By Stephen Featherston, Louisiana Tech Director Strategic Communications; featured photo by Josh McDaniel
RUSTON – After earning their sixth win last week, Louisiana Tech will look to secure its first winning season since 2019 with a road matchup win Saturday at Missouri State in Springfield, Mo. The Bulldogs (6-5, 4-3 Conference USA) will look to spoil the Bears’ (7-5, 5-2 CUSA) senior day, who’s season ends today due to their FBS transition. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, Nov. 29
Time: 1:00 p.m. CT
Location: Springfield, Mo. (Robert W. Plaster Stadium)
TV: ESPN+
Live Stats: LATechSports.com/Stats
Radio: LA Tech Sports Network | LA Tech Athletics App
SERIES HISTORY
Series: Missouri State Leads, 1-0
In Ruston: 0-1
In Springfield: 0-0
Neutral: 0-0
Louisiana Tech and Missouri State will meet for the second time in program history Saturday in Springfield. The Bears lead the series 1-0 after defeating the Bulldogs 13-10 in 1987 in Ruston. This weekend marks the first meeting between the programs in 38 years and their first as FBS foes. Missouri State is in its first season as an FBS member.
ABOUT LA TECH
LA Tech improved to 6-5 last Saturday after defeating Liberty 34-28 in overtime, while finishing 5-1 at Joe Aillet Stadium. The OT win marked the first for Cumbie at LA Tech, and the first time the Bulldogs have been bowl eligible under the fourth-year head coach.
The Bulldogs’ offense tallied 437 total yards with 319 coming on the ground, marking the third time this season the Bulldogs have eclipsed 300+ on the ground. Trey Kukuk ran for 143 yards, the most by a LA Tech quarterback in a single game in program history. Andrew Burnett set season highs in rushing attempts (17), rushing yards (93), and rushing touchdowns (three). The five rushing touchdowns were the second most in a single game this season.
Kukuk passed for 118 yards in the win, becoming just the seventh quarterback in the country this season to have at least 140 rushing yards, at least 100 passing yards, and two rushing touchdowns in a single game.
Tight end Eli Finley led the team with five grabs for 58 yards, marking the third time he has recorded 50 or more receiving yards and his third game with five or more receptions. The junior from Texas leads the team in receptions (36) and receiving yards (423).
Eli Finley led the team with three receptions and surpassed the 30-catch mark this season for the first time in his career. The junior tight end has hauled in 31 passes for 365 yards, both of which lead the team. Devin Gandyranks second with 21 grabs for 356 yards along with a team leading two touchdowns.
The Bulldog defense intercepted four passes in the second half, all by Tech safeties Jakari Foster (two), Jacob Fields (one) and Michael Richard (one). Tech’s 19 interceptions this season are its most since 2017.
Foster now has six on the year, tied for the fourth most in a single season in program history. He became the first Bulldog this season with multiple interceptions in a game and the first to do so since 2022.
Fields and Richard have each recorded three interceptions this season. Fields posted a career-high 14 tackles in the win and leads the team with 86 stops. Foster, Mekhi Mason and Jadon Mayfield added eight tackles each, while Mayfield is now tied for the team lead in sacks with 3.5 after recording one against the Flames.
BY THE NUMBERS
19 – The LA Tech defense has recorded 19 interceptions this season after picking off four passes against Liberty. It marked the fourth game in which Tech has recorded multiple interceptions and the second game with four or more.
11 – It has been 11 years since a defensive back led the team in total tackles. Safety Jacob Fields currently leads the team with 86 stops. Kentrell Brice led the Bulldogs with 80 tackles in 2014.
6 – Tech secured its first six-win season since 2019, marking the program’s first time reaching six wins in six years.
2- The Bulldogs have now had two different quarterbacks rush for 100 yards or more in a game this season after Trey Kuku’s 143-yard performance. Before 2025, Tech had only one quarterback ever rush for more than 100 yards in a single game.
SECOND HALF SURGE
Tech’s 21-point comeback against Liberty last Saturday was the Bulldogs’ largest comeback in 37 years, dating to Oct. 1, 1988, when they rallied from a 21-point deficit to beat Kansas State. Like Saturday’s win over Liberty, Tech trailed 28-7 against Kansas State before coming back to win 31-28.