RUSTON, La. (AP) For Louisiana Tech safety Secdrick Cooper and fellow seniors, there is an urgency to finally capture a prize that has narrowly eluded them.

"My main goal for this season is to help this team bring the conference championship because, you know, I've been there the last three years and just getting so far and just not completing the mission, it just hurts so bad," Cooper said. "I just want that so bad."

The Bulldogs have won three consecutive bowl games, but have come up short in the Conference USA title race, losing in the league's championship game twice - first to Marshall in 2014 and then Western Kentucky last season.