Last season, ULM hosted Arkansas State in the inaugural Rice Bowl and snapped a long-standing losing streak in the series with a 28-16 victory. The win marked the Warhawks' first triumph over the Red Wolves since 2009 and provided one of the highlights of an otherwise difficult season.

Now, ULM will attempt to break another streak when it travels to Jonesboro on Saturday. The Warhawks (1-7, 1-3 Sun Belt) have not won on Arkansas State's home field since 2001 and will be looking to end a 23-year drought. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.



Arkansas State (4-4, 2-2 Sun Belt) enters the contest with momentum behind an offense led by quarterback Trey Owens. Owens ranks second in the Sun Belt Conference in passing, throwing for 1,940 yards this season while helping the Red Wolves remain in contention in the conference standings.

The Red Wolves' passing attack recently suffered a setback, however, as leading receiver Hunter Summers was dismissed from the program by head coach Butch Jones following an off-field incident. Despite losing one of their top playmakers, Arkansas State still possesses plenty of firepower on the perimeter.

Wide receiver Jaylen Bonelli has emerged as a reliable target with 31 receptions for 452 yards and three touchdowns, while Chauncy Cobb has hauled in 35 catches for 382 yards and a score. Together, the duo gives Owens more than enough receiving talent to keep opposing defenses under pressure.

Defensively, Arkansas State is anchored by a veteran secondary led by Dontrae Henderson and Brandon Greil. Their ability to limit explosive plays and create turnovers has helped the Red Wolves remain competitive throughout conference play.

For ULM, the key to pulling off an upset will be offensive consistency. Quarterback Aidan Armenta has shown flashes of potential but will need to elevate his production after completing just 57 percent of his passes over the last two games. The Warhawks cannot afford to be one-dimensional against an Arkansas State defense that has proven capable of forcing opponents into predictable situations.

An improved ground game could be equally important. ULM has yet to produce a 100-yard rusher this season, a statistic that highlights the offense's struggles to establish balance. Generating a consistent rushing attack would not only take pressure off Armenta but also help control the clock and keep Owens and the Arkansas State offense on the sideline.

If the Warhawks can find offensive balance, protect the football, and finish drives in the red zone, they may have a chance to end another lengthy streak and leave Jonesboro with a much-needed conference victory.