Thursday, Sept. 19
South Alabama at App State
6:30 p.m. ESPN
SOUTH ALABAMA | NOTES THE SERIES VS. APP STATE –
App State owns a 4-1 series lead all time against South Alabama – South Alabama’s lone victory against the Mountaineers took place on App State’s home field – The two schools have not met since the 2021 campaign Oct. 4, 2014 South Alabama 47, App State 21 Dec. 5, 2015 App State 34, South Alabama 27 Sept. 29, 2018 App State 52, South Alabama 7 Oct. 26, 2019 App State 30, South Alabama 3 Nov. 13, 2021 App State 31, South Alabama 7
JAGS IN SUN BELT OPENERS –
Since joining the Sun Belt Conference in 2012, South Alabama has a 5-7 record in league openers – Thursday will mark the third-consecutive season the Jags have opened league play on the road – South Alabama had alternated losses and wins in conference openers since the 2017 season 2012 at Troy L, 10-31 2013 Western Kentucky W, 31-24 2014 Georgia Southern L, 6-28 2015 Troy W, 24-18 2016 Georgia Southern L, 9-24 2017 Idaho L, 23-29 2018 Texas State W, 41-31 2019 at ULM L, 17-30 2020 Texas State W, 30-20 2021 Louisiana L, 18-20 2022 at Louisiana W, 20-17 2023 at James Madison L, 23-31
PRITCHETT’S PUNT RETURN –
Jamaal Pritchett returned the first punt of the game against Northwestern State 62 yards for a touchdown, giving the Jags their first punt return for a touchdown since Sept. 24, 2022 against Louisiana Tech
DJ TIMES TWO –
Tight end DJ Thomas-Jones caught two touchdown passes in South Alabama’s win over Northwestern State – In each of the last three games Thomas-Jones has caught a touchdown pass, he has caught at least two scores – Thomas-Jones caught a pair of touchdowns in South Alabama’s 68 ventures bowl in 2023, and three touchdowns in last year’s regular season finale at Texas State DOUBLE TROUBLE – Running backs Fluff Bothwell and Kentrel Bullock both rushed for over one hundred yards and two touchdowns in last week’s victory over Northwestern State – It was the first time South Alabama had two, 100-yard rushers in the same game since facing Louisiana in 2019
FRESHMAN PHENOMS IN ALL PHASES –
South Alabama is getting major contributions from a true freshman in all phases of the game – True freshman running back Fluff Bothwell is currently South Alabama’s leading rusher with 243 yards and four touchdowns – True freshman cornerback Amarion Fortenberry has started the last two games at corner and owns 10 tackles, two pass breakups and an interception on the year – True freshman kicker Davis Little has been splitting kickoff duties, and went 4-for-4 on PATs in South’s win over Northwestern State STREAKING – South Alabama receiver Jamaal Pritchett has now caught a touchdown in four-straight game dating back to last season’s 68 Ventures Bowl victory – Pritchett caught a pair of touchdowns in the 68 Ventures Bowl, then scored two against Northwestern State, giving him six in his last-four games
SLUMP BUSTER –
By defeating Northwestern State, South Alabama avoided three-straight losses for the first time since the 2021 campaign – Since losing four in a row to end the 2021 season, South Alabama has lost back-to-back games on four occasions, but has always responded with a victory in the third game #PROJAGS – South Alabama has multiple alumni playing in the NFL this season – Wide receiver Jalen Tolbert caught six passes for 82 yards for the Dallas Cowboys in a 44-19 loss to the New Orleans Saints – Defensive back Darrell Luter Jr. did not record any statistics in the San Francisco 49ers’ loss to the Minnesota Vikings – Defensive back Jeremy Reaves did not record any statistics for the Washington commanders in the team’s win over the New York Giants – Tight end Gerald Everett caught two passes for one yard in the Chicago Bears’ loss to the Houston Texans
WATCHLIST WARRIOR –
Senior safety Jaden Voisin saw his name appear on 10 various preseason watchlists in the weeks and months leading up to kickoff – Voisin finished the 2023 season as a First Team All-Sun Belt selection – Voisin’s preseason watch lists include Phil Steele’s preseason team, Athlon Sports preseason team, SBC preseason team, Shrine Bowl 1,000 List, Nagurski Watchlist, Thorpe Award Watchlist, Wuerffel Trophy Watchlist, HERO Sports G5 All-American list, Bednarik Award Watchlist and the 2025 Senior Bowl Watchlist
LEARNING FROM THE BEST –
Quarterback Gio Lopez was invited to serve as a camp counselor at the prestigious Manning Passing Academy over the summer
SEEING DOUBLE –
South Alabama will play the 2024 season with two sets of twins on its roster – Safety Jaden Voisin and wide receiver Devin Voisin are both entering their senior years. The brothers hail from Crestview, Fla. – Tight end Trent Thomas and defensive lineman Tyler Thomas will both be redshirt freshman in 2024. The brothers are native to Mobile, and Tyler transferred home after spending his true freshman season at UAB.
