Louisiana Tech beats Army 31-29

Team pages: Army · Louisiana Tech

Army2-229
Louisiana Tech2-231Final
Sat, Oct 3 · Joe Aillet Stadium, Ruston, La. · Crowd 18,326ESPN+

Louisiana Tech beat Army 31-29.

We had Army favored. Louisiana Tech won.

Next: Army beat Tulane 20-17, Sat Oct 10

Next: Louisiana Tech beat Louisiana 32-31, Sat Oct 10

How it swung

The turning point: Brooks 72-yd TD run, Louisiana Tech goes ahead 14-7 (Q2, 4:15). Louisiana Tech went from 49% to 80% to win.

Before kickoff, our ratings gave Louisiana Tech a 30% chance, and the closing betting line (Louisiana Tech was a 1.5-point favorite) put it at 55%.

A tight one: Louisiana Tech bottomed out at 49% and won.

Army never had better than a 51% chance.

FinalLouisiana Tech 31-29 ArmyLouisiana Tech wonMove across the chart, or tap a numbered swing, to see any play.
50%75%90%Q1Q2Q3Q477% at halfLouisiana TechWon31-2912+31+25Scores
50%75%90%Q1Q2Q3Q477% at halfLouisiana TechWon31-2912Scores
50%10%25%Q1Q2Q3Q423% at halfLouisiana TechLost29-3112−31−25Scores
50%10%25%Q1Q2Q3Q423% at halfLouisiana TechLost29-3112Scores

The two plays that swung it

  1. 1Q2 4:15Brooks 72-yd TD run, Louisiana Tech goes ahead 14-7Louisiana Tech 49% → 80% (+31)
  2. 2Q3 11:47Calwise 74-yd TD pass to Brooks, two-point try good, Louisiana Tech goes ahead 22-15Louisiana Tech 53% → 78% (+25)

The two plays that swung it

  1. 1Q2 4:15Brooks 72-yd TD run, Louisiana Tech goes ahead 14-7Army 51% → 20% (−31)
  2. 2Q3 11:47Calwise 74-yd TD pass to Brooks, two-point try good, Louisiana Tech goes ahead 22-15Army 47% → 22% (−25)
Louisiana Tech’s chance to win after every play.
How to read this chartStarts from the pregame line (Louisiana Tech -1.5), at 61% for Louisiana Tech (the play-by-play feed's kickoff number, moved to match the line; our model's and the betting line's own numbers are in “The betting line, and the fans”). Dots are the biggest swings; ticks under the chart are scores.

Watch the plays

The bar and the arrow show Louisiana Tech’s chance to win after each play; the logo is the team the play helped.

  1. Q1, 8:32Snider 24-yd TD runLouisiana Tech goes ahead 7-0Q1, 8:32 · Louisiana Tech 7, Army 0▲11%Louisiana Tech’s chance to win, 69% to 80%▲11%Louisiana Tech’s chance to win, 69% to 80%Watch from this playSun Belt Conference
  2. Q1, 3:51Mundell 21-yd TD runties it 7-7Q1, 3:51 · Louisiana Tech 7, Army 7▼6%Louisiana Tech’s chance to win, 70% to 64%▼6%Louisiana Tech’s chance to win, 70% to 64%Watch from this playSun Belt Conference
  3. Q2, 4:15Brooks 72-yd TD runLouisiana Tech goes ahead 14-7Q2, 4:15 · Louisiana Tech 14, Army 7▲31%Louisiana Tech’s chance to win, 49% to 80%▲31%Louisiana Tech’s chance to win, 49% to 80%Watch from this playSun Belt Conference
  4. Q2, 0:51Hellums intercepted by Mcrae at the LAT05Q2, 0:51 · Louisiana Tech 14, Army 7▲3%Louisiana Tech’s chance to win, 75% to 78%▲3%Louisiana Tech’s chance to win, 75% to 78%Watch from this playSun Belt Conference
  5. Q3, 11:47Calwise 74-yd TD pass to Brooks, two-point try goodLouisiana Tech goes ahead 22-15Q3, 11:47 · Louisiana Tech 22, Army 15▲25%Louisiana Tech’s chance to win, 53% to 78%▲25%Louisiana Tech’s chance to win, 53% to 78%Watch from this playSun Belt Conference
  6. Q3, 6:07Kukuk 7-yd TD runLouisiana Tech leads 28-15Q3, 6:07 · Louisiana Tech 28, Army 15▲5%Louisiana Tech’s chance to win, 86% to 91%▲5%Louisiana Tech’s chance to win, 86% to 91%Watch from this playSun Belt Conference
  7. Q4, 13:11Hellums 1-yd TD runcuts it to 28-22Q4, 13:11 · Louisiana Tech 28, Army 22▼8%Louisiana Tech’s chance to win, 89% to 81%▼8%Louisiana Tech’s chance to win, 89% to 81%Watch from this playSun Belt Conference
  8. Q4, 1:07Hellums 6-yd TD pass to Poloskeycuts it to 31-29Q4, 1:07 · Louisiana Tech 31, Army 29▲5%Louisiana Tech’s chance to win, 90% to 95%▲5%Louisiana Tech’s chance to win, 90% to 95%Watch from this playSun Belt Conference

