By Malcolm Butler
Louisiana Tech (7-2, 5-0 Sun Belt) can clinch the Sun Belt Conference West Division title and secure a spot in the Dec. 4 conference championship game with a victory over longtime rival Southern Miss (3-6, 2-3) today at Joe Aillet Stadium.
Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. and the game can be seen on ESPN+ with Malcolm Butler (PxP), Luke McCown (Analyst), and Katy McCown (Sideline) providing a call of the action.
Riding a six-game winning streak, their longest since 2019, the Bulldogs return home following impressive road victories over South Alabama and Troy, including last Saturday’s 41-17 dismantling of the Trojans.
Tech head coach Sonny Cumbie said the opportunity to play for a championship is something he wants his players to embrace.
“One of the things that we wanted to accomplish this year was to host the Sun Belt Championship Game and certainly win the West,” Cumbie said. “And now those things are like the light at the end of the tunnel. Those things are there. They are tangible. They’re talked about. They’re seen.”
Tech can take care of the first of those goals Saturday, while a victory would keep the Bulldogs in contention to host the league championship game. Cumbie credits the maturity of his team and its leadership for maintaining its focus throughout the winning streak.
“I think it speaks to the confidence of the group building,” Cumbie said. “I think the team is understanding that each week is a new week and their preparation of being able to truly win one game a week. I think they’ve really started to see the fruits of that labor. They’re a mature group.”
The Bulldogs have been dominant defensively, particularly after halftime. Tech has not surrendered a second-half point in its last four games, a stretch of 131 minutes dating back to the Oct. 10 win over Louisiana. In fact, the Bulldogs defense has outscored opposing offenses 6-0 during the second halves of those four victories.
Linebacker Alonzo Jackson Jr., the reigning Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week, has recorded 15.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks and three fumble recoveries this season. The Bulldogs forced five turnovers at Troy, including four fumble recoveries, and have recorded at least one takeaway in 12 consecutive games dating back to last season.
Offensively, quarterback Blake Baker has thrown for 1,144 yards while completing 76.5% of his passes with 12 total touchdowns and no interceptions in conference play.
Wide receiver Marcus Calwise Jr. is coming off a career-best performance with nine receptions for 137 yards and a touchdown against the Trojans.
Southern Miss, under first-year head coach Blake Anderson, enters Saturday’s contest following a 54-23 loss at James Madison. The Golden Eagles must win their final three games to become bowl eligible.
Running back Steven Robinson leads a talented Southern Miss backfield with 782 yards and 10 touchdowns, while receiver Mario Sanders has caught 50 passes for 698 yards and six scores. Quarterback John White will make his second career start after throwing for 266 yards against James Madison last week.
Southern Miss leads the all-time series 36-18, although Tech won last year’s meeting 30-20 in Ruston. Saturday marks the first meeting between the programs as conference opponents since 2021.
“I want our players to embrace the opportunity,” Cumbie said. “You guys have done put yourself in this position. It’s on the backs of your efforts. The things that you guys have done, it’s very, very difficult and challenging and hard to get here.”