APP STATE’S NOTES
TOP STORYLINES
• Facing South Alabama to open league play, App State is 9-1 in Sun Belt openers, with nine straight wins since a 2014 loss in the Mountaineers’ first FBS season. They have won their last two Sun Belt openers on the final play, using a Hail Mary TD catch by Christan Horn to beat Troy on the same day ESPN’s College GameDay aired from Boone in 2022 and then getting Michael Hughes’ 54-yard field goal as time expired in a 41-40 victory at ULM in 2023.
• Last month, Kidd Brewer Stadium was listed at No. 23 overall on ESPN’s list of top 25 college football stadiums in the country. Thirteen of the top 16 crowds in stadium history have occurred since the start of 2022, and all 14 home crowds in that stretch have eclipsed 30,000. The Mountaineers led all FBS schools in percentage of stadium capacity filled (115.8%) last season.
• App State opened the 2024 season against FCS-level ETSU in a sold-out Kidd Brewer Stadium and drew the third-biggest crowd in stadium history (36,232). In May, season tickets sold out for the third straight year for a program that set Sun Belt season attendance records in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
• App State’s last four midweek home games have drawn crowds of 34,252 (vs. Coastal Carolina on a Tuesday in 2023), 31,757 (vs. Georgia State on a Wednesday in 2022), 31,061 (vs. Coastal Carolina on a Wednesday in 2021) and 28,377 (vs. Marshall on a Thursday in 2021).
• App State has a 96-31 record since starting 1-5 in its 2014 FBS debut. The only teams with more wins than the Mountaineers’ 97 since their transition are Alabama (130), Clemson (120), Ohio State (117), Georgia (117) and Oklahoma (105). App State’s winning percentage of .774 (65-19) vs. league opponents since 2014 ranks seventh nationally.
• Under head coach Shawn Clark, App State is one of five G5 programs (and 14 FBS programs) with at least three nine-win seasons since the start of 2020.
• With 964 passing yards and five TD passes so far this year, including a career-high 424 yards at ECU, Joey Aguilar is the nation’s only returning FBS QB who had 33-plus TD passes and 3,700-plus passing yards in 2023. His 15 TD passes to either tie a game or give his team a lead led the country in 2023, and he has two more of those TD passes through three games in 2024.
• Falling behind 16-0 after one quarter at ECU, App State posted its largest comeback win since a Sun Belt game at Idaho in 2017, when the Mountaineers overcame a 20-0 deficit to win 23-20.
MORE STORYLINES
• Shawn Clark’s team ranked 33rd nationally by returning 68 percent of its production from 2023. The roster had 34 scholarship newcomers entering 2024, including 15 from the transfer portal.
• The only FBS programs in the country with four conference championship game appearances in the last six seasons are App State, Alabama, Boise State, Clemson, Georgia, Oregon and Utah. The Mountaineers have won four Sun Belt titles overall, plus division titles in 2021 and 2023.
• Shawn Clark has led the Mountaineers to a win over a ranked opponent in each of the last three years: 30-27 over No. 14 Coastal Carolina in 2021, 17-14 over No. 6 Texas A&M in 2022 and 26-23 (OT) over No. 18 James Madison in 2023. App State is 3-3 in its last six games vs. ranked teams.
• Armanti Edwards, a record-setting and title-winning QB for the Mountaineers from 2006-09, is one of 22 members of the 2024 College Football Hall of Fame Class. The official induction ceremony will be held Dec. 10 during the 66th NFF Annual Awards Dinner in Las Vegas.
• App State was among the programs featured by EA Sports in the promotion of the College Football 25 video game, with WR Kaedin Robinson receiving extended exposure as a returner.
• Nine team captains have been named for the 2024 season: DE Kevin Abrams-Verwayne, QB Joey Aguilar, RB Anderson Castle, SAF Jordan Favors, STAR/SPT Andre Hamilton, ILB Brendan Harrington, WR Christan Horn, WR Kaedin Robinson and K Michael Hughes.
• App State is one of 32 FBS teams that returns the same head coach, offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, starting quarterback and head strength coach from 2023.
