JOURNAL SPORTS
RUSTON — Louisiana Tech’s bid for bowl eligibility comes down to getting one win in its last two games, which will require the Bulldogs’ offense to operate with either a little-used quarterback or one who hasn’t seen college game action yet.
Tech returns to Origin Bank Field at Joe Aillet Stadium for its home finale Saturday afternoon as the Bulldogs (5-5, 3-3 Conference USA) host Liberty (4-6, 3-3 CUSA) on Senior Day.
The Bulldogs will honor 16 seniors prior to the game. Kickoff is 2 p.m. on ESPN+.
The Louisiana Tech Radio Network broadcast can be heard on 95.7 KLKL FM, with local residents Teddy Allen and Jerry Byrd providing commentary alongside play by play man Kyle Schassburger.
Having dropped four of their last five games, including the last two, the Bulldogs aim to reach six wins for the first time since 2019 while also shooting for their first five-win home season since 2019.
Trey Kukuk is expected to start at quarterback for Tech against Liberty, with true freshman Jackson Bradley serving as the backup as Blake Baker and Evan Bullock are out with injuries. Kukuk opened the season as the starter but Baker took over for the second game at LSU and Kukuk was relegated to a backup role.
Bullock, who ended last year as the starter, hadn’t played until last week, when he started and was hurt midway through the first half last Saturday night in a 28-3 loss at Washington State. The Bulldogs’ only points came on a 51-yard field goal on a Kukuk-led series as time expired in the first half.
Saturday will mark the second all-time meeting between the Bulldogs and Flames, and the first matchup between the two in Ruston. Liberty leads the series 1-0 after defeating Tech 56-30 in Lynchburg in 2023.
Tech finished with 167 total yards, including 60 through the air and 107 on the ground. Kukuk and Bullock combined to go 9 of 18 through the air for 60 yards with one interception.
Captain Shreve product and redshirt freshman punter John Hoyet Chance leads the nation with 25 punts of 50 yards or more. He is one of two FBS players with at least 20 punts of 50-plus yards.
Thanks primarily to a spate of injuries, the Bulldogs now have 19 first-time starters this season after tight end Brayden Bockler earned his first start against Washington State. Tech’s 19 first-time starters are the fifth most in the FBS.
Tech will visit Missouri State (7-3, 5-1 CUSA) next Saturday to wrap the regular-season slate.