WSU added the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs to the 2025 schedule Wednesday. The game will take place Nov. 25, 2025, at Gesa Field. It will be the first between the two schools and the first matchup with an opponent from Conference USA since 2010, when the Cougs played SMU in Dallas, TX.
WSU played New Mexico State in 2019, a current member of the Conference USA, but the Aggies were not yet a member of the conference at the time.
As the schedule continues to come together, WSU continues to venture far from its normal comfort zone and is far more in line with an independent schedule without a 2025 schedule agreement with the Mountain West.
“We’re filling out the schedule. We’re looking far and wide. Finding games at this time after losing the [MWC] partnership isn’t easy. Our administration is doing a good job finding a bunch of different opponents, obviously outside our normal scope of who we play,” WSU head coach Jake Dickert said. “It’s so late, these are the very few teams that have an opportunity to play or we can move around games, and we just take the schedule as it comes.”
WSU has recent ties to LTU, with senior wide receiver Kyle Maxwell transferring from being a Bulldog to a Coug this offseason. Maxwell has one catch for four yards this season and recorded 52 catches for 702 yards and four touchdowns in four seasons with LTU.
LTU football was established in 1901. They hold an all-time record of 642-499-37, with a bowl record of 8-4-1. They have significantly progressed over the years, jumping from Division II where they won three consecutive national titles from 1972-74, to Division I the next year.
LTU football is highlighted by three current Pro Football Hall of Famers in tackle Willie Roaf (2012), defensive end Fred Dean (2008) and Quarterback Terry Bradshaw (1989). Bradshaw is now most known for his television personality on the Fox Sports halftime show.
There have been 76 Bulldogs drafted all-time, including five current NFL players. Most notable is cornerback L’Jarius Sneed of the Tennessee Titans, who was a part of the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl runs each of the last two seasons.
After seven straight seasons with a bowl game appearance from 2014-20 under head coach Skip Holtz, going 6-1 in those games, LTU has struggled in the last four seasons, especially the last three under new head coach Sonny Cumbie.
Cumbie’s Bulldogs have not won more than three games in a season, going 3-9 in 2022 and 23’, holding a record of 8-22. LTU is 2-4 in 2024 so far.
The addition of LTU to the Cougs 2025 schedule is the eighth so far, with four more necessary. As it sits now, WSU will face the following teams at home in order: Idaho, San Diego State, Washington, Louisiana Tech and Oregon State. Wazzu will face the following teams on the road: North Texas, Virginia and Ole Miss.
It is uncertain what WSU will do to finish the schedule, and highly unpredictable. But if one thing is clear, it is that anyone could be on the table, schedule allowing.