• All four App State losses in the 2023 regular season were decided in the closing seconds (by a combined 19 points). Of the program’s last 14 losses, 10 have been one-possession games.
• Under head coach Shawn Clark, App State is 18-1 when winning the turnover battle.
• App State led the Sun Belt with 14 alums on NFL rosters in 2023, and there are 13 football alums on current NFL rosters.
OFFENSE
• QB Joey Aguilar, four of the top five running backs and five of the top seven pass-catching targets returned from 2023 for an offense with one returning starter on the offensive line.
• For the first time since 2017, when Frank Ponce had a fourth straight year coaching quarterback Taylor Lamb, App State opened a season with the same starting quarterback and quarterbacks coach from the previous season. Zac Thomas played under Ponce in 2018, then had different coordinators in 2019 and 2020. Chase Brice played for different coordinators in 2021 (Ponce for his second stint in Boone) and 2022.
• In addition to his 33 TD passes in 2023, a total that ranked fifth nationally, QB Joey Aguilar also set school records of 3,757 passing yards and 4,002 yards of total offense in 2023. Replacing the injured starter in the first half of the 2023 opener, he threw a TD pass on his first FBS play by hitting Kaedin Robinson for a 32-yard score. Aguilar then threw an 83-yard TD pass to Christan Horn on the second offensive snap (and first pass) of 2024.
• At ECU, Joey Aguilar threw for a career-high 424 yards and two TDs, including a 36-yard, go-ahead score to Makai Jackson late in the third quarter. His 32 completions and 47 pass attempts were also career highs. The 424 passing yards set a record for a road performance by an App State QB and rank as the third-best total in program history, behind only the 433 yards from Armanti Edwards against South Carolina State in a 2008 playoff game and the 427 yards from Taylor Lamb against Coastal Carolina in 2017.
• Kaedin Robinson opened 2024 with eight catches for 103 yards after tying for the Sun Belt lead last year with 10 TD receptions while catching 67 passes for 905 yards — the most single-season receiving yards by an App State player in the FBS era. He had another 100-yard game with a career-high 129 yards on seven catches at ECU, giving him at least one catch in 27 consecutive games.
• TE Eli Wilson had a momentum-swinging, 34-yard TD catch in the 2024 opener and App State’s first TD at ECU. He ranked in the top three among Sun Belt tight ends in catches (34), yards (350) and touchdown catches (five) in 2023.
• WR Makai Jackson has scored a TD in all three games. He scored on a 47-yard end-around in the opener, led the team with an FBS career-high six catches in the loss at Clemson (including a 17-yard TD) and scored the go-ahead TD at ECU during a six-catch, 86-yard performance.
• Returning from a 2023 preseason injury to play in the final six games of last year, RB Anderson Castle gained 80 yards on seven carries (only one after halftime) in the loss at Clemson and made his second career start at ECU. His10-yard run allowed App State to run out the clock.
DEFENSE
• App State brought back a pair of returning starters on the line, at linebacker and in the secondary.
• A defense that recorded four sacks and recovered one fumble at ECU made another key stop when CB Seth Robertson intercepted a deep pass at the App State 31 and returned the ball 21 yards with the Mountaineers holding a two-point lead in the final five minutes.
• Joshua Donald, Cahari Haynes, Montez Kelley and Santana Hopper produced sacks vs. ECU, which had 110 yards of offense in the first quarter but managed 214 yards the rest of the way.
• In the 2024 opener, App State recorded three sacks over the final 18 minutes. OLB Thomas Davis accounted for 1.5 of them on back-to-back plays late in the third quarter, with help from DE Kevin Abrams-Verwayne on one, and ILB Derrell Farrar also had a sack. ILB Kyle Arnholt posted a team-high 10 tackles as the Mountaineers limited ETSU to 305 total yards, with 80 coming on their only touchdown of the day.
• ILB Brendan Harrington had six tackles, including one tackle for loss, in his inspiring return to the lineup vs. ETSU, then had six more tackles at Clemson and two at ECU. He has shown toughness and perseverance after suffering season-ending injuries early in the 2022 season (shoulder injury in the opener vs. UNC) and the 2023 season (knee injury in Week 2 vs. UNC).
• OLB Nate Johnson (Gaffney, S.C.) and DL Santana Hopper were named Freshman All-Americans last season, when Johnson tied for first nationally among true freshmen with 7.5 sacks and Hopper made a late-season surge while contributing 3.5 sacks among his 7.5 tackles for loss.
