WEEK 12 GAME SCHEDULE
Saturday, November 16
Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks at Auburn Tigers
11:45 a.m. SEC Network
SERIES HISTORY
• Auburn and ULM will be meeting for the 12th time since the first meeting in 1994, with all 11 previous games being played in Jordan-Hare Stadium. Auburn has won the 11 previous games by an average score of 45.1-9.3. The closest game was a 31-28 overtime Auburn win in 2012, while Auburn’s 73-7 victory in 2003 is tied for the largest margin of victory in Jordan-Hare Stadium history. The average score in the series is 43.9-11.2. ULM has been shut out twice in its games at Auburn, in 2004 and 2008. • Auburn holds a 41-5 all-time mark against current members of the Sun Belt Conference, with wins over Appalachian State (1-0), Arkansas State (4-0), Georgia Southern (2-0), Georgia State (1-0), Louisiana-Lafayette (4-0), ULM (11-0) and Southern Miss (18-5). All but three of those games were played in Auburn; the Tigers were 2-1 facing Southern Miss in Montgomery in 1946-48.
Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks Notes
FIRST-AND-10 –
• The ULM football team (5-4, 3-3 Sun Belt) is set to begin a two-game road trip and will play Auburn (3-6, 1-5 SEC) for the first time since 2017 on Saturday (Nov. 16) at 11:45 a.m. on the SEC Network. The Warhawks are looking to snap a three-game losing streak after falling against Sun Belt foes Texas State, Marshall and South Alabama. The Warhawks are one win away from clinching bowl eligibility for the first time since 2018. ULM was bowl eligible in both the 2018 and 2013 seasons but did not participate in a bowl game. The lone bowl appearance in program history came following the 2012 season when the Warhawks fell to Ohio in the AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl. First-year head coach Bryant Vincent has directed one of the most exciting turnarounds in college football and guided ULM to a 5-1 record following a 38-21 homecoming victory over Southern Miss, which was ULM’s first win over USM in Malone Stadium. After the Golden Eagles trimmed ULM’s lead to 17-14 on a blocked field goal score in the third quarter, the Warhawks ripped off 21 unanswered points to lift the team to its third-straight SBC win. True freshman phenom running back Ahmad Hardy posted a season-high 121 rushing yards and crossed the goal line twice to lead ULM’s rushing attack. In his second start of his collegiate career, redshirt freshman quarterback Aidan Armenta tossed a pair of touchdown passes to James Jones and Julian Nixon and scored his first-career rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter. Defensively, the Warhawks generated two takeaways from a forced fumble by Carl Fauntroy Jr. and an interception by Wydett Williams, Jr. The Warhawks secured its best start in the FBS era following a dramatic 21-19 victory over previously unbeaten James Madison on Oct. 5. ULM grinded out the win after scores from a 38-yard Ahmad Hardy rushing touchdown, a scoop and score forced by Earl Barquet Jr. and returned by Daniel Knudsen and a 12-yard touchdown pass from Aidan Armenta to Jake Godfrey. ULM started its conference slate with a 13-9 win at Troy with Hardy scoring the game’s lone touchdown in a defensive battle. Before falling on the road to No. 1/2 Texas, the Warhawks began the season with a 2-0 start after ULM defeated Jackson State 30-14 in week one, scoring the final 16 points of the game to seal the win. In week two, the Warhawks dominated UAB 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. The ULM defense has held opponents to zero touchdowns in two games this season (UAB & Troy). • Saturday marks the 12th matchup between the Warhawks and the Tigers, with Auburn claiming all previous 11 matchups. The most recent game between the Warhawks and Tigers took place in 2017 when Auburn defeated ULM 42-14. ULM fell by just three points in the 2012 meeting by a 31-28 decision.
THE LAST TIME OUT – Texas State 38, ULM 17
(Nov. 9, 2024 in Monroe, La.) –
The ULM football team (5-4, 3-3 Sun Belt Conference) was unable to overcome a 28-point first-half deficit and fell to Texas State (5-4, 3-2) on Saturday (Nov. 9) afternoon at Malone Stadium in Monroe, La. Ahmad Hardy finished above 100 rushing yards for the sixth time in his sensational freshman season and scored both of ULM’s touchdowns to bring his season total to nine and brought the Warhawks within two scores in the third quarter. Texas State scored 10 points and held the Warhawks to three in the final quarter to secure the win. “[I] give credit to our players for having the fight to get back in the game,” said ULM Football Head Coach Bryant Vincent. “We didn’t handle the conditions very well. We’re going to keep fighting.” James Jones added 30 yards as the Warhawks totaled 159 rushing yards on the day. Aidan Armenta completed 13 of 24 passes for 119 yards with his leading receiver being
Auburn Tigers Notes
• Auburn has scored in a school-record 151 consecutive games, dating back to the first game of the 2013 season, breaking the program record of 149 games set from 1980-92 • Auburn is tied for the national lead – with BYU, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, UTSA and Vanderbilt – with 10 players who have caught a touchdown pass this season • The Tigers are third nationally with 13 pass plays of least 40 yards on the year • KeAndre Lambert-Smith ranks 16th nationally and sixth in the SEC in yards per reception (19.32). His 156 yards vs. Arkansas was the 14th-best receiving game in Auburn history. His seven receiving touchdowns lead the SEC and are tied for 19th nationally • Auburn ranks 14th nationally in net punting (42.27) this season • Jarquez Hunter’s 278-yard rushing effort at Kentucky was the best by an FBS player this season and the fourth-best game in Auburn history, earning him national player of the week recognition • Jarquez Hunter (offense), Izavion Miller(OL) and Keldric Faulk (DL) earned SEC player of the week honors for their play against Kentucky • Auburn ranks 17th nationally in yards per completion (13.87). Auburn is 16th in the country averaging 6.73 yards per play, 14th nationally averaging 8.7 yards per pass attempt and 34th averaging 5.02 yards per rush • Two-time team captain Luke Deal is one of 20 semifinalists for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year award and running back Justin Jones is a Burlsworth Trophy nominee.
