What Is 2017 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2017 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team finished with a 7-6 overall record, competing in Conference USA under head coach Skip Holtz. They played their home games at Joe Aillet Stadium in Ruston, Louisiana, and lost to Hawaii in the 2017 Hawaii Bowl.

Key Facts

2017 record: 7-6 overall and 5-3 in Conference USA play
Head coach Skip Holtz led the team in his fifth season
Played home games at Joe Aillet Stadium in Ruston, LA
Defeated by Hawaii 35-28 in the 2017 Hawaii Bowl
Quarterback J'Mon Moore threw for 2,804 yards and 22 touchdowns

Overview

The 2017 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football season marked the program's 102nd year of competition. Competing in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) as a member of Conference USA, the team represented Louisiana Tech University during the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season.

Under the leadership of head coach Skip Holtz, the Bulldogs finished the regular season with a 7-5 record, securing a spot in the Hawaii Bowl. The season featured a mix of strong offensive performances and defensive challenges, culminating in a postseason appearance despite a narrow bowl loss.

Overall record: The team finished with a 7-6 record, including a 5-3 mark in Conference USA play during the regular season.
Head coach: Skip Holtz was in his fifth year at the helm, guiding the program through a transitional season with several key roster changes.
Home stadium: All home games were played at Joe Aillet Stadium in Ruston, Louisiana, which has a seating capacity of 28,562.
Offensive leader: Quarterback J'Mon Moore threw for 2,804 yards and 22 touchdowns, leading the team’s passing attack.
Bowl game: The Bulldogs lost 35-28 to the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors in the 2017 Hawaii Bowl on December 23, 2017.

Season Performance

The 2017 campaign featured a balanced mix of offensive production and defensive inconsistencies. While the team showed flashes of dominance, particularly in conference play, they struggled to maintain consistency against stronger opponents.

Conference standing: Louisiana Tech finished third in the C-USA West Division, behind division champion North Texas and UAB.
Key victory: A 31-14 win over UTSA in October helped solidify their postseason eligibility and bowl hopes.
Defensive stats: The team allowed an average of 26.5 points per game, ranking them in the lower half of FBS teams defensively.
Rushing attack: Running back Boston Scott led the ground game with 1,152 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on the season.
Special teams: Kicker Jonathan Barnes converted 18 of 22 field goal attempts, providing reliable scoring support.
Turnover margin: The Bulldogs finished with a turnover margin of +0.1, indicating a near-even balance between takeaways and giveaways.

Comparison at a Glance

Performance comparison between the 2017 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and select Conference USA peers:

Team	Overall Record	C-USA Record	Bowl Result	Points Per Game
Louisiana Tech	7-6	5-3	Lost Hawaii Bowl	28.5
North Texas	9-4	6-2	Won New Orleans Bowl	35.1
Western Kentucky	6-7	4-4	Lost Boca Raton Bowl	29.2
UTSA	6-7	4-4	Lost New Mexico Bowl	26.8
Marshall	3-9	2-6	Did not qualify	21.3

The Bulldogs ranked in the middle tier of the conference in terms of overall performance. While not matching North Texas’ success, they outperformed lower-tier teams like Marshall and remained competitive throughout the season.

Why It Matters

The 2017 season was significant for maintaining program stability and bowl eligibility under Skip Holtz. It also served as a foundation for future recruiting and development within the program.

Bowl continuity: The appearance marked Louisiana Tech’s fourth consecutive bowl game, highlighting sustained competitiveness in Conference USA.
Player development: Running back Boston Scott’s breakout season elevated his NFL draft profile, eventually signing as an undrafted free agent.
Recruiting momentum: A winning record and bowl game helped boost visibility for the program in Louisiana and Texas recruiting regions.
Offensive identity: The team’s high-scoring offense emphasized speed and versatility, setting a template for future offensive schemes.
Conference relevance: Maintaining a top-half standing reinforced Louisiana Tech’s role as a consistent contender in C-USA.
Facility investment: Continued strong attendance at Joe Aillet Stadium supported future upgrades and funding initiatives.

The 2017 season, while not a championship run, demonstrated resilience and growth for the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, positioning the program for continued progress in the years that followed.