Sun Belt Previews
Sat., Sep. 10 @ 12:00 pm ET
Arkansas State Red Wolves at Ohio State Buckeyes

Arkansas State Red Wolves
Notes
1ST AND 10
1 Arkansas State and Ohio State meet for the first time marking the 75th different FBS opponent the Red Wolves have faced.

2 The Red Wolves meet a top five opponent for the sixth time in program history, first since facing No. 3 Georgia on Sept. 4, 2019 and sixth time in program history.

3 A-State Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator Rob Harley (2001-05) earned three letters as a safety for Ohio State and was player when Buckeyes won 2002 national championship.

4 The Red Wolves begin a three-game road swing, the 13th time in 31 FBS seasons (since 1992) with three or more consecutive road games.

5 With 101 players listed as underclassmen (freshmen/sophomores), A-State ranks fourth nationally amongst respondents to the FBS survey of youngest teams this season.

6 A-State has thrown for at least 300 yards and two scores in 22 of 37 games since 2019, most among Sun Belt Conference schools and second-most nationally.

7 10 of the Red Wolves’ 12 opponents have either a new head coach, new offensive coordinator, new defensive coordinator or all three.

8 A-State and Oklahoma are the only FBS teams with 15-plus consecutive seasons with a game scoring 50 or more points.

9 Of the 67 players that played in the opener, 43 (64.7 percent) are freshmen or sophomores. A-State had 29 players make their A-State debut and 11 true freshmen were among those.

10 Each of the 12 scheduled contests this season for A-State are on Saturday for the first time since 2008. A-State played 28 regular season games on non-Saturdays in the span coming on Tuesday (9), Wednesday (2), Thursday (14) and Friday (3).

THE ARKANSAS STATE – OHIO STATE
SERIES: Saturday’s game will mark the first time Arkansas State meets Ohio State on the gridiron. In fact, a Feb. 22, 2008 baseball contest the Buckeyes won 7-3 is the only time A-State and Ohio State have met among football, baseball and men’s basketball meetings.

NICE TO MEET YOU: Arkansas State and Ohio State meet for the first time Saturday. The Buckeyes will mark the 75th different FBS opponent in program history and later this season the Red Wolves will add three more to the total; Old Dominion, James Madison (transition) and UMass.

A-STATE VS BIG TEN: Saturday’s contest will mark the 10th time A-State faces an opponent from the Big 10, all on the road. The Red Wolves are 0-9 in the previous matchups, the last being a 43-36 setback at Nebraska in 2017.

A-State vs Big Ten
Year Opponent Score
1995 at Minnesota 7-55, L
1998 at Minnesota 14-17, L
1999 at Illinois 3-41, L
2002 at Illinois 7-59, L
2009 at Iowa 21-24, L
2010 at Indiana 34-36, L
2011 at Illinois 15-33, L
2012 at Nebraska 13-42, L
2017 at Nebraska 36-43, L

A-STATE VS RANKED OPPONENTS: The Red Wolves meet a top five opponent for the sixth time in program history, first since visiting No. 3 Georgia back on Sept. 14, 2019 (0-55, L). A-State is 2-32 all-time against ranked opponents, the last win coming at Troy on Nov. 17, 2016 (35-3).

108TH SEASON: A-State holds a 488-509-37 record since the inaugural season and has played in17 bowl games. The Red Wolves are 147-199-1 since joining the FBS level in 1992.

HEAD COACH BUTCH JONES: Butch Jones was announced as the Red Wolves’ 31st all-time head football coach on December 12, 2020. Jones not only brought 11 years of head-coaching experience at the NCAA FBS level with him to Jonesboro after previous stops leading the football programs at Tennessee (2013-17), Cincinnati (2010-12) and Central Michigan (2007-09), but he also spent three seasons (2018-20) working as part of Nick Saban’s staff at national-power Alabama. During Jones’ 12 previous seasons serving as a head coach, his teams have combined to win four conference championships, played in eight bowl games and finished ranked in the AP Top 25 five times. He has coached a combined 87 all-conference honorees and 27 NFL Draft picks.