IN NOVEMBER
• Auburn is 247-195-20 (.556) all-time in November. Auburn’s November home record is 107-43-5 (.706). Away from Auburn, the Tigers are 141-151-15 (.483) in November. The Tigers are 7-8-1 in all games played on November 2, 5-7 in SEC contests and 4-4 at home on that date.
ON OFFENSE
• Auburn has averaged 419.8 yards of total offense through nine games. That average would surpass every total offensive average except two in the last 10 seasons, the highest being 451.6 ypg in 2017. ›› Auburn has scored in 151 consecutive games, now the longest streak in school history. The Tigers are averaging 30.15 ppg (4,553 total points) during that stretch. Auburn was last shut out by No. 2 Alabama 49-0 in Tuscaloosa in 2012.
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers at Marshall Thundering Herd
12:00 p.m. ESPN+
SERIES HISTORY
Series Record (Streak):……………………………………………………………………………….2-0 (W2)
at Coastal Carolina (Streak): ………………………………………………………………………..1-0 (W1)
at Marshall (Streak): ……………………………………………………………………………………1-0 (W1)
Neutral Sites (Streak): ………………………………………………………………………………………..N/A
Last Meeting:………………………………………………………..10/28/2023 / Conway, SC / W, 34-6
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers Notes
Marshall Thundering Herd Notes
The ‘75’ Game!
Saturday’s contest with Coastal Carolina is the annual ‘75’ game, which pays tribute to the 75 persons lost in the 1970 Marshall plane crash. The crash occurred on Nov. 14, 1970, when Marshall’s team was returning from a 17-14 loss at East Carolina. All 75 persons aboard the flight perished, including 37 players and staff members of Marshall’s football team. To this day, it is considered the deadliest sports-related air tragedy in history. Each year on Nov. 14, Marshall hosts a ceremony in honor of those lost at the Marshall Memorial Fountain, located at the Memorial Student Center.
The Streak Continues!
With last week’s 37-3 win at Southern Miss, Marshall became bowl eligible for the 8th straight year, including all four under head coach Charles Huff. That mark is tied for 2nd longest amongst Group of Five programs behind Memphis (10 years).
Running Through Opponents
Marshall’s rushing attack has moved up to No. 11 in FBS at 218.9 rushing yards per game. The Thundering Herd offensive line is the catalyst for that surge, leading the way no matter who the ball-carrier is. A.J. Turner leads the ground attack with 793 yards this year.
With a win on Saturday…
Marshall would remain tied for first place in the SBC East Division and maintain its hopes of playing for the 2024 SBC Championship. The Herd would also go 6-0 at home for the 11th time in Joan C. Edwards History and the first time since 2015. It would also mark the 10th time in 12 seasons that Marshall has won at least seven games.
Troy Trojans at Georgia Southern Eagles
3:00 p.m. ESPN+
The Series: • Troy and Georgia Southern meet for the 22nd time in a series that dates back to 1934. • The Trojans have won four of the last five meetings after the Eagles when on a run of winning 6-of-7 from 1985 to 2016, which included the third three meetings as Sun Belt Conference foes. • Troy is just 1-3 in its last four trips to Statesboro but the Trojans are 7-4 all-time on the road int he series.
Troy Trojans Notes
Did You Know?
• Troy has started six different offensive line units in eight games this season, tied for the third most in the country • Troy’s games in 2024 have averaged just 125.0 combined plays, the 12th fewest in the country (Kentucky, 119.7). Texas Tech leads the country with 148.2 combined plays. Troy and A-State combined to run 153 plays, a season high for the Trojans • Troy had 372 yards of offense in the first half (222 yards on the ground) against Coastal; that total would have been more than five of Troy’s full games this season • Combined with the second half at Arkansas State and the first half against Coastal, Troy’s offense scored 56 points over a four-quarter stretch … the Trojans had scored 136 points in the previous 30 quarters • Paddy McAteer, who didn’t kick an American football until April, ranks as the No. 17 KOS in the country by PFF and 11th, averaging 69.8 yards per attempt • Big plays have been key to Troy’s success offensively; the Trojans have scored on just 6.8 percent of its drives (3-of-48) without a big play (any pass of 15+ yards or a rush of 12+ yards). Troy has scored on 65.8 percent of drives with a big play (25-of-38) • 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 • Starting QB Goose Crowder will miss the rest of the 2024 season due to injury; he played in just 11 quarters over four games • Devonte Ross (14) and Damien Taylor (9) are responsible for 57.4 percent of Troy’s plays of 20- plus yards this season • Troy is one the only team in the country to score on every red zone opportunity (24-of-24) • Devonte Ross’ 77-yard punt return for a touchdown at Iowa was the first the Hawkeyes allowed since Christian McCaffrey in the 2016 Rose Bowl.
