Monday Morning Hype: Louisiana Tech vs Sam Houston State
Louisiana Tech (4-3, 2-2) aims to snap a two-game losing streak when it hosts Sam Houston State (0-7, 0-4) at Joe Aillet Stadium Friday night.
Kickoff is slated for 7:00 PM, with fans able to catch all the action live on CBS Sports Network or listen in on the radio via KXKZ 107.5 FM.
Matchup at a Glance
The Bulldogs have dropped their last two contests — falling to Kennesaw State and Western Kentucky — to slip into a tie for sixth place in the conference standings at the midpoint of league play.
In their most recent outing, a 28–27 overtime loss to Western Kentucky last Tuesday, Tech rallied from a 20–7 halftime deficit but came up just short of securing the home victory.
Quarterback Blake Baker turned in a career performance, throwing for a personal-best 340 yards through the air. Marlion Jackson led the receiving corps with 103 yards, becoming Tech’s first wideout to surpass the 100-yard mark this season.
Meanwhile, Sam Houston State remains winless at 0–7 under first-year head coach Phil Longo, following a 35–17 loss to UTEP on October 15.
Despite the defeat, the Bearkats’ offense showed signs of life, posting a season-high 398 total yards, though they managed just 17 points on the scoreboard. Running backs Landan Brown and Alton McCaskill powered the attack, combining for 215 total yards on 32 touches, providing the spark for Sam Houston’s offensive effort.
Week Eight X-Factors: Two Questions that Matter
Can the Bulldogs capitalize on their red zone chances and finish drives with touchdowns?
The red zone has been a problem area for Louisiana Tech’s offense over the past three weeks. The Bulldogs have managed touchdowns on just 4 of their last 12 trips inside the 20, a concerning 33% conversion rate.
That kind of inefficiency isn’t a winning formula — and if not for the defense forcing five turnovers against UTEP, we might be talking about a three-game losing streak instead of just two.
Simply put, Tech has to be better in the red zone, and that improvement needs to start Friday night against a struggling Sam Houston State defense.
Can Louisiana Tech generate consistent pressure on Hunter Watson and force the Bearkats into costly mistakes Friday night?
It’s no secret that Louisiana Tech plays its best football when the defense is generating takeaways. Over the past two weeks, however, the Bulldogs have forced just two turnovers — and the result has been two straight losses.
The defensive struggles go deeper than that. Tech ranks 125th nationally in sack percentage and 129th in third-down conversions allowed over its last three games, numbers that highlight a pressing need for more disruption.
Now comes Sam Houston State, an offense converting only 21% of its third-down attempts and struggling to put points on the board all season.
If the Bulldogs are going to get back on track, forcing turnovers — and capitalizing on them — will be essential Friday night.
What’s Dropping This Week on BleedTechBlue (Week of Oct. 27)
Monday
- Monday Morning Hype – Kick off your week with energy!
Tuesday
- Stat Attack
- Press conference news & notes
- BTB Radio – Tune in for analysis, updates & special guests!
Wednesday
- Scout the Opposing Quarterback – Know the enemy.
- Score Predictions
- BC joins SportsTalk 97.7 FM for his weekly radio hit — catch him at 7:15 AM!
Thursday
- Statistical Comparison
- Depth Chart Look-In
- Thursday Final Word – Wrapping it all up before kickoff
Friday – Game Day!
- Three Keys to Victory
- GAME DAY CENTRAL
- Game Thread – Live updates & fan chatter.
- BleedTechBlue Postgame Call-in Show
Presented by Impact Healthcare Solutions on KXKZ 107.5 FM
Saturday
- Snap Count Totals
- Player Grades – How’d the Dawgs perform?
Sunday
- Who Impressed, Who Struggled?
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