• Nate Johnson had a first-half sack at ECU erased by a targeting call, while Santana Hopper was named the national defensive player of the week by PFF College after forcing a fumble on a third-quarter sack and also stopping a run for no gain among his three tackles. PFF credited him with three QB pressures and gave him a 94.5 run-defense grade.
• Last year, safety Jordan Favors tied for the Sun Belt lead with four interceptions.
SPECIAL TEAMS
• All-America kicker Michael Hughes went 2-for-2 on field goals at ECU and is 5-for-5 this season to extend his streak of consecutive makes to 16, dating back to last season.
• Last year, Michael Hughes made 19 of 22 field goals, including a game-winning kick from 54 yards as time expired in a 41-40 victory at ULM. Since the start of the 2023 season, he has scored 206 points by going 33-for-39 on field goals (84.6 percent) and converting 113 extra points).
• In 2023, assistant Brian Haines had at least one special teams player receive All-America recognition for the third straight year, as Michael Hughes and multi-unit coverage stalwart Jackson Greene were both honored to join kick returner Milan Tucker (2022) and kicker Chandler Staton (2021).
Saturday, Sept. 21
James Madison at North Carolina
11 a.m. ACC Network
DUKES HEAD TO CHAPEL HILL
• JMU is fresh off an open week and is back in action on Saturday when it travels to North Carolina out of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
• This will be the fourth meeting between the teams, as UNC leads the series 3-0.
• It’s the first matchup for the Dukes and Tar Heels since Sept. 17, 2016, when UNC won 56-28 in Chapel Hill. That was JMU’s lone setback on its way to winning the 2016 FCS national championship.
• Carolina also owns home wins in both 2007 (37-14) and 2011 (42-10).
• It’s also JMU’s 14th game against an ACC member, holding a 3-10 mark, which includes a 36-35 win at Virginia last season in Charlottesville.
• The 2024 JMU football season is presented by CarMax.
FIRST TIME ON ACC NETWORK
• JMU and UNC will be televised nationally on ACC Network. On the call are Jorge Sedano and Orlando Franking in the booth with Morgan Uber down on the sidelines.
• This will be the first time JMU football has appeared on ACC Network for a game.
• Fans can listen to the game on the Morris Insurance and Financial JMU Radio Network, with Dave Riggert and former JMU All-American quarterback Cole Johnson calling the action.
• Pregame coverage from Kenan Stadium begins one hour prior to kickoff at 11 a.m.
• Live stats are available at JMUStats.com.
DEFENSE HOLDS STRONG IN HOME-OPENING WIN
• JMU used big stops on the defensive side of the ball and held Gardner-Webb to three points each half to earn a 13-6 win on Sept. 7 in the home opener at Bridgeforth Stadium.
• JMU forced a pair of GWU interceptions and stopped the Runnin’ Bulldogs twice on fourth down while holding them to just 269 total yards.
• JMU’s defense held GWU to just 2-of-15 on third down, as the group was led by Jacob Dobbs’ 13 tackles. Chris Shearin had a career-high nine, while Raymond Scott, Kye Holmes and Khairi Manns had six apiece.
• JMU trailed 3-0 at halftime before scoring on its first two possessions of the second half, which included Tyler Purdy’s first JMU touchdown. Leading 13-6 in the fourth, GWU was stopped in the red zone on a turnover on downs, as the visitors got as close as the JMU five-yard line.
EXTENDING TO 22 STRAIGHT IN HOME OPENERS
• With week two’s win over Gardner-Webb, JMU has now won 22 straight home openers at Bridgeforth Stadium, dating back to 2003.
• During the current stretch, JMU has outscored opponents by an average of 47.3 to 8.5.
• It’s also 42-11 all-time in home openers, going back to the inaugural 1972 campaign.
• Over its past 10 home openers, no team has scored more than 10 points against the Dukes.
• The last opposing team to win a JMU home opener was Hampton, 31-28, back on Aug. 31, 2002
JMU VERSUS CAROLINA
Overall: UNC leads 3-0
Current Streak: UNC W3
JMU Away Games: 0-3
Last: 9/17/16 – UNC 56, JMU 28
Most JMU Points: 28 on 9/17/16
Most Opp. Points: 56 on 9/7/16
JMU Win Margin: N/A
Opponent Win Margin: 32 on 9/3/11
Saturday, Sept. 21
Tulane at Louisiana
11 a.m. ESPNU
LOUISIANA HOSTS IN-STATE RIVAL TULANE FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2012
• Coming off an open date, Louisiana returns to action before a national audience as it plays host to in-state rival and American Athletic Conference member Tulane at Cajun Field.
