four, and his 24 career touchdowns on the ground at Keiser rank fourth all-time. Through the air, Miller caught 15 passes for 120 yards last year after averaging 20.5 YPC in 2024 with six receptions for 123 yards and two touchdowns.

After showcasing his dual-threat talents, head coach Sonny Cumbie and Nathan Young have a different gameplan in mind for quarterback Trey Kukuk in 2026. Kukuk was one of two LA Tech players to rush for 600 yards last year, finding the end zone five times and ending the year with three 100-yard rushing games in the last three games, including a career-high 172 rushing yards in a 42-30 win at Missouri State.

Former Louisiana Tech safety Jakari Foster joins the 2026 coaching staff after being named an AP First Team All-American and a Water Camp Second Team All-American, as well as Second Team All-CUSA honors. Foster's eight interceptions were tied for the second-most in a single season in program history and were the most by a Bulldog since 1995.

His eight picks also led the country, with one of them returned for a touchdown to contribute to the team's FBS-best seven defensive touchdowns in 2025.

Foster will assist first-year safeties coach Dexter McCoil Sr.

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