FOR STARTERS: Since moving to FBS status in 1992, the Red Wolves have posted a 9-22 record in season openers. The Red Wolves’ 58-3 victory against Grambling State marked the largest margin of victory in a season opener since 2009 against Mississippi Valley State (61-0).

Season-Opening Wins in FBS (Since 1992)
Year Opponent Score
1995 Utah State 21-17, W
2006 Army 14-6, W
2008 at Texas A&M 18-14, W
2009 Mississippi Valley State 61-0, W
2013 Arkansas-Pine Bluff 62-11, W
2014 Montana State 37-10, W
2018 Southeast Missouri 48-21, W
2021 Central Arkansas 40-21, W
2022 Grambling State 58-3, W

AN A-STATE WIN WOULD … give the Red Wolves their first victory in school history over a Big 10 member … give A-State three victories over a P5 teams since moving to FBS status in 1992 (18-14 at Texas A&M in 2008 / 35-31 at Kansas State in 2020) … see the record move to 2-0 for the first time since 2008 … be the Red Wolves first win against a ranked opponent since Nov. 17, 2016 at No. 25 Troy (35-3) … give A-State its third win over a ranked program in the FBS era (1992) for the program.

THERE IS EXPERIENCE TOO: Although the Red Wolves complete roster ranks top five nationally in underclassmen, there is experience on the roster. Among the depth chart for the opener, A-State had a combined 803 games of experience, 408 on offense and 395 on defense, but just a combined 232 starts, 151 on offense and 81 on defense. Of the 803 games of total experience, 205 (25.5%) are by players listed as underclassmen, 89 (21.8%) on offense and 116 (29.4%) on defense.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN: The Red Wolves set forth on a three-game road swing with each game on a Saturday for the second consecutive season after doing so last year for the first time since 2004. This is the 13th time in 31 FBS seasons (since 1992) that A-State has three or more consecutive road games. Memphis has been a road game in seven of those 13 occasions while Ohio State marks the fourth time A-State faces a ranked opponent in a three or more game road swing.

SATURDAY!: Each of the 12 scheduled contests for A-State are on Saturday for the first time since the 2008 season. Since then, A-State has played games on Tuesday (9), Wednesday (2), Thursday (14) and Friday (3) in the regular season.

SCHEDULE TIDBITS: This season, 10 of the Red Wolves’ 12 opponents have either a new head coach, new offensive coordinator, new defensive coordinator or all three. Four opponents, Grambling State, Louisiana, UMass and Troy have a new head coach, offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator this season. The only two opponents with the same head coach and coordinators from last season are South Alabama and Texas State. Memphis and ULM have new offensive and defensive coordinators. Ohio State and James Madison (promoted from Co-Coordinator) have a new defensive coordinator while Old Dominion and Southern Miss have new offensive coordinators.

OFFENSE NOTES
PASSING ATTACK: Including a school-record 582 passing yards against Memphis, 453 versus Georgia Southern (eighth most in school history) and 444 at ULM (ninth most), A-State threw for 3,767 yards and 27 touchdowns last season. The Red Wolves averaged 313.9 passing yards per game that ranked 11th in the nation, while it’s 27 passing scores are tied for
the 31st most.

PASSING ATTACK AMONG BEST IN NATION: In A-State offensive coordinator Keith Heckendorf’s tenure (since 2019), the Red Wolves have 22 games with at least 300 passing yards and two passing touchdowns. Only Alabama, with 27, has more than the Red Wolves in that span with LSU (21), Florida (19) and Ohio State (19) rounding out the top five.

LIGHTING UP THE SCOREBOARD: The Red Wolves have posted at least 30 points in 90 of the last 152 games played, dating back to the 2010 season. The Red Wolves are 72-18 in those 90 games with 30 or more points. The 90 such games are tops among Sun Belt Conference members in that span ahead of Marshall (80), Louisiana (79), Troy (77) and Appalachian State (72). Nationally, 90 games with 30-plus points since 2010 ranks tied for 14th. Among Group of Five programs, A-State is fifth behind Boise State (103), Houston (102), UCF (97) and Toledo (95).