• The game will be televised nationally on ESPNU
• The meeting in Lafayette is the fourth all-time between the schools and first since 2012.
• Louisiana improved to 2-0 on the season after posting an impressive 34-10 win at Conference USA newcomer Kennesaw State on Sept. 7.
• The nationally-televised broadcast is the first of two currently on the Louisiana schedule with the Ragin’ Cajuns facing Texas State on Oct. 29 in a Sun Belt Conference showdown on ESPN2.
A LOUISIANA WIN WOULD …
• Give Louisiana its first 3-0 start since the 2020 season and sixth time overall since 1975 (1975, 1976, 1977, 1982, 1988).
• Improve Louisiana’s record in the month of September (since 2020) to 13-5 overall.
• Would be Louisiana’s first regular-season win over Tulane since a 41-13 victory on Oct. 6, 2012.
• Give Louisiana its 14th straight win at home against non-conference opponents dating back to 2016 – the last non-conference loss at home for Louisiana was against Boise State in the 2016 season opener.
• Give Louisiana head coach Michael Desormeaux his first victory over a Jon Sumrall-coached team in three tries. Sumrall guided Troy to a pair of one-score victories over Louisiana in 2022 (23-17) and 2023 (31-24).
• Give Desormeaux a 4-1 record against in-state competition.
AGAINST THE GREEN WAVE
• The meeting with Tulane marks the 30th overall contest between the in-state schools in a series which dates back to 1911.
• Tulane leads the all-time series, 23-6.
• In the last 13 meetings dating back to 1988, the series has been nearly even with Tulane holding a 7-6 advantage.
Saturday, Sept. 21
Marshall at No. 3/3 Ohio State
11 a.m. FOX
Top-10 Success
Marshall will be facing a Top-10 team for the second time in just three years, but the Herd is not a stranger to success in that scenario, either.
In 2022, the Thundering Herd went into Notre Dame Stadium as a heavy underdog and put together a strong defensive performance, getting a late INT for a touchdown from Steven Gilmore that helped the Herd earn a 26-21 win over No. 8 Notre Dame.
The Herd also has a top-10 win over No. 6 Kansas State (2003).
A Kick In The Gut!
Ohio State has not lost to a Group of Five opponent or lower at Ohio Stadium since losing to Iowa Pre-Flight in 1943, but Marshall is one of the teams that has come the closest to notching a win against the Buckeyes in Columbus.
In 2004, Marshall and Ohio State were tied at 21 late in the fourth quarter, but the Herd missed a 38-yard field goal that would’ve given Marshall the lead in the final three minutes.
Instead, the Buckeyes got the ball back and a 55-yard Mike Nugent FG as time expired to earn a 24-21 win over the Herd.
Power-ful Schedule!
When Marshall takes on Ohio State at Noon on Saturday in Columbus, it will mark the Thundering Herd’s second consecutive game against an opponent from a Power Four conference.
It is also the second straight contest in which the Thundering Herd will be walking into one of the most hostile and revered venues in college football.
Marshall is coming off a 31-14 loss at Lane Stadium where the team played in front of 65,000+ screaming fans against Virginia Tech.
This week, it is expected that Marshall will play in front of a crowd of more than 100,000 fans for only the fifth time in program history.
Ironically, two of the other times in Marshall history that it has happened have also come in the lone two meetings at Ohio State – 105,040 in the 2010 season and 104,622 in the 2004 meeting.
Saturday, Sept. 21
Arkansas State at No. 20/21 Iowa State
1 p.m. ESPN+
1ST AND 10
1 Arkansas State and Iowa State meet for the first time marking the 80th different FBS opponent the Red Wolves have faced.
2 RB Zak Wallace rushed for two touchdowns in the opener giving him 40 for his collegiate career, second-most among any active FBS player.
3 Justin Parks is one of three current four-year FBS captains, along with Utah’s Cameron Rising and Auburn’s Payton Thorne.
4 Corey Rucker has four or more receptions in each of the first three games.
5 A-State has used 27 different starters this season, 14 on offense and 13 on defense.
6 Of 70 players to play this season, 60 percent are in their first or second year in the program.
7 Seven A-State players appeared on nine different preseason watch lists. In total, the Red Wolves had 17 different players earning 50 preseason honors (Preseason All-Sun Belt, Phil Steele Preseason Teams, Athlon Preseason Teams, and/or watch lists)
8 FBS, FCS and NCAA Division II transfers account for 26 percent of the A-State roster this season. Among 32 total transfers, 21 were added prior to this season.
