Louisiana Tech (2-0) at No. 22 BYU (2-0)
- Kickoff: Friday, 7 p.m. MDT
- Venue: LaVell Edwards Stadium (63,725; no fans permitted)
- Surface: Natural grass
- TV: ESPN2
- Livestream: WatchESPN
- Radio: KSL 1160 AM/102.7 FM
- Series: First meeting
- Weather: Partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the low 70s at kickoff.
THE STAKES
For Louisiana Tech … The unbeaten Bulldogs are looking to pull off an upset on national TV.
For BYU … The Cougars are putting their undefeated record and national ranking on the line in a prime time meeting.
THE TRENDS
For Louisiana Tech … The Bulldogs have forced at least one turnover in 19 straight games which is the longest active streak in the nation. While BYU is averaging 51.5 points per game, La Tech is averaging 48.5 points.
For BYU … The Cougars have outscored their opponents 103-10 and outgained their opponents in total yardage 1,244-330 through two games.
THE CRYSTAL BALL
Louisiana Tech will win if … The Bulldogs get off to a fast start and force turnovers.
BYU will win if … The Cougars are able to do what they’ve done in the first two games — control both lines of scrimmage and score points in bunches.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Luke Anthony, Louisiana Tech quarterback: The grad transfer from Abilene Christian has completed 30 of 51 passes for 463 yards with eight touchdowns and one interception this season.
KEY MATCHUP
BYU’s wide receivers vs. Louisiana Tech’s defensive secondary: The Cougars passed for more than 400 yards last weeks and two receivers went over 100 receiving yards. The Bulldogs are surrendering 335 passing yards per game.
QUOTABLE
“They’re putting up gaudy numbers right now. … One heck of a challenge for our defense because when you have an offense that is as multiple and can be successful on the ground as well as through the air, it makes them very difficult to stop when they have the balance BYU has right now.”
— Louisiana Tech coach Skip Holtz
“Hopefully we can keep getting better. There are still a lot of things that we can improve on and some things we can do differently defensively that I think will make us even better. Still upset about the seven points and the three points we gave up.”
— BYU coach Kalani Sitake
NEXT UP
BYU hosts UTSA Oct 10; Louisiana Tech entertains UTEP Oct. 10.
BYU SCHEDULE
Sept. 7 — BYU 55, Navy 3
Sept. 19 — at Army (POSTPONED)
Sept. 26 — BYU 48, Troy 7
Oct. 2 — Louisiana Tech (7 p.m., ESPN2)
Oct. 10 — UTSA (1:30 p.m., ESPN2)
Oct. 16 — at Houston (7:30 p.m., ESPN)
Oct. 24 — Texas State (TBA, TBA)
Oct. 31 — Western Kentucky (TBA, TBA)
Nov. 7 — at Boise State (TBA, TBA)
Nov. 21 — Northern Alabama (TBA, TBA)
All times MT