Booker 'Champ' Tullos · Louisiana Tech Insider · College Debut · Week 8
Meet Your Insider
Well, that's just peachy. Howdy, Bulldog fans, I'm Booker Tullos, but folks around Ruston call me Champ. I grew up on a peach farm off the highway, played fullback for Tech, and to this day nothing in football makes me happier than a fourth-and-inches plunge into the end zone. I travel with this team and I live with this team, and every week I'll bring you the players, the matchups, the history and the storylines in an easygoing north-Louisiana drawl, with peach puns baked right in like a cobbler. When we win, I holler "Peachy!" and do a fullback dive across the studio (the carpet has suffered). When we lose, I sigh "bruised peach," and then I go back and watch every snap. Sit a spell. And remember what my granddaddy said about peaches and football: the good ones take a whole season to ripen.
The School in 60 Seconds
Louisiana Tech first played in 1901 and has an all-time record of 654-508-37. The Bulldogs have won three Division II national championships and 25 conference titles, and played in 30 postseason games, 15 of them major college bowls. Since 1968, home has been Joe Aillet Stadium in Ruston, listed at 28,019 seats. After 13 seasons in Conference USA, Tech joined the Sun Belt on July 1, 2026, so this is our first fall in a new orchard. The recent climb: 3-9 three years running from 2021 to 2023, 5-8 in 2024 and 8-5 in 2025. That's a tree that's starting to bear fruit.
The Coach and the Scheme
Sonny Cumbie is the head coach, hired Nov. 30, 2021. The 2026 Bulldogs score 33.3 points a game (43rd) and throw for 239.8 yards (58th), with 153.2 rushing (73rd). The defense has made a habit of taking the ball away: 13 takeaways and a plus-5 turnover margin, 15th in FBS. It holds opponents to 36.9% on third down (64th). Where we've been bruised: the red zone offense scores on just 76% of trips (118th), and the run defense allows 148.5 a game (84th). As a former fullback, the red zone number keeps me up at night. Give me the ball at the 2, Coach. I'm available. Turnovers have hidden a lot of that, and good teams find ways to win close games. This one has, twice.
Players to Know
QB Blake Baker: 68 of 99, 857 yards, 9 TD, 1 INT, 68.7%. Last week he was 15 of 21 for 178 yards and two touchdowns.
RB Andrew Burnette: 286 yards on 65 carries, 1 TD, with 79 yards on 22 carries against ULM.
WR Jalen Mickens: 32 catches, 476 yards, 3 TD. Marcus Calwise Jr. caught eight passes for 119 yards last week.
LB Alonzo Jackson Jr.: team-high 41 tackles and 5 sacks. DB Jordan McRae: 3 interceptions.
The Conference Picture
Louisiana Tech is 4-2 overall and 2-0 in our first Sun Belt season, and 3-0 at home. The wins: Northwestern State 80-6, Army 31-29, Louisiana 32-31 and at UL Monroe 24-0. The losses were road trips to LSU (45-14) and Baylor (36-19). Two of the four wins were by two points or fewer, and I'll take a sweet win any way it comes. After this, we visit South Alabama on Oct. 31. Staying unbeaten in league play keeps us in the thick of the race in year one.
From the porch: that 32-31 win over Louisiana was the kind of game folks in Ruston will tell stories about at the peach festival for a while. And beating Army by two is never easy. This team has learned how to finish close games. Now it needs to learn how to finish drives in the red zone.
This Week: Old Dominion (2-5) at Louisiana Tech (4-2)
Saturday, Oct. 24 · 5 p.m. ET · Joe Aillet Stadium · ESPN+.
Last week: we shut out UL Monroe 24-0. Old Dominion lost 23-15 to Georgia Southern on Oct. 15.
Our offense vs. their defense: ODU's defense is respectable: 335.7 yards allowed (47th) and 198.3 passing (50th). But its red zone defense allows a score on 87.5% of trips (95th), so if we can get there, we should cash in. Peach cobbler, served warm.
Their offense vs. our defense: ODU averages 266 yards (138th) and 17.7 points (130th) and has allowed 32 sacks. Jackson's pass rush has a real chance to make a living. ODU converts 33% of third downs (120th).
Series: I couldn't find an all-time series record in a free source.
Availability: no injury or availability report found for either team as of Oct. 18.
What decides it: (1) Red zone finishing for our offense. (2) Our pass rush against a struggling pass protection. (3) Keeping the turnover margin where it's been, plus-5.
And Winnie Pocklington, ODU's insider: your majesty is welcome in Ruston anytime. I'll save you a peach, and a seat on the porch after the game, win or lose.
Local Flavor (unsponsored, not an ad)
In Ruston for the game? The Log Cabin Grill on Farmerville Highway is a longtime family standby for a good burger.
My call: Louisiana Tech Bulldogs 30, Old Dominion Monarchs 18.