9 A-State plays back-to-back ranked opponents for the first time since 2015 (at 8 USC, 21 Missouri) and third time since joining the FBS level (2004; at 18 Missouri, at 6 LSU, 25 Memphis)
10 Ten players have made their first starts at A-State this season, five on offense (Harden, Little, Myers, Ndoma-Ogar, Wallace) and five on defense (Bradley, Ham, Jones, Joyner, Whitehead).
THE ARKANSAS STATE – IOWA STATE SERIES
Saturday’s game will mark the first time Arkansas State meets Iowa State on the gridiron. Across men’s basketball (0-1), women’s basketball (0-1), baseball (5-4-1) and volleyball (0-1), the Red Wolves are 5-7-1 against Iowa State. The Cyclones are scheduled to make the return trip of the home-and-home series on September 13, 2025, at Centennial Bank Stadium.
NICE TO MEET YOU
Arkansas State and Iowa State meet for the first time on Saturday. After adding Michigan last week as the 79th different FBS opponent, Iowa State is the 80th for A-State.
A-STATE VS THE BIG 12
A-State is 2-16 in games against Big 12 opponents but has won two of the last four. The Red Wolves last played a then-Big 12 foe on Sept. 2 last year, falling at Oklahoma. A-State’s last win against a Big 12 foe came in 2020 as the Red Wolves defeated Kansas State 35-31 in Manhattan. Prior to that win, A-State had last played a Big 12 opponent in 2009 when it faced then-member Nebraska.
A VISIT TO IOWA
A-State visits the state of Iowa for the first time since playing Iowa in 2009. This is just the second FBS contest for A-State in the state and fourth game in program history after two visits to Des Moines to take on Drake in 1968 and 1977.
SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO
Four of the last five Big 12 opponents A-State has faced departed the conference since that meeting. Texas (2007), Texas A&M (2008), Nebraska (2009) and Oklahoma (2023) left the league since those contests. (notes year A-State faced Big 12 opponent) HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THE RAIN Not since San Jose State in 2016 has a team played the Hurriances (Tulsa or Miami) and Cyclones (Iowa State) in the same non-conference schedule.
A-STATE VS RANKED FOES
The Red Wolves meet a ranked opponent for the 38th time in program history, carrying a 2-35 all-time record. The last time A-State won against a ranked opponent was at Troy on Nov. 17, 2016 (35-3). With Iowa State ranked No. 20, A-State is set for back-to-back games against ranked foes for the first time since 2015 and third time as a member of the FBS after playing three consecutive ranked opponents in 2004. A full breakdown of top-25 results is available on page 189 of the 2024 media guide.
Saturday, Sept. 21
Virginia at Coastal Carolina
1 p.m. ESPN+
COASTAL CAROLINA BY THE NUMBERS
3 – Coastal Carolina is one of only two teams in FBS with three defensive touchdowns this season.
6 – CCU’s six turnovers forced this year are the most in the Sun Belt and 15th-most in the nation.
15 – Coastal is averaging 19.0 yards per completion this season, which ranks third in the nation.
33 – Kade Hensley has scored 33 points this season, 15th-most of any player and the sixth-most of any kicker.
251.7 – Coastal is averaging 251.7 rushing yards per game this season, which leads the Sun Belt and ranks 13th nationally.
A COASTAL WIN WOULD …
• move Coastal to 170-89 all-time, including 12-5 in the Tim Beck era;
• give Coastal its fourth win against a Power Four conference opponent;
• give Coastal its fourth 4-0 start in the last five seasons;
• make Coastal 2-0 all-time at home against Power Four teams;
• give the Chants their 18th win in their last 23 non-conference games;
A COASTAL LOSS WOULD …
• make Coastal 0-1 against the ACC;
• be Coastal’s first home loss of the season;
CHANTS ON THE GRIDIRON
• In its 22nd year of football, Coastal holds an all-time record of 169-89 (65.5%), including a 55-35 (61.1%) mark as an FBS program.
• The Chants have posted 14 winning seasons in 21 year of football.
• Coastal has had only five losing seasons in program history, including three during the Chants’ first three seasons in the FBS.
NON-CONFERENCE NOTABLES
• Since 2018, Coastal is 21-4 (84.0%) in regular-season non-conference games.
• That stretch includes a 13-1 (92.9%) mark at home. The Chanticleers have had perfect regular season non-conference ledgers four times since the program’s inception in 2003.
HASHTAG #WINNING
• With their 3-0 record this season, the Chants are 42-12 overall since the start of the 2020 season.
