Old Dominion (2-5, 1-3 Sun Belt) at Louisiana Tech (4-2, 2-0 Sun Belt). Saturday, Oct. 24, 5 p.m. ET (4 p.m. Central), Joe Aillet Stadium, Ruston, La., ESPN+.
Your hosts are Booker "Champ" Tullos, a Louisiana Tech fan who grew up on a Ruston-area peach farm and thinks everything is peachy, and Winnie Pocklington, an Old Dominion fan who treats every first down like a knighthood.
Champ: Your majesty is welcome in Ruston anytime, Winnie. I'll save you a peach and a seat on the porch.
Winnie: Hear ye, hear ye! Her Majesty accepts the peach and sends a royal challenge in return.
Players to watch
Louisiana Tech quarterback Blake Baker has completed 68 of 99 passes for 857 yards, nine touchdowns and one interception. Receiver Jalen Mickens has 32 catches for 476 yards. Running back Andrew Burnette has 286 yards. Linebacker Alonzo Jackson Jr. leads the team with 41 tackles and five sacks, and Jordan McRae has three interceptions.
Old Dominion quarterback Quinn Henicle has 656 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions. Running back Devin Roche has 373 yards on 95 carries. Receiver T.J. Johnson has 16 catches for 262 yards and three touchdowns. Safety Lucas Struck leads with 52 tackles, defensive lineman Javen Gibson has five sacks, and cornerback Brandon Crutchfield has two interceptions.
Winnie: Five sacks from Gibson. I knight him Sir Sackalot.
What happened last week
Louisiana Tech shut out UL Monroe 24-0. Baker went 15 of 21 for 178 yards and two touchdowns. Burnette ran 22 times for 79 yards, and Marcus Calwise Jr. caught eight passes for 119 yards.
Old Dominion lost 23-15 to Georgia Southern on Oct. 15. Ryan Huff led the offense, going 9 of 14 for 115 yards and a touchdown. Johnson caught two passes for 83 yards and a score.
Champ: A shutout. That's peach cobbler served warm.
Injuries and availability
The Sun Belt doesn't publish an official availability report, and no injury news had surfaced for either team as of Oct. 18. Old Dominion hasn't announced whether Henicle or Huff will start.
What the coaches are up to
Sonny Cumbie was hired at Louisiana Tech on Nov. 30, 2021. His team is 2-0 in its first Sun Belt season and 3-0 at home. Two of its four wins came by two points or fewer: 31-29 over Army and 32-31 over Louisiana.
Ricky Rahne was hired at Old Dominion on Dec. 7, 2019. His defense allows 335.7 yards a game, 47th in FBS, and has forced 12 turnovers.
Player storylines
Jackson's pass rush against Old Dominion's protection is the headline. The Monarchs have allowed 32 sacks. Tech is plus-5 in turnover margin, 15th in FBS, while ODU is minus-3. ODU's best hope is its red-zone defense against a Tech offense that scores on 76% of its trips, which ranks 118th. ODU's offense averages 266 yards a game, 138th in FBS.
What's happening on campus
It's Homecoming in Ruston. The whole town points toward "the Joe," with Homecoming events around Ruston all day. Kickoff is 4 p.m. local time.
Champ: Homecoming in Ruston is peaches and porch swings, Winnie. Everybody's cousin is in town.
Winnie: Then the royal court shall greet every cousin, Champ. Politely. Before we try to spoil the party.
Anything else fun and true
These teams didn't meet regularly over the past decade, so this one feels brand new. Louisiana Tech opened the season by beating Northwestern State 80-6. Old Dominion's signature win came 10-3 at App State. Next up, Marshall visits Norfolk on Oct. 31.
Champ: Win or lose, Winnie, that porch seat is yours.
Winnie: Most gracious, Champ. The crown will bring its own lawn chair, just in case.
The Cover Window
My call: Louisiana Tech Bulldogs 30, Old Dominion Monarchs 18.