Troy By The Numbers
0 Sacks allowed by Troy’s offensive line the last two weeks; it was the first two games this season that Troy started the same offensive line in consecutive games
3 Trojans have Statesboro, Ga., connections … LB Brendan Jackson and RB Jordan Lovett (Statesboro natives) & Gerald Green (began career at Georgia Southern) 3 Different quarterbacks have started multiple games this season … Goose Crowder (4), Matthew Caldwell (3) and Tucker Kilcrease (2)
4 Drives this season in which Troy has not allowed a big play (12-plus yard run, 15-plus yard pass) that has resulted in points (4-for-44); conversely, Troy has allowed points on 40-of-57 drives when allowing a big play 6 Combined 100-yard rushing games this season between Gerald Green & Damien Taylor
12 Tackles for loss by middle linebacker Brendan Jackson, which ranks as the 11th most in the country. He has 6.5 in his last two games
15 Tackles for loss by the Troy defense at South Alabama, tied for the fourth most in Troy’s FBS history
28 Trojans (offense/defense) have made their first career FBS start this season, the second most in the country. The number swells to 32 when counting special teams and 36 when counting first-time starters at Troy
99 Yard touchdown drive by Troy against Coastal Carolina was its longest in the program’s FBS history; all seven plays on the drive were rushes
Georgia Southern Eagles Notes
OF NOTE
• Georgia Southern and Troy have met 21 times on the gridiron with the Trojans holding a 14-7 lead in the series that dates back to 1934. Since restarting football in 1984 as an NCAA program, Georgia Southern leads the series 7-6. • Troy back Gerald Green (Columbus, Ga.) signed with Georgia Southern and enrolled in spring of 2018, playing four years for the Eagles. After running for 1,453 yards and 13 touchdowns, he transferred to East Carolina last year before transferring to Troy for his final season. He has rushed for 451 yards and three touchdowns for the Trojans this year, including a season-high 123 yards and a score against Coastal in the last game. • Troy AD Brent Jones spent five years at Georgia Southern, first as the Director of Sports Marketing and then as the Assistant AD of Eagle Sports Marketing. • The Eagles are 25-16 all-time in the modern era against teams from the Yellowhammer State after rallying to beat South Alabama in Mobile on Nov. 2. • Georgia Southern has two players from Alabama on its roster while Troy has six players from Georgia on its roster.
COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF
10 The Eagles have two wins this year when they trailed by 10 or more points in the fourth quarter, rallying from 21 points down to win against Marshall and 20 to win at South Alabama.
9 Georgia Southern has won nine of the 10 games under head coach Clay Helton when it has won the rushing battle.
8 Fifth-year senior Jalen White has eight rushing touchdowns this season and 31 for his career.
7 Georgia Southern has won seven of the 13 games played against Troy since the Eagles resumed football in the 1980s.
6 The Eagles have played six previous games in the modern era on Nov. 16, winning them all with five being played at home.
5 Of sophomore punter Alex Smith’s 45 punts, five have been 50 yards or longer with 23 fair catches, 17 downed inside the 20-yard line and zero touchbacks.
4 Just four times during Derwin Burgess Jr.’s 36-game catch streak has he had just one catch.
3 Only three players—Davon Gilmore, Marc Stampley II and Isaac Walker— have started all nine games on the defensive side of the ball this year.
2 Sophomore Josh Dallas has two 50-yard receptions on the season, a 58-yarder at home against South Carolina State and a 59-yard touchdown at Old Dominion.
1 The Georgia Southern punt coverage team ranks first in the Sun Belt Conference and ninth in the FBS, allowing an average of just 3 yards per punt return.
NOTABLE STREAKS AND TRENDS ENTERING THE GAME
• Georgia Southern is 15-3 under head coach Clay Helton when scoring eight or more points in the second quarter and 3-14 when scoring seven points or less. • Southern is 8-3 when under Helton when scoring eight or more points in the fourth quarter. • The Eagles are 5-1 under Helton when completing 35 passes or more in a game. • Southern is 12-3 when having a combined 60 or more rushes and completions under Helton (4-0 with 65+). • GS is 14-7 when rushing for 100 or more yards in a game under Helton, 4-1 when rushing for 200 or more yards. The Eagles are 11-5 when tallying 30 or more rushes in a game and 9-1 when winning the rushing battle (9-16 when losing it).
James Madison Dukes at Old Dominion Monarchs
3:00 p.m. ESPNU
BREAKING DOWN THE SERIES
• Saturday marks the fifth meeting all-time between JMU and Old Dominion, with the series knotted at 2-2. • Old Dominion won the first two meetings while both squads were FCS members in the Colonial Athletic Association, but each of the past two games with them as Sun Belt Conference foes have gone in JMU’s favor. • JMU is 1-1 all-time in Norfolk, which includes a 37-3 victory for the Dukes on Nov. 12, 2022 – the most lopsided result in the series. • Last season, JMU held off ODU by a 30-27 margin in Harrisonburg. Clinging to a three-point lead in the fourth, JMU forced ODU into a three-and-out, a turnover on downs and a strip sack over its final three possessions. • While in the FCS, the Monarchs claimed a 23-20 home win in 2011 and a 38-28 victory in Harrisonburg in 2012. • Over the four meetings, JMU averages 28.75 points to ODU’s 22.75
James Madison Dukes Notes
RIVALRY WEEK IN NORFOLK ON TAP
• James Madison hits the road for its penultimate road game, as it travels to Norfolk to face in-state rival Old Dominion Saturday at S.B. Ballard Stadium. • The game is part of the TowneBank Royal Rivalry Challenge, which is currently tied at 3-3 heading into the final JMU-ODU matchup of the fall sports season. • Saturday’s game is sponsored by TowneBank, and the 2024 JMU football season is presented by CarMax.
SUN BELT EAST DIVISION PICTURE
• Entering the regular-season’s final three weeks, four teams are separated by a game in the Sun Belt East Division and JMU plays two of the three teams it’s in contention with. • Georgia Southern and Marshall are currently tied for first with 4-1 Sun Belt records, but the Eagles own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Thundering Herd. • JMU and ODU are both even at 3-2 with this week’s winner having a shot to catch GS down the stretch. • While Georgia Southern controls its own destiny to make the Sun Belt Championship Game, should JMU win out and GS lose two of three (vs. Troy, at Coastal Carolina, vs. App State), JMU would win the East. • Marshall sits a game ahead of JMU as well, but after this week’s home game with Coastal, the Herd travel to ODU and JMU to close the regular season.