• The 42-12 record since the start of the 2020 season is tied for the fourth-most wins in all of FBS football, behind only Georgia, Alabama, Michigan, Ohio State, and Notre Dame.
Saturday, Sept. 21
Southern Miss at Jacksonville State
2 p.m. ESPN+
Noting the Golden Eagles
• Southern Miss plays in its 108th football season in 2024, having first fielded a team in 1912. The Golden Eagles are 618-464-27, which is 47th best among FBS teams by win percentage (.569).
• The Golden Eagles play in their fourth different conference in their football history, after holding a spot in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association from 1931-41, the Gulf States Conference from 1948-1951 and Conference USA from 1996-2021, before starting play in the Sun Belt Conference for the 2022 season.
• The program has collected 24 winning seasons since 1994 and appeared in 19 bowl games during that time.
• Overall, Southern Miss has enjoyed 74 winning seasons and five years of .500 football over its history. Since 2000, the Golden Eagles have had 18 of 24 winning seasons.
• Against the current membership of the Sun Belt Conference, the Golden Eagles are 80- 38-1 versus league foes, having never met James Madison.
• The 2022 LendingTree Bowl was the 27th bowl appearance for the Golden Eagles as they hold an 12-15 record overall in postseason games.
The Jax State Series
• Southern Miss plays Jax State for the third time in its football history and the first time in 78 years this weekend as the teams also met for the first time in Jacksonville, Ala.
• The Golden Eagles lead the series 2-0 having outscored the Gamecocks 123-0 over the last two games – winning 58-0 in Hattiesburg in 1937 and 65-0 in 1946.
• The Gamecocks are now part of Conference USA and are the second school from that league Southern Miss has played since departing it following the 2021 campaign. The Golden Eagles defeated Rice 38-24 in the 2022 LendingTree Bowl.
A Golden Eagles Win over Jax State would…
• snap a three-game non-conference road losing streak
• give the Golden Eagles a 2-2 non-conference record for the second time in four seasons under Will Hall
• end an eight-game losing streak versus schools from the state of Alabama
• tie for their best start to open a season for the fifth time since 2017
• end a five-game losing streak to schools that have State in their name
Saturday, Sept. 21
Florida A&M at Troy
6 p.m. ESPN+
Did You Know?
• Devonte Ross became the first player in Troy’s DI history to record a pair of 60-plus yard catches in the same game
• Troy is 22-6 since losing on a Hail Mary at App State in 2022
• All of Troy’s defensive coaches have served as a defensive coordinator at the collegiate level – Chris Boone, Nathan Burton, Justin Manning, Travis Pearson
• Despite Troy not having officially played a ranked team in 2024, the Trojans have played a team now ranked (Memphis) and one that was ranked the week prior to the game (Iowa)
• Troy has forced 191 turnovers since the start of the 2016 season, which is the second most in the country
• Troy’s eight conference titles since 2006 are tied with Clemson for the fifth most over that period
• Troy and Michigan are the only two programs to win conference titles in 2022 and 2023
• Due to injuries at QB (Crowder) and center (Russ), Troy played a walk-on at quarterback (Matthew Caldwell) and center (Tyler Cappi) at Memphis; the duo started the game at Iowa
• Chris Lewis will miss the 2024 season as a result of his 10-week chemotherapy treatment at Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham and surgery this past spring to remove the tumor. He finished the 2023 season ranked 16th in the country with 10 touchdown catches and led the country, averaging 22.97 yards per catch
• Troy has found success scoring points on sustained drives this season; the Trojans have scored on all seven of its drives this season when picking up three first downs. The numbers are pretty good at two first downs too, where Troy has a 90.1 percent score rate
• Negative plays have been the key to Troy’s success on defense … the Trojans have not allowed points on any drive this season in which they record a sack (0-for-2) or if the first play went for a loss (0-for-3)
• Troy became just the sixth time since 2022 to pass for 229 yards or more against Iowa
The Series
• Troy and Florida A&M meet for the seventh time and just second since 2002. Troy defeated FAMU, 59-7, in 2018.
• The Rattlers knocked the Trojans out of the FCS Playoffs in both 1998 and 1999 after Troy defeated FAMU in the opening round of the 1996 Playoffs.
• The first meeting between the two schools came in Troy’s 1984 National Championship season; Troy will honor the 40th anniversary of the national title during Saturday’s game.
• Troy is 25-5 all-time against the current members of the SWAC.
