NEW ORLEANS — After officially joining the Sun Belt on July 1, 2026, Louisiana Tech will commence its conference tenure on Saturday, Sept. 5, when it hosts in-state foe Northwestern State at 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN+. 
 
The Bulldogs have won 3-of-4 matchups since rejoining the FBS in 1989 and own a 55-20-5 edge in the all-time series.  
 
Louisiana Tech’s non-conference slate also features back-to-back trips to LSU (Sept. 12) and Baylor (Sept. 19), followed by a home date with Army (Oct. 3). Alongside annual meetings with their West Division rivals, the Bulldogs will host Old Dominion (Oct. 24) and visit Georgia Southern (Nov. 28) in cross-division clashes. 
 
In their first season in the conference, the Bulldogs were picked to finish fourth in the Sun Belt West Division in last month’s 2026 Sun Belt Conference Football Preseason Coaches Poll. 
 
Fifth-year head coach Sonny Cumbie will lead a roster that had two players named to the 2026 Preseason All-Sun Belt Teams. 
 
Louisiana Tech went 8-5 in 2025, closing the season on a three-game winning streak. The Bulldogs earned a 23-14 win over Coastal Carolina in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl, their first bowl championship since a string of six-straight under Skip Holtz from 2014-19. 
 
Since rejoining the FBS ranks in 1989, the Bulldogs are 222-218-4, including reaching a bowl game in nine of the past 12 seasons. 

To listen to head coach Sonny Cumbie, senior tight end Eli Finley and graduate student linebacker Kolbe Fields’ remarks from the 2026 Sun Belt Football Media Days, visit the Sun Belt Conference YouTube page. 



2026 SCHEDULE

9/5	Northwestern State
9/12	at LSU
9/19	at Baylor
10/3	Army
10/10	Louisiana*
10/17	at ULM*
10/24	Old Dominion*
10/31	at South Alabama*
11/7	at Troy*
11/14	Southern Miss*
11/21	Arkansas State*
11/28	at Georgia Southern*

 
* Sun Belt Conference Game 
 
2025 ALL-SUN BELT RETURNERS
N/A 

2026 PRESEASON ALL-SUN BELT SELECTIONS
First Team
LB – Kolbe Fields, Louisiana Tech (Gr., LB – New Orleans, La.) 
 
Second Team
TE – Eli Finley, Louisiana Tech (Sr., TE – Heath, Texas)