Three Matchups to Watch: Louisiana Tech at LSU

By Hunt Palmer

LSU and Louisiana Tech get together for the first time since 2018 on Saturday night.

The Bulldogs got the season started with a less-than-impressive effort against Southeastern. The 24-0 final doesn’t really tell the story. Tech was held without a point by the FCS Lions until a field goal as time expired in the first half.

An 80-yard fumble return touchdown padded the 17-0 lead, too.

Louisiana Tech is coming off a 5-8 season in Year 3 under Sonny Cumbie. There’s pressure on Cumbie to move things forward the fall. That more so applies to conference games than in an overmatched setting like Saturday night, but Tech needs to play better the rest of the year than they did last weekend.

For LSU, it’s finally a joyous return to Tiger Stadium after four straight season-opening losses away from home. LSU played elite defense and efficient offense at Clemson to escape with a win. This week is about continuing that momentum and building toward the SEC opener next week against Florida.

Here are three matchups to watch on Saturday, all for very different reasons.

Louisiana Tech Quarterback Trey Kukuk vs. LSU Linebackers

• Tech actually returned starting quarterback Evan Bullock this year, but he was beaten out. Bullock threw for 2,101 yards and 13 touchdowns against only three interceptions in 2024, but Cumbie is going with the JUCO transfer Trey Kukuk early on. Kukuk put up good numbers as a two-year starter at Saddleback College in the California Community College ranks. Last week he was 13-for-18 for 126 yards and a touchdown. More importantly, he ran 16 times for 48 yards. He’s a mobile dude. Now, this isn’t California Community College he’s facing, and he’s not LaNorris Sellers or Marcel Reed, but assignments are assignments. Kukuk is very likely to tuck the ball and run a ton on Saturday night, and LSU’s linebacker corps of the Weeks brothers and Harold Perkins need to bottle that up quickly.

LSU OL DJ Chester vs. LSU OL Carius Curne

• Yes, they both play for LSU. Yes, it’s a still matchup to watch. Carius Curne is a precocious talent who turned some heads in spring practice. He’s worked at guard and tackle over the last seven months and was competing with Weston Davis at right tackle late in camp. On Saturday night, left tackle Tyree Adams went down for a handful of plays, and DJ Chester filled in for his first collegiate snaps at tackle. They didn’t go especially well. Chester is a proven reserve at guard and center, but LSU could use some development from the reserve tackles. Assuming he’s healthy, and he did miss some practice time late in camp, Curne should play significant snaps on Saturday. If they go well, he could be in line for more in two weeks against Southeastern before the first open date. That could put him is position to add depth at tackle as the season progresses.

Louisiana Tech DBs Cedric Woods, Jakari Foster and Jacob Fields vs. LSU’s Wide Receivers

• This has far less to do with which side wins the matchup and more to do with how LSU’s passing game chooses to attack Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs led C-USA in total defense last season and shut out Southeastern last week. It’s a solid Group of Five defense. Still, LSU should have its way on Saturday night. Against Clemson, the LSU offense kept the passing game near the line of scrimmage, working the screen game and controlling the ball. That was a good plan against an elite pass rush on the road with a completely new offensive line. Tech’s rush doesn’t post that threat, so it’s time to stretch the field. Expect to see Garrett Nussmeier take some shots down the field to Chris Hilton and Barion Brown.