2018 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team
The 2018 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team represented Louisiana Tech University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bulldogs played their home games at the Joe Aillet Stadium in Ruston, Louisiana and competed in the West Division of Conference USA (C-USA). They were led by sixth-year head coach Skip Holtz. They finished the season 8–5, 5–3 in C-USA play to finish in a three-way tie for second place in the West Division. They were invited to the Hawaii Bowl where they defeated Hawaii.
| 2018 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football | |
|---|---|
![]() | |
Hawaii Bowl champion | |
Hawaii Bowl, W 31–14 vs. Hawaii | |
| Conference | Conference USA |
| West Division | |
| Record | 8–5 (5–3 C-USA) |
| Head coach |
|
| Offensive coordinator | Todd Fitch (3rd season) |
| Offensive scheme | Multiple |
| Defensive coordinator | Blake Baker (4th season) |
| Base defense | Multiple |
| Captains |
|
| Home stadium | Joe Aillet Stadium (Capacity: 28,562) |
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| East Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Middle Tennessee x | 7 | – | 1 | 8 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marshall | 6 | – | 2 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FIU | 6 | – | 2 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Charlotte | 4 | – | 4 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Florida Atlantic | 3 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Old Dominion | 2 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western Kentucky | 2 | – | 6 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UAB x$ | 7 | – | 1 | 11 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| North Texas | 5 | – | 3 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Louisiana Tech | 5 | – | 3 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Southern Miss | 5 | – | 3 | 6 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UTSA | 2 | – | 6 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UTEP | 1 | – | 7 | 1 | – | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rice | 1 | – | 7 | 2 | – | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Championship: UAB 27, Middle Tennessee 25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preseason
Award watch lists
Listed in the order that they were released
| Award | Player | Position | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chuck Bednarik Award[1] | Jaylon Ferguson | DE | SR |
| Fred Biletnikoff Award[2] | Teddy Veal | WR | SR |
| Jim Thorpe Award[3] | Amik Robertson | CB | SO |
| Bronko Nagurski Trophy[4] | Jaylon Ferguson | DE | SR |
| Outland Trophy[5] | O'Shea Dugas | OL | SR |
| Wuerffel Trophy[6] | J'Mar Smith | QB | JR |
| Ted Hendricks Award[7] | Jaylon Ferguson | DE | SR |
| Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award[8] | J'Mar Smith | QB | JR |
Preseason All-Conference USA team
Conference USA released their preseason all-Conference USA team on July 16, 2018, with the Bulldogs having four players selected.[9]
|
Offense O'Shea Dugas – OL Teddy Veal – WR |
Defense Jaylon Ferguson – DL Amik Robertson – DB |
Preseason media poll
Conference USA released their preseason media poll on July 17, 2018, with the Bulldogs predicted to finish in second place in the West Division.[10]
| West Division | |
| Predicted finish | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | North Texas |
| 2 | Louisiana Tech |
| 3 | UAB |
| 4 | Southern Miss |
| 5 | UTSA |
| T–6 | Rice |
| T–6 | UTEP |
Roster
| 2018 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Offense
}
|
Defense
|
Special teams
|
Roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 1 | 6:00 p.m. | at South Alabama* | ESPN+ | W 30–26 | 13,457 | |
| September 8 | 6:00 p.m. | Southern* | ESPN+ | W 54–17 | 22,926 | |
| September 22 | 6:00 p.m. | at No. 6 LSU* | ESPNU | L 21–38 | 102,321 | |
| September 29 | 6:30 p.m. | at North Texas | beIN | W 29–27 | 30,105 | |
| October 6 | 6:00 p.m. | UAB |
| Stadium | L 7–28 | 18,983 |
| October 13 | 6:00 p.m. | at UTSA | ESPN+ | W 31–3 | 20,057 | |
| October 20 | 2:30 p.m. | UTEP |
| ESPN+ | W 31–24 | 18,972 |
| October 26 | 5:30 p.m. | at Florida Atlantic | CBSSN | W 21–13 | 14,948 | |
| November 3 | 6:30 p.m. | at No. 21 Mississippi State* | SECN | L 3–45 | 58,709 | |
| November 10 | 6:00 p.m. | Rice |
| ESPN+ | W 28–13 | 15,283 |
| November 17 | 2:30 p.m. | at Southern Miss | Stadium | L 20–21 | 19,142 | |
| November 24 | 11:00 a.m. | Western Kentucky |
| CBSSN | L 15–30 | 11,459 |
| December 22 | 9:30 p.m. | at Hawaii* | ESPN | W 31–14 | 30,911 | |
| ||||||
- Schedule Source:[11]
Radio
Radio coverage for all games will be broadcast statewide on the Louisiana Tech Sports Network by Learfield Sports. The radio announcers are Dave Nitz with play-by-play, Teddy Allen with color commentary, and Nick Brown with sideline reports.
