Troy Hosts Louisiana Tech for Homecoming - Troy University Athletics

TROY, Ala. – Coming off its biggest victory of the season, Troy hosts Louisiana Tech for Homecoming at The Vet. The first-ever meeting between the Trojans and Bulldogs kicks off at 3 p.m.

Troy (4-4, 2-2 SBC) went on the road last Thursday to defeat James Madison in a rematch of the 2025 Sun Belt Conference Championship Game, snapping the Dukes' 11-game home winning streak.

The Trojans rallied from a 14-point deficit at halftime, sparked by three interceptions – one returned for a touchdown – and two key pass break ups by fifth-year safety Justin Powe, who would go on to sweep all of the national and conference defensive player of the week awards.

Hayden Wolfe booted a 27-yard field goal in overtime after the Trojans held the Dukes scoreless on their overtime possession to secure the win.

Troy is 3-1 at home this season but is looking to bounce back from a tough loss its last time in The Vet, when the Trojans surrendered 21 points over the final 2:34 as ULM came back from a 14-3 deficit and stunned Troy.

Louisiana Tech (6-2, 4-0) has won five straight games since dropping consecutive contests to LSU and Baylor in mid-September. The Bulldogs' winning streak is tied for the eighth-longest active streak, and their six-game conference winning streak (dating back to C-USA last year) ranks sixth.

Quarterback Blake Baker has thrown 13 touchdown passes and just one interception, leading the La Tech offense, while Alonzo Jackson Jr. is tied with Troy's Donnie Smith for the league lead with seven sacks.

Notable
• Justin Powe is the first player since Louisiana Tech's Amik Robertson (Oct. 19, 2019) to have three interceptions and two pass break ups in a game. He is the first player since App State's Tae Hayes (Oct. 7, 2017) to have three interceptions, two pass break ups and a touchdown

• Justin Powe is the No. 1 ranked safety in the country (min. 420 snaps) per PFF, with his 89.9 grade. He also ranks third nationally among safeties with an 89.7 coverage grade

• Troy has attempted 22 fourth-down conversions, the 13th most in the country

• Troy ranks eighth nationally, holding four teams to 150 passing yards or fewer this season

• Troy has held four opponents to fewer than 150 passing yards this season, tied for the eighth most in the country.

• Troy's 437 rushing yards against Southern Miss were the most in a SBC game since Georgia Southern rushed for 507 yards against New Mexico State on Oct. 17, 2015, and the most by a Troy squad since 2002

• Troy forced five turnovers in the victory at James Madison last week, the most since the 2022 Cure Bowl

• Troy's quarterbacks rank ninth nationally, forcing 0.31 missed tackles per attempt. They are also ninth nationally, averaging 4.2 yards after contact

• Donnie Smith is tied for 10th nationally (PFF) with 25 quarterback hurries. Among players with 175 snaps, ranks 15th nationally with a 13.4 win percentage and 11th with a 14.3 pressure percentage (plays with pressure generated/pass rush snaps)

• Troy ranks 11th nationally, holding opponents to a 72.0 percent success rate in the red zone (18-of-25) ... the Trojans are 53rd with a 56.0 touchdown rate allowed (14-of-25)

• Troy's rushing attack ranks seventh nationally per PFF with a 90.4 grade

• Jabari Strait has allowed receptions on just 39.4 percent of targets against him (13-of-33); that ranks 10th among FBS players with at least 30 targets. He also ranks 10th nationally with just six first downs allowed in coverage (min. 30 targets)

• Donnie Smith has a sack in 16 games over the last two seasons, the most in the country

• Troy's 85 victories since 2016 are tied for the 22nd most in the country and sixth most amongst all G6 schools

• Troy forced 23 missed tackles in the victory at James Madison and ranks fifth in the country with 94 missed tackles forced in the run game

• Troy has rushed for 1,551 yards through eight games; the Trojans rushed for 1,372 yards in 14 games last year

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Players Mentioned

Justin Powe

Donnie Smith

Jabari Strait

Hayden Wolfe

Troy University Athletics