Trojans vs. Ranked Foes
• The Trojans have faced a nationally-ranked opponent 31 times since moving to the FBS in 2001. Troy is 3 -28 all-time against nationally ranked (FBS) opponents
Points on the Board
• Troy has been shutout just six times since moving to FBS in 2001 with three of those coming during the 2003 season.
• Troy has only been shutout once (North Texas, 2003) by a non-Power Five school — the Trojans have played 216 straight games against non-Power Five schools without being shutout.
• Troy was shutout by Georgia, 66-0, on Sept. 20, 2014, which snapped a streak of 99 straight games without being shutout (Nebraska, 56-0, on Sept. 23, 2006).
• Troy’s current overall streak stands at 125 games.
Saturday, Sept. 21
Georgia Southern at No. 5/5 Ole Miss
6:45 p.m. SEC Network
SERIES HISTORY
Overall Record: UM leads, 1-0
In Statesboro: Never Met
In Oxford: UM leads, 1-0
At Neutral: Never Met
OF NOTE
• This will be the second meeting between Georgia Southern and Ole Miss when the Rebels leading 1-0 after earning a 37- 27 win at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in 2016. Eagle receiver coach BJ Johnson was a captain and a starter for the Eagles in that game.
• Georgia Southern head coach Clay Helton was hired by now Ole Miss head coach Lane Ki n to be the quarterbacks coach in 2010 at USC. In 2013, Ki n promoted Helton to the Trojans’ offensive coordinator. Helton went on to serve as USC’s interim head coach twice before being named the permanent head coach in late 2015.
• Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart originally signed with USC and now Eagle head coach Clay Helton in 2021 before transferring to Ole Miss in 2022.
• This will be the first Georgia Southern game on natural grass since Arkansas (2021) and the first under Helton.
• Georgia Southern is 1-14 all-time against current teams from Southeastern Conference. The Eagles’ lone win came against Florida in The Swamp to end the 2013 season.
Saturday, Sept. 21
ULM at No. 1/2 Texas
7 p.m. ESPN+
FIRST-AND-10 –
• The ULM football team (2-0) will hit the road for the first time this season as the Warhawks play at No. 1/2 Texas on Saturday (Sept. 21) night at 7 p.m. from Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. It marks the third meeting all-time between the two schools and the first time ULM will face an Associated Press No. 1 opponent in program history. ULM is seeking its first 3-0 start since the 1987 Division I-AA Championship season and its first win over an AP Top 25 team since 2012, a 34-31 overtime win versus No. 8 Arkansas in Little Rock. ULM is off to a 2-0 start after the Warhawks defeated Jackson State 30-14 in week one and scored the final 16 points of the game to seal the win to begin the Bryant Vincent era with a victory. The Warhawks dominated UAB in week two and shut out the Blazers in the second half while scoring 19 second-half points in a 32-6 home win, which was the largest margin of victory over an FBS opponent since the 2018 season.
• Saturday’s game is the third meeting all-time between ULM and Texas, with Texas claiming both meetings. The two teams first met in 2009 and then again in 2022, both at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium.
• ULM completely overhauled its roster during the offseason and added 73 new players to its 2024 roster. After Bryant Vincent was hired in early December, he and his staff signed 35 new Warhawks in less than two weeks during the early signing period on December 20, including 17 junior college transfers and 13 four-year transfers. ULM’s recruiting continued with 11 new additions on National Signing Day in February and wrapped up with 27 new faces during the spring signing period. The Warhawks lost nine starters on offense and seven on defense from the 2023 squad.
• ULM’s 12-game football schedule features six home games for the fourth time in the last six seasons (previously in 2019, 2021 and 2023). Overall, it marks the seventh time that the Warhawks have played a six-game home schedule in Malone Stadium since joining the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-A).
According to Phil Steele, the Warhawks have the toughest schedule in the Sun Belt and Group of Five, with the 64th toughest schedule in the nation. ULM’s opponents carried a winning percentage of .565 last season, which is the highest opponent winning percentage in the Sun Belt and No. 34 in the country.
The Warhawks’ 2024 opponents went a combined 87-67 (.565) last season, with six opponents posting .500 or better records, including three teams that posted double-digit win totals, in Texas (12-2) Troy (11-3) and James Madison (11-2). In addition, nine foes also participated in postseason bowl games a year ago: Texas (CFP Semifinal/Allstate Sugar Bowl), Marshall (Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl), Troy (76 Birmingham Bowl), Arkansas State (Camellia Bowl), James Madison (Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl), South Alabama (68 Ventures Bowl), Texas State (SERVPRO First Responder Bowl), Auburn (Music City Bowl) and the Ragin’ Cajuns (R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl).