19 STRAIGHT VS. THE COMMONWEALTH
• JMU enters Saturday’s game with 19 straight victories against teams from the Commonwealth of Virginia. • Last season, JMU rallied to beat Virginia (36- 35) in Charlottesville before later upending ODU (30-27) for its 2023 Homecoming game. • Saturday also marks the 160th game ever for JMU against an in-state foe, as it holds a 98-61 record (.616) versus the Commonwealth. • The Dukes have faced 15 teams from Virginia, dating back to its 1972 inaugural season. • The Dukes have played William & Mary (27-17) more than any other state team, at 44 games, and have faced Richmond (21-18) 39 times and Liberty (12-6) on 18 occasions. • The Tribe was the last state team to beat JMU in a 44-41 triumph on Oct. 31, 2015, in Williamsburg.
KINGS OF TAKEAWAYS
• JMU has won the turnover battle in every game thus far to lead the country in both turnover margin and total takeaways • The Dukes are first in the FBS with a +2.0 turnover margin and 23 total turnovers. • That includes the nation’s second-leading 16 interceptions. Their eight fumble recoveries also rank 10th. • JMU as also thrown just two picks, which is second nationally and tied for the Sun Belt lead.
BOWL ELIGIBLE FOR THE FIRST TIME
• JMU is bowl eligible for the first time in school history after notching its sixth win on Oct. 26 against Southern Miss. • While the Dukes are bowl bound for the second time in as many years, JMU was not technically considered bowl eligible in 2023 due to the FCS to FBS reclassification. • The Dukes competed in the 2023 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl versus Air Force due to there not being enough bowl eligible programs, coupled with JMU being in year two of the reclassification process with at least six wins. • Last season, a record 12 Sun Belt Conference teams competed in bowl season, and JMU became the second conference school to clinch eligibility, behind SBC West leader Louisiana. • Entering this week, four Sun Belt teams are eligible, adding in Georgia Southern and Marshall. • Four others sit at 5-4 in Coastal Carolina, Arkansas State, Texas State and ULM.
Old Dominion Monarchs Notes
• Old Dominion hosts James Madison in the Townebank Royal Rivalry Challenge on Saturday, Nov. 16 • ODU fell at App State 28-20 two weeks ago. ODU is coming off a bye last Saturday. • ODU had 498 yards of offense at App State and garnered more than 100 yards of offense than the Mountaineers but four turnovers doomed the Monarchs in Boone. • Quarterback Colton Joseph completed 27-of-38 yards for 332 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed for 42 yards on 17 carries • Running back Aaron Young had 14 carries for a career-best 110 yards, including 97 in the first half. • Isiah Paige recorded career-highs with 13 receptions for 205 yards and a touchdowns. The 13 catches are the most by a Sun Belt receiver this season and the second most by an ODU receiver in program history. • JMU is coming off a 38-7 win over Georgia State and has won two-straight. Alonza Barnett completed 20-of-30 passes for 241 yards and three scores while George Pett- away rushed for 95 yards and a touchdown. • ODU played a Division I record 11 one-score games in 2023, going 6-5 in those games. So far this season 6-of-the first-9 have been one score games. • Old Dominion’s 57 newcomers are the 15th most in the country and the 28 transfers (JUCO and Four-Year) are tied for 15th most in the country.
TD Streak Continues
With his pair of touchdown passes at Bowling Green, Grant Wilson has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 10-straight games. The streak began in last year’s Week seven win over App State. Wilson completed 6-of-14 passes for 118 yards and the two touchdowns. The 75-yard touchdown pass to Conroy was Wilson’s second 70+ yard touchdown pass of the season. He completed a 72-yard TD pass to Isiah Paige in the opener at South Carolina.
Bye Week Success
Old Dominion improved to 11-7 all-time following a bye and 4-0 under head coach Ricky Rahne after defeating Bowling Green 30-27 earlier this season. ODU is coming off its second bye of the year this past weekend.
Arkansas State Red Wolves at Georgia State Panthers
4:00 p.m. ESPN+
SERIES HISTORY
Overall A-State leads 6-2
In Jonesboro A-State leads 4-0
In Atlanta Tied 2-2
At Neutral Site –
Last Meeting 20-28, L (Nov. 20, 2021)
First Meeting 35-33, W (Nov. 23, 2013)
Current Streak Georgia State W1
Arkansas State Red Wolves Notes
1ST AND 10
1 Corey Rucker needs 67 receiving yards to become A-State’s career receiving yards record holder.
2 Jacob Bayer is the top-rated center in the Sun Belt Conference and ranks second nationally per PFF grades.
3 Justin Parks is one of three current four-year FBS captains, along with Utah’s Cameron Rising and Auburn’s Payton Thorne.
4 The Red Wolves have 96 wins as a member of the Sun Belt Conference, third-most of any member, past or present.
5 Head Coach Butch Jones is among 17 active FBS head coaches with 100 or more wins.
6 The high-scoring series between A-State and Georgia State features a combined six outputs of 40-plus points.
7 A-State has 11 interceptions this season by seven different players.
8 Of 80 players to play this season, 64 percent (51) are in their first or second year in the program.
9 The Red Wolves have used 36 different starters this season, 17 on offense and 19 on defense.
10 16 players have made their first starts at A-State this season, six on offense (Harden, Little, McGehee, Myers, Ndoma-Ogar, Wallace) and 10 on defense (Bradley, Etienne, Greil, Ham, Jefferies, Jones, Joyner, Mahoney, Stephens, Whitehead)
THE ARKANSAS STATE – GEORGIA STATE SERIES
Arkansas State holds a 6-2 all-time record against Georgia State in the series that dates back to just 2013. The Red Wolves and Panthers met four consecutive years from 2013-16, but didn’t play in 2017 before meeting on four more consecutive years from 2018-2021. Georgia State has won two of the last three meetings with both wins coming in Atlanta. The high-scoring series features a combined six outputs of 40-plus points including a 59-52 victory for A-State back on Oct. 15, 2020 in Jonesboro. Five of the eight games between the two programs have been decided by at least 14 points.
