This much is beyond dispute: Louisiana Tech will open its 2026 college football season with Northwestern State at home on Sept. 5. The Bulldogs will then visit LSU on Sept. 12 and Baylor on Sept. 19. After that, things get murky.
Last week, we reported on how the University of Louisiana System is suing on La Tech's behalf to get the Bulldogs out of Conference USA and into the Sun Belt in time for the 2026 season. Louisiana Tech and Conference USA have negotiated unsuccessfully behind the scenes dating back to last fall, and the dispute is now public, ugly, and also a little bit hilarious.
Case in point: Conference USA announced its 2026 schedule on Thursday evening, and the Sun Belt followed suit on Friday. Louisiana Tech is on both.
In C-USA's version of events, La Tech opens conference play with a home game against Middle Tennessee on Sept. 26, while the Sun Belt has the Bulldogs off that day.
Both leagues have Louisiana Tech hosting Army on Oct. 3, and then the Bulldogs are double-booked for the next two months. They host FIU on Thursday, Oct. 8, and host Louisiana two days later. Sonny Cumbie's team then plays Wednesday/Saturday games through the end of October.
November has the Bulldogs playing two double-headers most days: at Jacksonville State and at Troy on Nov. 7 (both games in Alabama, convenient!), and then road games at Western Kentucky and Georgia Southern on Nov. 28.
Cumbie's club went 8-5 in 2025, their best mark in his four seasons to date on the job. If the Bulldogs cannot get to at least 10 wins in this 20-game slate, it could spell trouble for his job security.
2026 Louisiana Tech Schedule, As of March 12
Sept. 5: Northwestern State
Sept. 12: at LSU
Sept. 19: at Baylor
Sept. 26: Middle Tennessee*
Oct. 3: Army
Oct. 8: at Florida International*
Oct. 10: Louisiana+
Oct. 14: Missouri State*
Oct. 17: at ULM+
Oct. 21: at Liberty*
Oct. 24: Old Dominion+
Oct. 28: Kennesaw State*
Oct. 31: at South Alabama+
Nov. 7: at Jacksonville State*, at Troy+
Nov. 14: Southern Miss+
Nov. 19, 20 or 21: Arkansas State+
Nov. 21: Delaware*
Nov. 28: at Western Kentucky*, at Georgia Southern+
* - Conference USA game
+ - Sun Belt game
Louisiana Tech's version of events ends with Conference USA crying uncle and the Bulldogs competing in the Sun Belt this fall. โOur move to the Sun Belt enhances the experience of our student athletes, renews regional rivalries, and significantly benefits the Louisiana economy. Additionally CUSA has previously acknowledged the difficulty of crafting an 11-team schedule if we were to remain next year. We have tried to offer a fair financial resolution to this dispute and are hopeful that we can resolve it without resorting to prolonged litigation," the school said.
At some point, one of these leagues will blink and release the La Tech-free version of their schedule undoubtedly sitting in their drafts right now. But the longer this standoff goes, the funnier it gets.