Every drive

Louisiana Tech scored on 5 of its 10 drives; Army on 4 of its 9.

Louisiana Tech’s drives are teal, Army’s amber. A line runs from where a drive started to where it ended; a filled dot means it scored.

own goalgoal lineQ1Louisiana Tech: Touchdown, from 83 yards out to 0TouchdownArmy: Touchdown, from 75 yards out to 0TouchdownLouisiana Tech: Turned over on downs, from 58 yards out to 39DownsArmy: Punt, from 61 yards out to 58PuntQ2Louisiana Tech: Punt, from 80 yards out to 75PuntArmy: Punt, from 83 yards out to 42PuntLouisiana Tech: Touchdown, from 96 yards out to 0TouchdownArmy: Interception, from 75 yards out to 40InterceptionLouisiana Tech: Missed field goal, from 94 yards out to 28Missed FGQ3Army: Touchdown, from 75 yards out to 0TouchdownLouisiana Tech: Touchdown, from 86 yards out to 0TouchdownArmy: Punt, from 86 yards out to 87PuntLouisiana Tech: Touchdown, from 65 yards out to 0TouchdownArmy: Touchdown, from 75 yards out to 0TouchdownQ4Louisiana Tech: Field goal, from 75 yards out to 14Field goalArmy: Turned over on downs, from 75 yards out to 27DownsLouisiana Tech: Punt, from 73 yards out to 46PuntArmy: Touchdown, from 95 yards out to 0TouchdownLouisiana Tech: End of game, from 40 yards out to 42End of game

From Army’s side

Army’s best moment: 40-yd punt (Q4 2:17). It lifted Army’s win chance by 10 points.

“Yeah keep that paper bag on.”
A fan of another team

When fans got loud

Roaring

The jump was roaring; the crowd was quiet.

FirstSecondThirdFourthLouisiana Tech fansArmy fans

Box score

Louisiana Tech 31, Army 29

Louisiana Tech covered −1.5 by 0.5. The total, 60, went over 46.5.

ArmyLouisiana TechTotal yardsArmy 421Louisiana Tech 503421503Passing yardsArmy 151Louisiana Tech 259151259Rushing yardsArmy 270Louisiana Tech 244270244First downsArmy 25Louisiana Tech 202520TurnoversArmy 1Louisiana Tech 010Time of possessionArmy 32:05Louisiana Tech 32:4532:0532:45
Team totalsArmyLouisiana Tech
Total yards421503
Passing12 of 24, 151 yds17 of 24, 259 yds
Rushing45 for 270 yds33 for 244 yds
First downs2520
Third down7 of 144 of 10
Fourth down1 of 21 of 2
Turnovers10
Penalties6 for 65 yds10 for 76 yds
Time of possession32:0532:45

Army leaders

  • Passing Cale Hellums 12 of 24, 151 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
  • Rushing Samari Howard 12 for 158 yds, 1 TD; Cale Hellums 19 for 55 yds, 1 TD
  • Receiving Bradyn Anderson 4 for 79 yds; Zach Mundell 3 for 29 yds

Louisiana Tech leaders

  • Passing Trey Kukuk 16 of 22, 185 yds
  • Rushing Dylone Brooks 7 for 119 yds, 1 TD; Andrew Burnette 10 for 54 yds
  • Receiving Dylone Brooks 2 for 81 yds, 1 TD; Eli Finley 4 for 79 yds