A-STATE VS THE SUN BELT
Arkansas State has an all-time record of 96-77 in Sun Belt Conference games. Along with ULM and Louisiana, A-State is one of three teams that have been a part of the conference since its inaugural football season in 2001. The Red Wolves rank third in all-time Sun Belt victories with 96.
Georgia State Panthers Notes
THE KICKOFF:
After a four game road series across the Sun Belt, Georgia State returns to Center Parc Credit Union Stadium to host Arkansas State for Homecoming on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 5:00 p.m.
SERIES NOTES:
Georgia State and Arkansas State are meeting for the ninth time in program history. The Panthers are 2-6 in the series against the Red Wolves. > The Panthers secured their second win on the series last year, when they defeated Arkansas State 28-20 at home.
PANTHERS VS. THE SUN BELT:
Despite a slow start to conference play, the Panthers continue to stand in Sun Belt rankings, on both sides of the ball. • The Panthers rank third in the Sun Belt and top 50 in the nation for fewest penalties (50). • Defensively, GSU ranks fourth in the conference fumbles recovered with six. Henry Bryant leads the Panthers and the Sun Belt with two fumble recoveries, ranking fifth in the nation. KD McDaniel, Izaiah Guy, Anthony Blume and Rykem Laney all have one to tie for eighth in the conference for fumbles recovered. • Senior Kevin Swint leads the Panthers with three forced fumbles to rank second in the conference and top 10 in the nation. D-Icey Hopkins, Josiah Robinson and Henry Bryant have one forced fumble.
TRACKING THE RECORD:
• In the Panthers’ road contest at James Madison (Nov. 11), Ted Hurst caught his eighth touchdown of the season to tie the program record for single-season touchdowns, which was set in 2013. • Senior linebacker Kevin Swint currently has four sacks on the season, which is two away from tying the second-place spot for single season sacks (6) and seven away from breaking the record (10.5). • Swint is also on track to beat the career record for forced fumbles. Standing at four in his career, he is four forced fumbles away from breaking the record of seven. • Henry Bryant stands at three career fumble recoveries, which is tied for fifth in program history. He needs two more to tie the career record for fumbles recovered. • Gavin Pringle and Jeremiah Johnson both have six pass breakups on the season, which is on track to break the program record for single season pass breakups (11). • Liam Rickman stands with 11 field goals made, which is on track to break the single season FG-made record of 15.
NEW STARTING QB:
After a GSU-record 36 consecutive games with Darren Grainger as the starting quarterback, Christian Veilleux and Zach Gibson continue the battle for the Panthers’ starting quarterback position
• After starting Christian Veilleux at quarterback for the first six games, Zach Gibson earned the starting position for game seven at App State (Oct. 26) and has started for the Panthers in the last two games. • Gibson is 93-for-137 with six touchdowns and one interception this season. • In his first start at GSU, at App State, Gibson went 16-for-22 for a career-high 192 yards and one touchdown against the Mountaineers. • Gibson stepped in as the Panthers’ quarterback early in the first half of play at Marshall (Oct. 17) and finished the contest going 19-of-32 for 192 yards and two touchdowns. • Gibson saw his season debut in the final minutes against Old Dominion (Oct. 12), when he went 6-for-6 for 49 yards with one touchdown against the Monarchs. • The redshirt senior joined the Panthers for the 2024 season as a transfer from Georgia Tech. • Quarterback Christian Veillue started in six games for the Panthers, leading the team with nine touchdowns and 1312 yards on 119 completions. • Only three games into the season, Veilleux matched his single season record for touchdowns with seven (six passing, one rushing), which he previously set at Pitt during the 2023 season. • In his first season with the Panthers, Veilleux quickly made a name for himself in the Sun Belt, ranking sixth in the conference for completions per game (19.67). The starting quarterback is eighth in the conference for passing yards per game with 216.8. • The senior transfer also ranks top 10 in the Sun Belt for passing touchdowns (7th with 9) and passing yards per completion (7th with 11.03 per completion). • Veilleux threw a season high 26 completions in two of the three games played so far (Chattanooga and Vanderbilt). His 58.6 completion percentage ranks seventh in the conference and top 100 nationally. • After setting a career high 269 passing yards in the Panthers’ upset over Vanderbilt, Veilleux set a new career-high 356 passing yards against Georgia Southern (Sept. 28). • Leading the Panthers through an upset over Vanderbilt, the transfer quarterback posted a career-high three passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown in the Panthers’ 36-32 victory. Veilleux’s 18-yard rushing touchdown also marked a career-high for longest rush. His rushing touchdown was the first of his career. • Previously, the starting quarterback went 12-for-34 and recorded a season-long 238 yards and two touchdowns in the Panthers’ home opener against Chattanooga to record his first GSU career win (Sept. 7). • Despite joining the Panthers late in the of-season, after McGee’s hire, Veilluex quickly became the leading contender for the starting quarterback. • The junior transfer from Pitt joins the GSU program for the 2024 season after spending one season at Pittsburgh and two at Penn State. Last season, Veilleux appeared in seven games (five starts) for Pitt, and completed 94-of-184 passes for 1,179 yards and seven touchdowns.
MORE ON THE QB ROOM:
While Christian Veilleux and Zach Gibson have both seen starts this season, the Panthers have seen three quarterbacks in action so far, including Kyle Lowe. • Gibson, Veilleux and Lowe have all recorded rushing touchdowns this season. Veilluex’s came in the Vanderbilt game (Sept. 14), while Lowe’s came on a quarterback rush against App State (Oct. 26). Gibson ran in his first-ever rushing touchdown at UConn (Nov. 1).
