Checking the LA Tech score for football this past season became a bit of a weekend ritual for Bulldogs fans, but honestly, it wasn't the kind of ritual that left anyone feeling particularly great. If you followed Sonny Cumbie’s squad through the 2024 campaign, you know the vibe. It was a year defined by "what if" moments, defensive stands that deserved better, and an offense that occasionally felt like it was stuck in a thick North Louisiana mud pit.
The final record of 4-8 doesn’t really tell the whole story. To understand why people keep googling those scores, you have to look at the context of Conference USA. It’s a league where a couple of plays can swing a team from a bowl game to a losing season, and unfortunately for Tech, those plays rarely went the way of the blue and red.
The 2024 Louisiana Tech Football Scoreboard Recap
Let's look at the numbers because they’re kinda wild. Tech started the year with a 25-17 win over Nicholls. Fine. Standard. But then things got weird. They went to NC State and actually led at halftime. People were losing their minds. Could they pull the upset? Nope. They lost 30-20.
That game set a pattern.
The defense, led by Jeremiah Johnson, was legitimately good. Like, top-of-the-league good for most of the year. But the offense? Man, it was a struggle. Look at the LA Tech score for football against FIU—a 30-17 win that felt like a breakthrough—only to be followed by a heartbreaking overtime loss to New Mexico State. Losing 33-30 in Las Cruces was probably the moment the season started to slip away.
- Nicholls: 25-17 (W)
- at NC State: 20-30 (L)
- at FIU: 30-17 (W)
- Middle Tennessee: 18-17 (L)
- New Mexico State: 30-33 (L/OT)
The Middle Tennessee game was a gut-punch. Losing by one point at home? That’s the kind of score that haunts a coaching staff. You see 18-17 on the ticker and you just know there were ten different moments where a single yard or a better decision would have flipped the result.
Quarterback Carousel and Offensive Woes
You can't talk about the scores without talking about who was taking the snaps. It was a revolving door. Jack Turner started, then Evan Bullock got his shot, and we even saw Blake Baker. When you have three different guys throwing passes, your scoring consistency goes out the window.
🔗 Read more: Liverpool FC Chelsea FC: Why This Grudge Match Still Hits Different
Bullock showed flashes. Seriously. Against UTEP, the offense finally clicked and Tech walked away with a 14-10 win. Wait, no, that was a defensive slugfest. Actually, the blowout win against Kennesaw State (28-7) was the one time the LA Tech score for football looked like what fans expected in the preseason.
But then came the Jacksonville State game. 44-37. A shootout. Tech actually scored points! But the defense, which had been carrying the team all year, finally cracked under the pressure of Rich Rodriguez’s "Go-Go" offense. It felt like Tech could never get the offense and defense to play well on the same Saturday.
Why the Scoreboard Lied About Tech’s Talent
If you just looked at the scores, you’d think Louisiana Tech was a bottom-tier team. But if you dig into the advanced analytics—the stuff guys like Bill Connelly or the SP+ rankings track—Tech was often ranked much higher than their record suggested.
The defense was statistically one of the best in Conference USA. They ranked high in total defense and forced a respectable amount of turnovers. The problem was field position. The offense would go three-and-out, punt, and the defense would be right back on the field. Eventually, they just got tired.
Take the Liberty game. Liberty was the class of the conference. Tech lost 31-23. Being within eight points of a team that went to a New Year's Six bowl the year before is impressive. It shows the gap between "good" and "losing" is razor-thin in Ruston right now.
The Cumbie Era and the Hot Seat
Sonny Cumbie came in with a reputation as an offensive mastermind. Coming from Texas Tech and TCU, he was supposed to bring the "Air Raid" to Joe Aillet Stadium. But three straight losing seasons have people asking questions.
💡 You might also like: NFL Football Teams in Order: Why Most Fans Get the Hierarchy Wrong
The scores tell a story of stagnation.
2022: 3-9.
2023: 3-9.
2024: 4-8.
Is one extra win enough progress? Probably not for a fan base that remembers the Skip Holtz era, where 9-win seasons and bowl victories were the standard. The expectation in Ruston isn't just to compete; it's to win the conference. When the LA Tech score for football consistently shows more points for the opponent, the seat under the head coach starts to get very warm.
A Look at the Key Statistics
It wasn't all bad. Honestly. There were bright spots that suggest 2025 could be different if they hit the transfer portal hard.
- Red Zone Efficiency: This was the killer. Tech moved the ball between the 20s but stalled out constantly. Settling for field goals instead of touchdowns turned potential 28-point games into 16-point losses.
- Third Down Conversions: They couldn't stay on the field. Converting less than 35% of third downs is a recipe for disaster.
- Penalties: Discipline was an issue. High-yardage penalties at the worst possible times (usually on 3rd and long defense) kept drives alive for the opposition.
What to Watch for in the Next Cycle
So, you’re looking for the LA Tech score for football next season. What needs to change?
First, the offensive line has to get older and stronger. They got bullied in the trenches during the Western Kentucky and Sam Houston games. Second, they need a "Bell Cow" running back. Donte Edwards and Marquis Crosby have talent, but injuries have hampered the ground game’s ability to close out games.
When you have a lead in the 4th quarter—like they did multiple times this year—you need to be able to run the ball and kill the clock. Tech couldn't do that. That’s why you saw so many late-game collapses.
📖 Related: Why Your 1 Arm Pull Up Progression Isn't Working (And How to Fix It)
The landscape of college football is changing with the NIL and the portal. Tech isn't a big-money school, but they have a loyal collective. How they use those resources will determine if the 2025 scores look any different.
Final Thoughts on the Bulldogs' Performance
Looking back at the schedule, the win over Sam Houston (9-3) was probably the highlight. It was a weird, grit-it-out game that showed what this team could be. It was a glimpse into a world where the Bulldogs are a tough, physical team that wins with defense and opportunistic scoring.
But glimpses don't get you to the Bahamas Bowl.
For the casual fan checking the LA Tech score for football, the season probably looked like a failure. For the die-hards who watched every snap, it was a season of agonizingly close calls. The difference between 4-8 and 7-5 was about five plays spread across three months.
Actionable Insights for Bulldogs Fans
If you want to keep up with the team and actually understand why the scores are turning out the way they are, here is what you should do:
- Follow the Transfer Portal Closely: Watch for offensive line transfers. That is the single biggest indicator of whether the scoreline will improve next season.
- Watch the Defensive Coordinator Hires: If Jeremiah Johnson stays, the defense should remain a top-3 unit in the C-USA. If he leaves for a Power 4 job, expect a regression.
- Attend the Spring Game: Pay attention to the quarterback battle. Don't look at the stats; look at the release time. Tech needs a QB who can get the ball out in under 2.5 seconds to mitigate the pressure.
- Support the LATechTrust: If you want better scores, the reality of modern football is that NIL matters. Small-market schools need high participation from the alumni base to keep their best players from being "poached" by bigger programs.
The scores in Ruston have been disappointing lately, but the foundation of a good defense is there. Whether the offense can finally hold up its end of the bargain is the only question that matters moving forward.