# 2026 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team
The **2026 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team** represents [Louisiana Tech University](https://www.edgepedia.org/louisiana-tech-university) in Ruston, Louisiana, in the 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It is the program's first season in the [Sun Belt Conference](https://www.edgepedia.org/sun-belt-conference), where the Bulldogs compete in the West Division under fifth-year head coach Sonny Cumbie, after thirteen seasons in [Conference USA](https://www.edgepedia.org/conference-usa).[1](https://sunbeltsports.org/news/2026/8/19/sbc-football-365-preview-louisiana-tech.aspx) • [2](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/louisiana-tech/2026-schedule.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Conference | Sun Belt Conference, West Division; first season after joining July 1, 2026[1](https://sunbeltsports.org/news/2026/8/19/sbc-football-365-preview-louisiana-tech.aspx) • [2](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/louisiana-tech/2026-schedule.html) |
| Head coach | Sonny Cumbie, fifth season[1](https://sunbeltsports.org/news/2026/8/19/sbc-football-365-preview-louisiana-tech.aspx) |
| Record (through Oct. 10) | 3–2 overall, 1–0 in Sun Belt play[2](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/louisiana-tech/2026-schedule.html) |
| Preseason expectation | Picked fourth in the Sun Belt West Division in the 2026 Preseason Coaches Poll[1](https://sunbeltsports.org/news/2026/8/19/sbc-football-365-preview-louisiana-tech.aspx) |
| Home stadium | Origin Bank Field at Joe Aillet Stadium, Ruston, Louisiana; six home games[3](https://latechsports.com/news/2026/3/13/bulldogs-announce-2026-football-schedule-featuring-eight-sun-belt-games) |
| Notable result | 80–6 win over Northwestern State in the season opener, the program's Sun Belt tenure opener[2](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/louisiana-tech/2026-schedule.html) |
| System | Air Raid offense; 3–3-5 defense[4](https://www.ourlads.com/ncaa-football-depth-charts/depth-chart/louisiana-tech/90889) |
## Move to the Sun Belt
Louisiana Tech officially joined the Sun Belt Conference on July 1, 2026, ending a Conference USA membership that ran from 2013 through 2025.[1](https://sunbeltsports.org/news/2026/8/19/sbc-football-365-preview-louisiana-tech.aspx) • [5](https://ragincajuns.com/news/2026/10/8/2026-louisiana-football-preview-the-louisiana-tech-game) At one point the Bulldogs were scheduled for as many as 20 games spanning both conferences' slates plus nonconference games.[6](https://www.si.com/college/lsu/football/breaking-down-louisiana-tech-strengths-weaknesses-1-thing-that-could-upset-lsu)
Conference USA shrank from 12 teams to 10 as a result of Louisiana Tech's and UTEP's departures.[7](https://vsin.com/college-football/conference-usa-team-previews-and-predictions-for-the-2026-college-football-season/)
The move reunited the Bulldogs with in-state rivals Louisiana (UL-Lafayette) and Louisiana-Monroe (ULM), which they had not faced in football for 26 years before the October 17, 2026 meeting in Monroe.[8](https://www.on3.com/sites/bleed-tech-blue/news/2026-la-tech-football-preview-and-predictions/) • [3](https://latechsports.com/news/2026/3/13/bulldogs-announce-2026-football-schedule-featuring-eight-sun-belt-games)
## Schedule and results
Louisiana Tech released its full 12-game schedule on March 13, 2026, with eight [Sun Belt](https://www.edgepedia.org/sun-belt) games and six home dates at Origin Bank Field at Joe Aillet Stadium.[3](https://latechsports.com/news/2026/3/13/bulldogs-announce-2026-football-schedule-featuring-eight-sun-belt-games) The nonconference slate features Northwestern State, back-to-back road trips to LSU and Baylor, and a home game against Army, a rematch of the 2025 Independence Bowl.[3](https://latechsports.com/news/2026/3/13/bulldogs-announce-2026-football-schedule-featuring-eight-sun-belt-games) • [8](https://www.on3.com/sites/bleed-tech-blue/news/2026-la-tech-football-preview-and-predictions/)
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 5 | Northwestern State | W 80–6[2](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/louisiana-tech/2026-schedule.html) |
| Sept. 12 | at No. 8 LSU | L 14–45[2](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/louisiana-tech/2026-schedule.html) |
| Sept. 19 | at Baylor | L 19–36[2](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/louisiana-tech/2026-schedule.html) |
| Oct. 3 | Army | W 31–29[2](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/louisiana-tech/2026-schedule.html) |
| Oct. 10 | Louisiana | W 32–31[2](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/louisiana-tech/2026-schedule.html) |
| Oct. 17 | at Louisiana-Monroe | [3](https://latechsports.com/news/2026/3/13/bulldogs-announce-2026-football-schedule-featuring-eight-sun-belt-games) |
| Oct. 24 | Old Dominion | [3](https://latechsports.com/news/2026/3/13/bulldogs-announce-2026-football-schedule-featuring-eight-sun-belt-games) |
| Oct. 31 | at South Alabama | [3](https://latechsports.com/news/2026/3/13/bulldogs-announce-2026-football-schedule-featuring-eight-sun-belt-games) |