Game summaries
At South Alabama
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulldogs | 7 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 30 |
| Jaguars | 0 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 26 |
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Southern
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaguars | 7 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
| Bulldogs | 21 | 10 | 14 | 9 | 54 |
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
At LSU
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulldogs | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| No. 6 Tigers | 7 | 17 | 0 | 14 | 38 |
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
At North Texas
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulldogs | 6 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 29 |
| Mean Green | 21 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 27 |
- Date: September 29
- Game time: 6:30 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 75 °F (24 °C); overcast
- Game attendance: 30,105
- TV: beIN Sports
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
UAB
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blazers | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 28 |
| Bulldogs | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
At UTSA
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulldogs | 7 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
| Roadrunners | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
UTEP
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miners | 7 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 24 |
| Bulldogs | 14 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
At Florida Atlantic
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulldogs | 0 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| Owls | 10 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
at FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, FL
- Date: October 26
- Game time: 5:30 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 87 °F (31 °C); mostly cloudy
- Game attendance: 14,948
- TV: CBS Sports Network
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
At Mississippi State
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (LT) Bulldogs | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| No. 18 (MSST) Bulldogs | 21 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 45 |
at Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville, MS
- Date: November 3
- Game time: 6:30 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C); clear
- Game attendance: 58,709
- TV: SEC Network
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Rice
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owls | 0 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 13 |
| Bulldogs | 0 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 28 |
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
At Southern Miss
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulldogs | 7 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 20 |
| Golden Eagles | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Western Kentucky
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hilltoppers | 14 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 30 |
| Bulldogs | 0 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 15 |
at Joe Aillet Stadium, Ruston, LA
- Date: November 24
- Game time: 11:00 a.m. CST
- Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C); clear
- Game attendance: 11,459
- TV: CBS Sports Network
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Vs. Hawaii (Hawaii Bowl)
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainbow Warriors | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Bulldogs | 3 | 0 | 21 | 7 | 31 |
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Players drafted into the NFL
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 85 | Jaylon Ferguson | DE | Baltimore Ravens |
References
- "2018 Bednarik Award Watch List - Maxwell Football Club". Maxwell Football Club. July 16, 2018. Archived from the original on July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
- "2018 Biletnikoff Award Watch List". July 19, 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
- "Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Names 2018 Preseason Watchlist". July 23, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
- "2018 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List". July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- "22018 OUTLAND TROPHY WATCH LIST UNVEILED". July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- "Wuerffel Trophy Unveils 2018 Watch List". July 26, 2018. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
- "Preseason Watch List - 2018 edition of the Ted Hendricks Award" (PDF). August 14, 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 14, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
- "Watch List for 2018 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award ® Presented by A. O. Smith Announced". August 14, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
- "FB: 2018 Preseason Awards".
- "FB: Preseason Media Poll".
- "2018 LA Tech Football Schedule | Bulldogs | FBSchedules.com". FB Schedules. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