No rain through the game

79° at kickoff · no rain recorded

October game-day temperatures at Joe Aillet Stadium

Win chance with rain, wind and thunder from the nearest airport, by game timeQ1Q2Q3Q4Louisiana Tech favoredArmy favored100%Win chanceLouisiana TechRaininches per 10 min0.1 inNo rain recordedWindmph, average and gusts20 mph40 mphHourly wind only at this airport
Win chance with rain, wind and thunder from the nearest airport, by game timeQ1Q2Q3Q4Louisiana Tech favoredArmy favoredRain · inches per 10 min0.1 inNo rain recordedWind · miles per hour2040Hourly wind only at this airport

Drag along the chart, or step through the game.

Second quarter, 4:15 left7:37 p.m.
Army 7, Louisiana Tech 14 · Louisiana Tech 80% to win
no rain · 77°
Brooks 72-yd TD run, Louisiana Tech goes ahead 14-7

Jump to

Where this weather comes fromMeasured at Ruston airport, 4.1 miles away. Rain is NOAA's radar-and-gauge estimate at the stadium and wind is an airport reading; neither is measured on the field. Game times come from the play-by-play, good to a minute or two. Source: National Weather Service, through the Iowa Environmental Mesonet; rain radar from NOAA MRMS, through Iowa State University. Field direction from OpenStreetMap contributors.

Before kickoff

Recent games, the series and the betting line below are as they stood going in; the season profile is the season so far.

Recent games

Last three games

Army · 2-1

Rated 39th in our preseason ratings, 44th now.

2-1 in its last three — but nothing on this résumé beats a top-40 team yet.

W 21-17 @ Temple #89 of 668

won by 4 as a 4-point favorite

Army won 21-17 at Temple. Chance to win started at 50%, low 28%, high 88%.

L 24-28 vs South Florida #66 of 668

lost by 4 as a 3-point favorite

Army lost 24-28 vs South Florida. Chance to win started at 63%, low 1%, high 97%.

W 59-3 vs Bryant #198 of 668

won by 56 as a 37.5-point favorite

Army won 59-3 vs Bryant. Chance to win started at 99%, low 99%, high better than 99%.

Last three games

Louisiana Tech · 1-2

Rated 88th in our preseason ratings, 94th now.

1-2 in its last three — but nothing on this résumé beats a top-40 team yet.

L 19-36 @ Baylor #35 of 668

lost by 17 as a 20.5-point underdog

Louisiana Tech lost 19-36 at Baylor. Chance to win started at 5%, low under 1%, high 9%.

L 14-45 @ LSUTop 25 #24 of 668

lost by 31 as a 34.5-point underdog

Louisiana Tech lost 14-45 at LSU. Chance to win started at 1%, low under 1%, high 4%.

W 80-6 vs Northwestern State #259 of 668

won by 74 as a 44.5-point favorite

Louisiana Tech won 80-6 vs Northwestern State. Chance to win started at 99%, low 98%, high better than 99%.

Week by week

Louisiana Tech

Wk 1: W 80-6 vs Northwestern State▲74Northwestern St.Wk 2: L 14-45 at LSU▼31LSUWk 3: L 19-36 at Baylor▼17Baylor
  • Wk 1Wvs Northwestern State80-6
  • Wk 2Lat LSU14-45
  • Wk 3Lat Baylor19-36

Army

Wk 1: W 59-3 vs Bryant▲56BryantWk 2: L 24-28 vs South Florida▼4South FloridaWk 4: W 21-17 at Temple▲4Temple
  • Wk 1Wvs Bryant59-3
  • Wk 2Lvs South Florida24-28
  • Wk 4Wat Temple21-17

Power rating by week

Army is rated 5.2 points ahead as of week 4. Our power rating by week; higher is better.

61-3Wk 0Wk 2Wk 4Louisiana TechArmy

Matchups

Biggest mismatch: Army’s passing EPA against Louisiana Tech, 70 points

Each row ranks the two sides among all teams. The longer the line, the bigger the mismatch.