| Nov. 7 | at Troy | [3](https://latechsports.com/news/2026/3/13/bulldogs-announce-2026-football-schedule-featuring-eight-sun-belt-games) |
| Nov. 14 | Southern Miss | [3](https://latechsports.com/news/2026/3/13/bulldogs-announce-2026-football-schedule-featuring-eight-sun-belt-games) |
| Nov. 21 | Arkansas State | [3](https://latechsports.com/news/2026/3/13/bulldogs-announce-2026-football-schedule-featuring-eight-sun-belt-games) |
| Nov. 28 | at Georgia Southern | [3](https://latechsports.com/news/2026/3/13/bulldogs-announce-2026-football-schedule-featuring-eight-sun-belt-games) |
Through five games the Bulldogs averaged 36.0 points per game (34th of 138 FBS teams) while allowing 36.8 per game (129th), with a schedule strength ranked 44th of 138.[2](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/louisiana-tech/2026-schedule.html)
## Season so far
**Sun Belt opener.** The Bulldogs opened their conference tenure with the 80–6 demolition of Northwestern State on September 5, extending a series in which Louisiana Tech holds a 55–20–5 all-time edge and has won three of four meetings since rejoining the FBS in 1989.[1](https://sunbeltsports.org/news/2026/8/19/sbc-football-365-preview-louisiana-tech.aspx) • [2](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/louisiana-tech/2026-schedule.html) Road losses to LSU and Baylor followed before a 31–29 home win over Army on October 3.[2](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/louisiana-tech/2026-schedule.html)
On October 10, Louisiana Tech won its first Sun Belt game, edging Louisiana 32–31 after a fourth-quarter comeback.[2](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/louisiana-tech/2026-schedule.html) • [9](https://ragincajuns.com/game-center/15361) Quarterback Blake Baker earned three weekly accolades following a career performance in the game.[3](https://latechsports.com/news/2026/3/13/bulldogs-announce-2026-football-schedule-featuring-eight-sun-belt-games)
## Roster and coaching staff
Two players were named to the 2026 Preseason All-Sun Belt Teams.[1](https://sunbeltsports.org/news/2026/8/19/sbc-football-365-preview-louisiana-tech.aspx) The Ourlads depth chart lists Blake Baker as the starting quarterback behind an Air Raid offense, with a 3–3-5 defensive alignment anchored by linebackers Kolbe Fields and Zheric Hill.[4](https://www.ourlads.com/ncaa-football-depth-charts/depth-chart/louisiana-tech/90889)
## Context and background
The 2025 season set the stage for the conference change: the Bulldogs went 8–5, backed into the Independence Bowl after Marshall's roster departures, and beat Coastal Carolina for the program's first bowl appearance since 2020.[8](https://www.on3.com/sites/bleed-tech-blue/news/2026-la-tech-football-preview-and-predictions/) • [10](https://apnews.com/article/d11e34d60dd6a6305d0027f44a36698c) The program's all-time FBS-era record stands at 269–261–7 across 46 seasons tracked since 1975.[11](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/louisiana-tech/index.html)
## References
1. [SBC Football 365 Preview – Louisiana Tech, Sun Belt Conference (August 19, 2026)](https://sunbeltsports.org/news/2026/8/19/sbc-football-365-preview-louisiana-tech.aspx)
2. [2026 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Schedule and Results, Sports-Reference](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/louisiana-tech/2026-schedule.html)
3. [Bulldogs Announce 2026 Football Schedule Featuring Eight Sun Belt Games, LA Tech Athletics (March 13, 2026)](https://latechsports.com/news/2026/3/13/bulldogs-announce-2026-football-schedule-featuring-eight-sun-belt-games)
4. [Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Depth Chart, Ourlads](https://www.ourlads.com/ncaa-football-depth-charts/depth-chart/louisiana-tech/90889)
5. [2026 Louisiana Football Preview – The Louisiana Tech Game, Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns](https://ragincajuns.com/news/2026/10/8/2026-louisiana-football-preview-the-louisiana-tech-game)
6. [Breaking Down Louisiana Tech's Strengths, Weaknesses, Sports Illustrated](https://www.si.com/college/lsu/football/breaking-down-louisiana-tech-strengths-weaknesses-1-thing-that-could-upset-lsu)
7. [Conference USA Team Previews and Predictions for the 2026 Season, VSiN](https://vsin.com/college-football/conference-usa-team-previews-and-predictions-for-the-2026-college-football-season/)
8. [2026 LA Tech Football Preview and Predictions, On3](https://www.on3.com/sites/bleed-tech-blue/news/2026-la-tech-football-preview-and-predictions/)
9. [Game Center: Football at Louisiana Tech on 10/10/2026, Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns](https://ragincajuns.com/game-center/15361)
10. [Marshall withdraws from Independence Bowl matchup against Army, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/d11e34d60dd6a6305d0027f44a36698c)
11. [Louisiana Tech Bulldogs College Football History, Sports-Reference](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/louisiana-tech/index.html)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › College, minor, and international American football › College football programs › 2026 season articles › FBS team season articles › Group of Five conference teams*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license