KEY RETURNERS:
Despite the large influx of newcomers to the 2024 squad, head coach McGee retained multiple key returners to the 2024 squad. • Veterans Gavin Pringle and Kevin Swint were named to the 2024 Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team after leading the Panthers on defense through the 2023 season. Senior linebacker Justin Abraham was named to the 2024 Athlon Sports Pre-Season All-Sun Belt Second-Team Defense. • Running back Freddie Brock is the Panthers’ leading running back, totaling 599 yards on 108 rushing attempts. He also leads the Panthers in total all-purpose yards with 742. Brock’s 66.6 rushing yards-per-game ranks top 10 in the Sun Belt. • The junior running back is one of two running backs to record a rushing touchdown this season. He has two touchdowns this season. • The redshirt junior has recorded four touchdowns (three rushing, one receiving) this season, the second-most on the team. He has scored once in four games, including Chattanooga (Sept. 7), Georgia Southern (Sept. 28), Old Dominion (Oct. 12) and UConn (Nov. 1). • At Marshall, Brock set a season-high 124 rushing yards, including a new season and team-long 56-yard rush. Previously, he set a season-long 23-yard rush at Georgia Tech (Aug. 31), which he matched in the Panther’s home opener against Chattanooga (Sept. 7). • The Rochester, N.Y., native recorded the receiving touchdown of his GSU career with a career-long 24-yard catch against Old Dominion (Oct. 12). • Brock scored the game-winning touchdown against Chattanooga (Sept. 7), marking his first touchdown of the season (second of his GSU career). > Sophomore Dorian Fleming is second on the Panthers’ receiving leaderboard with 405 yards on 38 receptions and two touchdowns. • The sophomore tight end ranks top 10 in the Sun Belt for receptions per game with 4.2. • Fleming marked a career-long 58-yard reception against Georgia Southern (Sept. 28). • Fleming set a new career-high six receptions against Vanderbilt (Sept. 14), which he previously set in the 2023 season. • After starting in only four games in 2023, the sophomore tight end had a breakout game against Georgia Tech, scoring the first touchdown of the season for the Panthers.
South Alabama Jaguars at Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns
6:00 p.m. ESPN+
THE SERIES VS. LOUISIANA –
Saturday will mark the 13th meeting all-time between the Jaguars and Ragin’ Cajuns – Louisiana leads the all-time series between the two schools by a count of 9-3 – South Alabama’s last victory in the series took place in 2022 when the Jags invaded the Cajuns’ home field and came away with a 20-17 victory
South Alabama Jaguars Notes
COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF ON THE ROAD AGAIN
After a three-game home swing that included both a full and partial bye week, South Alabama will play its first road game since Saturday, Oct. 5 when the Jaguars visited Arkansas State. The Jaguars opened the season with four of their first-six games on the road.
FIREWORK SHOW
South Alabama and Louisiana are two of the top teams in the Sun Belt Conference in total offense and scoring offense. The Ragin’ Cajuns lead the SBC in total offense at 457.1 yards per game while the Jags are close behind at 455.1. The Jaguars lead the league, scoring an average of 35.6 while Louisiana ranks third scoring 35.2 per game.
MAGNIFICENT MARJAN
Entering the 2024 season, South Alabama kicker Laith Marjan had never attempted a field goal in his collegiate career. Through nine games, Marjan is now 14-of-15 on the season with his only miss coming on an attempt of over 50 yards. Marjan ranks seventh nationally in field goal percentage.
BY THE NUMBERS
2 South Alabama ranks second in the country with just two interceptions thrown this season. Quarterback Gio Lopez has played in eight games this season and gone six of those games without throwing an interception.
3 Two of the last-three meetings between South Alabama and Louisiana have been decided by a field goal or less. The Jags defeated the Cajuns 20-17 in 2022 after falling by a score of 20-18 in 2023.
10 South Alabama true freshman running back Fluff Bothwell leads the Sun Belt Conference in rushing touchdowns with 10 on the year. That number also ranks him 21st nationally in the category
SCORE FIRST –
South Alabama is 4-0 this season when scoring the first points of the game – On the flip side, the Jaguars are 0-5 when allowing their opponent to draw first blood
TWO OR MORE TAKEAWAYS –
The Jaguars are 3-0 in conference play when taking the ball away two or more times throughout the course of the game – South won games against App State, Troy and ULM when they hit that threshold – The only game South Alabama did not win this season when the took the ball away multiple times was at LSU
DOUBLE TROUBLE –
South Alabama true freshman running back Fluff Bothwell has now recorded two-touchdown games on four occasions this season – Bothwell scored two touchdowns in back-to-back games against App State and Northwestern State, and then again against ULM and Georgia Southern
DOUBLE DIGIT PICKS –
South Alabama is one of 35 teams in the country to have intercepted 10 or more passes – The Jags’ 11 interceptions are the second most in the Sun Belt Conference
PREVENT THE PASS –
South Alabama is 3-0 when holding its opponents to 200 passing yards or less – The Jags won games against Northwestern State, Troy and ULM when limiting them to 200 yards or less through the air
Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Notes
LOUISIANA HOSTS SOUTH ALABAMA WITH SBC WEST TITLE IN GRASP
• Louisiana continues its three-game homestand on Saturday when it plays host to South Alabama in a Sun Belt Conference West Division showdown at Cajun Field. • With a win, Louisiana would clinch a share of the SBC West Division title and earn a spot in the SBC Championship Game on December 7. • Louisiana has won six straight games since a 41-33 setback to Tulane on September 21 and is among a group of G5 schools looking to claim a spot in the College Football Playoffs. • The meeting with South Alabama is the 13th between the schools with the Jaguars earning a 20-17 victory – its first-ever win in Lafayette – two years ago in Lafayette.
A LOUISIANA WIN WOULD …
• Clinch a share of the SBC West Division title. • Clinch a spot in the Sun Belt Championship Game. • Be its seventh straight victory. • Give the Ragin’ Cajuns a 9-1 overall record and 6-0 mark in Sun Belt Conference play. • Give Louisiana its first seven-game win streak since 2021 when it reeled off 13 straight wins. • Be head coach Michael Desormeaux’s 22nd career win. • Improve Desormeaux’s record in SBC games to 13-9. • Be Louisiana’s 93rd overall win in Sun Belt Conference play.
