Tech faces biggest test yet at Arkansas

Louisiana Tech’s desire to be “uncommon” allowed the Bulldogs to pull off a 12-7 upset win over Western Kentucky last week. Few saw that coming, considering Tech came in with one road win in Sonny Cumbie’s three years as head coach. But the Bulldogs said they always knew they could do it due to their uncommon belief.

Now, the Bulldogs will need an uncommon outcome to keep their bowl game hopes alive as Tech (4-6, 3-4 CUSA) takes on Arkansas (5-5, 3-4 SEC) on Saturday in another must-win for Cumbie’s Bulldogs.

Win, and Tech sets up a high-stakes home game with Kennesaw State in two weeks with bowl eligibility on the line. Lose to the Razorbacks, like Vegas (23.5-point underdogs) and most on the outside believe, and the Bulldogs will go a fourth straight season without a postseason berth.

How can Tech pull off what would be the biggest win in Cumbie’s tenure? It starts with the Bulldogs executing at a high level and staying in constant communication in what’s ex-pected to be the loudest game day environment the program has seen in some time.

“I think communication has gotta be on point,” Cumbie said. “We have to be very, very loud. It’s going to be a loud environment, a little bit louder than some of the places we’ve played. We did a nice job execution and communication wise at NC State, and I anticipate that being the case this Saturday.”

The Bulldogs have the defense to challenge the Razorbacks’ top 20 passing offense, with Tech ranking No. 12 nationally in total defense (302.3 yards per game) and No. 26 in pass defense (187.3 yards per game) – holding WKU, the top passing offense in CUSA, to just 152 passing yards and a single touchdown drive last week.

Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman knows his team is hosting Tech at a time when the Bulldogs have the clear edge in momentum. Arkansas is coming off its second loss in a row. Meanwhile, Tech is riding a near win over Jacksonville State and last week’s shocker to breed confidence, and Pittman knows it.

“We’re catching them when they’re playing, I think, their best football,” Pittman said. “ They deliver some problems. The structure of their defense. They’re a 3-3-5, but it’s different because they have a robber, a rover, a guy that’s really hard to get to block who’s a really good player — the (Kolbe) Fields kid.”

Arkansas, averaging 278 passing yards per game, won’t be some pushover. Quarterback Taylen Green has 2,363 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions — totaling 319 total yards over his last two games.

The Razorbacks also have the second most offensive yards per game in the SEC at 458.3, along with sixth best scoring offense (30.7 points per game) in the league.

If the Bulldogs want any chance of taking down their SEC foe, containing Green and the passing attack will be essential.

“What jumps out at you is his athleticism,” Cumbie said of Green. “ Since he came from Boise State to Arkansas and what coach [Bobby] Petrino has done with quarterbacks, his track record speaks for itself, he’s done a really remarkable job. He’s a phenomenal play caller and football coach. I think he’s done a lot with Taylen in his accuracy, his ability as a passer. I think they really tailor what they do offensively to his skill set. He’s able to push the ball down the field in terms of play-action.”

Tech will have a productive quarterback of its own to work with in redshirt freshman Evan Bullock, who comes in with 1,518 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. The good news for Bullock and the Bulldogs is Arkansas ranks 116th national (out of 133 teams) in passing defense, allowing 257.2 yards per game through the air. Over the last two losses, Arkansas has allowed 691 passing yards.

Bullock knows taking down the Razorbacks will be more difficult than letting numbers tell the story. He has to lead the Bulldogs to touchdowns when they have a chance.

“Coach Cumbie emphasizes a lot of ball security and taking care of the football,” Bullock said. “Turnovers can be detrimental in any game and they can change the game at any point. I would say definitely that we need to secure the ball and hold onto the ball is definitely one our big coaching points we emphasize and practice a bunch.”

Tech has no touchdowns over its last two road games, only needing four field goals to defeat WKU last week. That won’t be enough to win on Saturday, and Bullock knows it.

“We’re really focusing our technique and execution whenever we get into the red-zone,” Bullock said. “We drive all the way down the field and do everything right and then I don’t know, something happens, and we just can’t seem to put it in. We’ll be pretty confident going into this one if we can execute.”

Tech faces Arkansas on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The game will be broadcast live on SEC Network+ or ESPN+.