  1. Louisiana Tech’s explosive plays against Army’s defense

    69 pointsweakerstronger50th

    Louisiana Tech offense, 81st percentile · Army defense, 12th

  2. Army’s passing EPA against Louisiana Tech’s defense

    70 pointsweakerstronger50th

    Army offense, 12th percentile · Louisiana Tech defense, 82nd

  3. Louisiana Tech’s EPA/play against Army’s defense

    22 pointsweakerstronger50th

    Louisiana Tech offense, 39th percentile · Army defense, 17th

Season profile, all the rows

Season profile

ArmyLouisiana Tech
EPA/play, offense
Army · 97Louisiana Tech · 39
EPA/play, defense
Army · 17Louisiana Tech · 77
Success rate, offense
Army · 98Louisiana Tech · 21
Success rate, defense
Army · 25Louisiana Tech · 76
Explosive-play rate, offense
Army · 5Louisiana Tech · 81
Explosive-play rate, defense
Army · 12Louisiana Tech · 26
Rush EPA, offense
Army · 100Louisiana Tech · 19
Rush EPA, defense
Army · 11Louisiana Tech · 62
Pass EPA, offense
Army · 12Louisiana Tech · 70
Pass EPA, defense
Army · 26Louisiana Tech · 82

The series

Army leads the series 3-0

3 meetings since 2008 · Army has won the last 3

  • 2024 · neutral siteArmy 27-6Louisiana Tech lost 6-27 vs Army. Chance to win started at 20%, low under 1%, high 22%.
  • 2013 · neutral siteArmy 35-16
  • 2008Army 14-7

Each line is Louisiana Tech’s chance to win through that meeting. Older meetings have no play by play, so no line.

Line, fans and home field

The betting line, and the fans

Louisiana Tech fans are in a better mood than Army fans (48th vs 14th among FBS fanbases), even with Army favored.

  • Model · 30%
  • Line · 55%
  • Louisiana Tech fans · 48th
  • Army fans · 14th

Louisiana Tech favored by 1.5 · Total 46.5

How games like this usually go

Louisiana Tech by 1.5, and it went to form

50%90%Q1Q2Q3Q450%90%Q1Q2Q3Q4

Half of games8 in 10 gamesThis game

The band is where a favorite’s chance ran in the 252 games since 2025 with a favorite of under 3.5 points.

The market

The spread moved 5 points toward Louisiana Tech.

opened +3.5now −1.5

The total rose 2 points.

opened 44.5now 46.5

Spread: +3.5 → −1.5 · Total: 44.5 → 46.5

The books’ cut: 4.7%, the margin built into the odds

Weather at kickoff

Warm and dry. Feels like 79° at kickoff.

Army at Louisiana Tech · Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026 · Joe Aillet Stadium, Ruston

  • 79°feels like at kickoff
  • Dryno rain at kickoff
  • 98weather score, Comfortable
  • Tiedfor the best of the day's 5 kickoff times

At kickoff, Oct. 3, 2026.

Weather score: 0 to 100, higher is better, for the first 3 hours and 20 minutes of the game. Ideal is 100, Comfortable 90 to 99, Mixed 75 to 89, Rough 50 to 74, Harsh under 50.

Kickoff times that Saturday

Games in this time zone used 5 kickoff times that day, local time (kickoffs within 30 minutes of each other count as one). This game, ringed, was tied for the best of the day's five kickoff times. At Joe Aillet Stadium that day, a 2:30 pm or 3:15 pm kickoff would have scored 82, against 98 at 6 pm.

  • 11 am: 96, Comfortable
  • 2:30 pm: 82, Mixed
  • 3:15 pm: 82, Mixed
  • 6 pm: 98, Comfortable (this game)
  • 6:45 pm: 98, Comfortable

Weather score at each kickoff time.

Tap a dot to read that kickoff time.

At kickoff, Oct. 3, 2026. Wind is not drawn here; gusts are in each score.

Home field

Louisiana Tech is worth +7.5 points (±3.7) more at home than on the road since 2018 — top tenth of FBS, 97th percentile.

61% at home, 27% on the road against FBS opponents (23-15 home, 14-37 away).

Our model gives every stadium the same flat 2.3-point home edge (why); the books use about 3. Against the closing line this stadium reads +3.4 at home vs. away over 97 games — inside the ±5.8 noise, so the flat number is the honest one here.

Night kickoff — historically worth about half a point more to the home side against the number, and not much more than that. The visitors travel about 1,196 miles to get here.

Where next