THE LOUISIANA-SOUTH ALABAMA SERIES
• Louisiana and South Alabama will meet for the 13th time in the all-time series with the Ragin’ Cajuns holding a 9-3 lead. • The Ragin’ Cajuns are 5-1 against the Jaguars at Cajun Field, winning the first five meetings before South Alabama’s Diego Guajardo booted a 43-yard field goal at the buzzer for a 20- 17 victory. • The series began in 2012 with the home team claiming each of the first four contests before the Ragin’ Cajuns earned a 19-14 win in Mobile in 2017. • Louisiana claimed last year’s contest at Hancock Whitney Stadium, 33-20, behind five forced turnovers and 3.5 sacks from Cameron Whitfield.
TEAM NOTES
• Louisiana is the lone FBS team nationally which has not lost a fumble this season. • Louisiana has turned the ball over four times during the 2024 season to rank second behind Army (3) among FBS schools. • The Ragin’ Cajuns have 84 players on its roster from the state of Louisiana to lead all instate FBS schools. • The Ragin’ Cajuns have allowed 173.0 yards through the air in their first nine games to rank second in the Sun Belt Conference and rank 17th nationally in passing yards allowed. • Louisiana has controlled the clock during the 2024 season ranking 12th nationally in time of possession (32:29 per game). • Louisiana enters the week second in the Sun Belt Conference and ranked 39th nationally among FBS schools in total defense allowing 335.4 yards per game. • Louisiana ranks fifth among all FBS teams in tackles for loss allowed (3.0 per game). • Louisiana’s third-down conversion percentage (.505) leads the Sun Belt and is eighth in FBS. • The Ragin’ Cajuns lead the SBC and are 13th nationally in total offense (456.2). • Six players – King McGowen (OT), Kaden Moreau (OG), Quinton Williams (OT), Caden Jensen (TE), Zylan Perry (RB) and Carmycah Glass (LB) – have each earned their first career starts during the 2024 season. • Thirteen players – Ben Wooldridge (QB), Lance LeGendre (WR), Terrance Carter (TE), Bill Davis (RB), Dre’lyn Washington (RB), Harvey Broussard (WR), Tavion Smith (WR), Landon Burton (C), Caleb Kibodi (LB), Chandler Fields (QB), Zylan Perry (RB) and Caden Jensen (TE) – have scored at least one touchdown this season for Louisiana. • Louisiana’s four interceptions against App State equaled its most in a game since October 30, 2010, at Ohio. • Louisiana had a string of 18 consecutive quarters with a score snapped after going scoreless in the third quarter of its 34-24 win at Coastal Carolina.
Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles at Texas State Bobcats
6:00 p.m. ESPN+
Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles Notes
Noting the Golden Eagles
• Southern Miss plays in its 108th football season in 2024, having first fielded a team in 1912. The program did not play during World War I (1917-18) or World War II (1943-45). • The Golden Eagles currently 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. • Since 1994, the program has collected 24 winning seasons and played in 19 bowl games. • 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. • The 2022 LendingTree Bowl was the 27th bowl appearance for the Golden Eagles as they hold an 12-15 record overall in postseason games.
Against Texas State
• Southern Miss and Texas State meet for the fifth time in its series history with all four wins coming from the visiting school, and the series tied 2-2. • The Bobcats captured the first meeting which came during the 2013 season opener, 22- 15, in the initial game for then Golden Eagle coach Todd Monken. A Tyler Arndt 17-yard run proved the difference in the game as he scored with 2:54 left. Southern Miss had gone ahead, 15-14, on a Corey Acosta 36-yard fi eld goal with 5:43 remaining. • The two teams played again in San Marcos in 2015 and Jalen Richard rushed for a career-best 230 yards with four touchdown runs, including from 54 and 63, in a 56-50 win. The 106 total points tied for the most-ever combined points in a Southern Miss football game. The other was a 56-50 loss to Tulsa in 2010. • In the first meeting as Sun Belt foes in 2022, Zach Wilcke hit Chandler Pittman on a 53- yard pass with 32 seconds left which proved to be the game winner. • In 2023, Ismail Mahdi returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown and added three rushing touchdowns as the Bobcats fought off a late Golden Eagle rally that included 26 consecutive points to win 50-36 (see recap/series results on page 3). • Southern Miss has two players on its roster from the state of Texas, including Braxton Myers (Coppell) and Kyirin Heath (Mansfi eld). • Texas State features two players on its roster from the state of Mississippi, including Alonzo Edwards, Jr. (Madison), and Deven Wright (Southaven).
Texas State Bobcats Notes
OPENING DRIVE
• Texas State is coming off a historic 2023 season that saw the program win its first bowl game, in its first appearance, a 45-21 victory over Rice in the SERVEPRO First Responder Bowl. • The Bobcats set an FBS-program record with eight wins in 2023. • Texas State posted the highest season attendance average the program has seen in 2023 at 21,184 (127,102 total) and has had two sellouts at UFCU Stadium in 2024. • TXST is coming off a 38-17 win over ULM on the road that saw the Bobcats post a season high 326 rushing yards off 45 attempts. They also held ULM to 278 yards of total offense, the lowest in 2024. • Since joining the Sun Belt in 2013, Texas State is 5-6 in Homecoming match-ups, last winning in 2021 against ULM (27-19). • True freshman quarterback Brad Jackson was named to the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Honorable Mention list for his 119-yard, 2 TD rushing performance at ULM. • Southern Miss enters the match up 1-8 on the season having picked up its lone win against Southeastern on Sept. 7.
