2023: Louisiana Tech Preview

Ruston

Eric Morris said that Chandler Rogers is the starter and that is not really the concern of most die-hard Mean Green fans. He did well enough, leading the second-half scoring drives and showing his ability to run and pass things. Stone Earle hasn’t been bad, but as Eric Morris said this week, he is still moving faster than an experienced quarterback would.

This week is about the defense and if they can stop Louisiana Tech, a more dynamic offense than FIU or Cal but similar in a lot of scheme. Tech beat FIU in Ruston to start the year, tripped up against SMU, then blew out FCS Northwestern State this past week. Last season Tech came to Denton and were blown out — but managed to put up 27 points and move the ball well. They lost some receiving talent but Smoke Harris remains, and is approximately 41 years old.

North Texas is visiting Ruston to face a team that is 13-8 all-time vs the Mean Green, including winning 7 of the last 9, and 4 of 5 in Ruston. It isn’t pretty even if this series feels closer. Some of that is because the teams haven’t been good at the same time often. The two biggest wins of the series were NT winning in Ruston, to secure a bowl season for Seth Littrell and in 2018 when Tech came to Denton and blocked that kick.

This matchup is of two teams rebuilding and restarting and in new leagues. Sonny Cumbie came to Ruston and rebuilt the offense to his Air Raid liking. They threw it all over but in true spread fashion, they couldn’t stop anyone (sounds familiar). So far this year the defense is better, but that comes with a caveat. FIU — NT game excluded — has struggled to move the ball and FCS schools are built-in asterisks. SMU handled this squad while stifling the offense well.