A WIN VS. SOUTHERN MISS MEANS…
• The Bobcats improve to 3-2 in the series with Southern Miss. • Texas State wins four Sun Belt games for the second consecutive season after going 4-4 in 2023. It is the third time overall in the Sun Belt (2014, 5-3). • TXST is bowl eligible for the second consecutive season after going 7-5 through the regular season in 2023.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
AGAINST AUTONOMY
ULM will attempt to make it three-straight seasons with four victories over autonomy conference foes for the new-look Sun Belt when it visits Auburn at 11:45 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16, on SEC Network. The Sun Belt has already produced three wins over autonomy conference opposition this season—Georgia State defeated Vanderbilt, 36-32, in Week 3; James Madison defeated North Carolina, 70-50, in Week 4; and Louisiana defeated Wake Forest, 41-38, in Week 5. The Sun Belt has 22 wins over autonomy conference opponents since 2016—with 11 of those coming since 2022, when the league expanded to its current 14-member configuration. ULM is no stranger to defeating autonomy conference foes, having done so in three-straight years from 2012-14. The Warhawks bested Arkansas, 34-31, in 2012; Wake Forest, 21-19, in 2013; and Wake Forest, 17-10, in 2014. A victory would also clinch bowl eligibility for ULM for the first time since 2018.
ALL EYES ON THE EAST
With Georgia Southern and Marshall tied atop the Sun Belt East Division—and James Madison and Old Dominion sitting a game back heading into Saturday’s Royal Rivalry matchup—all eyes will be on the race for the 2024 Hercules Tires Sun Belt Football Championship Game. The Thundering Herd will welcome Coastal Carolina to Huntington for the annual ‘75’ Game at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16, on ESPN+. Marshall is 5-0 at home on the year but is looking for its first-ever victory in the head-to-head series against the Chanticleers. A Thundering Herd win would give Marshall a 6-0 home record for the first time since 2015 and the 11th time in Joan C. Edwards Stadium history. Coastal Carolina won 24-13 in Huntington, W.Va., in 2022 and 34-6 in Conway, S.C., in 2023. A Chanticleer victory would clinch bowl eligibility for the fifth-straight season. The Eagles will play host to Troy at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16, on ESPN+. The Trojans lead the all-time series, 14-7, including winning four of the last five matchups dating back to 2017. Georgia Southern was won 9-of-10 games under head coach Clay Helton when winning the rushing battle. To do so on Saturday, the Eagles will look to slow down Trojans senior running back Gerald Green, who is coming off a season-best 123-yard outing. Green is a familiar face in Statesboro, having spent the 2019-22 seasons at Georgia Southern.
ROYAL RIVALRY
James Madison will attempt to extend a 19-game winning streak against in-state foes when it travels to Old Dominion for the Royal Rivalry at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16, on ESPNU. That stretch includes back-to-back wins over the Monarchs in both prior meetings as Sun Belt Conference foes to even the all-time series at 2-2. After playing on opposite sides of the rivalry in 2023, brothers redshirt sophomore linebacker Koa Naotala and redshirt junior linebacker Seth Naotala have united at Old Dominion in 2024. Seth was previously a member of the James Madison program from 2020-23. The Monarchs are 1-of-2 teams in the country that have a brother backing up a brother on the depth chart, alongside Wisconsin’s Jack and Barrett Nelson at left tackle.
BEAT THE STREAK
Georgia State and Southern Miss will each attempt to snap extended losing streaks in conference action this weekend. The Panthers return home after a four-game road swing to host Arkansas State at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16, on ESPN+. Georgia State has lost nine-straight games to Sun Belt opposition dating back to the 2023 season and is amidst a six-game skid overall. The Panthers have won two of their last three against the Red Wolves to improve to 2-6 in the all-time series. The Golden Eagles travel to Texas State at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16, on ESPN+. Southern Miss has lost six-straight games to Sun Belt foes dating back to the 2023 campaign and has dropped seven-straight overall. The Golden Eagles and Bobcats have split four prior meetings, including the past two as Sun Belt brethren, but the home team is 0-4 in the all-time series. Both Arkansas State and Texas State can clinch bowl eligibility with victories on Saturday. A bowl appearance would be the second-straight for both programs.
WIN AND IN
Louisiana will look to punch its ticket to the 2024 Hercules Tires Sun Belt Football Championship Game when it hosts South Alabama at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16, on ESPN+. The Ragin’ Cajuns (8-1) are 1-of-3 remaining one-loss-or-better teams to hail from a non-autonomy conference, alongside No. 13/13 Boise State (8-1) and No. 16/17 Army (9-0). Louisiana owns a 9-3 advantage in the all-time series, though the Jaguars did break through for their first-ever win in Lafayette on a last-second field goal in 2022. With a victory, the Ragin’ Cajuns would become the first five-time qualifier for the Hercules Tires Sun Belt Football Championship Game, after appearing in four-straight from 2018-2021.
WEEKLY AWARDS
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ragin’ Cajuns redshirt junior running back Dre’lyn Washington established new career highs with 123 rushing yards, two touchdowns and 15.4 yards per carry in Louisiana’s 55-19 victory over Arkansas State to remain unbeaten in conference action. The Hemphill, Texas, native was part of a Louisiana rushing attack that registered a season-high 278 yards and six touchdowns on the ground.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Chanticleers redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Clev Lubin accumulated 10 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks in Coastal Carolina’s 38-24 win over App State—its thirdstraight in the head-to-head series. The Suffern, N.Y., native also added a forced fumble on the four-yard line, which Coastal Carolina recovered and eventually converted into a touchdown
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ragin’ Cajuns redshirt senior kicker Kenneth Almendares became the program’s all-time scoring leader in Louisiana’s 55-19 win over Arkansas State to maintain its perch atop the Sun Belt West Division standings. The Clute, Texas, native scored 13 points on two field goals and seven extra points. Almendares became the fourth Sun Belt kicker to record 60 career field goals, while improving to 19-for-21 on the season (90.5 percent) and 60-for-71 for his career (84.5 percent).