HALF-A HUNDY: With the 58-3 win over Grambling State, A-State has now scored 50 or more points in a game in 16 consecutive seasons. Only Oklahoma has a longer streak than the Red Wolves, with a 50-point game in every season since 2006, the last season A-State did not have a 50-point outing.

SCORE FOUR: QB James Blackman tied his career high for the fifth time as he was responsible for four touchdowns in the 58-3 win over Grambling State. Blackman passed for two scores and ran in two more. Blackman’s two rushing touchdowns marked the first time any A-State rusher had multiple rushing touchdowns in a game since Marcel Murray had three at ULM on Nov. 2, 2019. Blackman’s performance also marked the first time An A-State QB had multiple rushing and passing touchdowns in the same outing since Justice Hansen had three passing and two rushing touchdowns against Georgia State on Oct. 18, 2018.

NEW LOOK O-LINE: A-State’s starting offensive line of left tackle Makilan Thomas, left guard Mehki Butler, center Ethan Miner, right guard Jordan Rhodes and right tackle Robert Holmes had a combined 69 games of collegiate experience and 27 combined starts before the opener. Of that group, only Thomas (1), Miner (12) and Holmes (3) had started for the Red Wolves. For the first time in a span of 34 games, A-State did not allow a sack in the win against Grambling State.

GO JOHNNIE GO: RB Johnnie Lang Jr. rushed for a career-high 124 yards on 13 carries against Grambling State becoming the first A-State rusher to eclipse 100 yards since Jamal Jones rushed for 106 yards at Texas State on Nov. 21, 2020. His 124 yards were the most since Marcel Murray rushed for 175 at ULM on Nov. 2, 2019. Lang had a career-long rush of 49 yards, the longest rush by an A-State player since Lincoln Pare had a 58 yard rush at Kansas State on Sept. 12, 2020.

DEFENSE NOTES
WELCOME HOME: A-State Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator Rob Harley returns to his alma mater and Ohio Stadium for the first time. Harley has been on the opposing sideline twice with Michigan State as a graduate assistant. In 2013, Michigan State met the Buckeyes in the Big Ten championship game and in 2012, the Spartans hosted Ohio State in the regular season. Harley was a three-year letter-winner for the Buckeyes from 2001-05 at safety. Rob Harley’s great-uncle is the legendary Chic Harley, the first three-time All-American and first player inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in Ohio State history. Ohio Stadium was built in 1922 and has affectionately been referred to as the “House that Harley” built after Chic Harley’s play at running back from 1916-17 and 1919 in which the Buckeyes went 21-1-1. Rob Harley was a member of the 2002 national championship team for the Buckeyes.

MARKED IMPROVEMENT: A-State allowed 157 fewer yards per game and 16.0 less points per contest over the last six outings compared to the first six. The Red Wolves also allowed 2.4 yards less per play during that stretch.

PICK IT OFF: A-State finished last season with 11 interceptions, which topped its total of six from the 2020 season. With safety Eddie Smith collecting his first career interception against Grambling State, the Red Wolves have posted at least an interception in six of the last seven outings, including a five-game stretch before the 2021 season finale.

DISRUPTING THE BACKFIELD: Kivon Bennett made an immediate impact on the A-State defense in his first season with the program, posting 16.5 tackles for loss and 8.0 sacks. Bennett posted at least a half-tackle for loss in 11 of 12 games, one of 26 players nationally last season with 0.5 or more tackles for loss in 11 or more games. With a total of 16.5 tackles for loss, Bennett finished last season ranked 13th nationally with 1.4 tackles for loss per game.

A LOSS ON THE PLAY: Dating back to the 2013 season, A-State has 5.0 or more tackles for loss in 89 of 114 games. A-State had 14 tackles for loss against Grambling State, most among all FBS teams in week one and one of 18 teams with double figure TFLs. The Red Wolves 88 such games since 2013 are most in the Sun Belt in that span ahead of Marshall (87), Southern Miss (83), Troy (80) and Appalachian State (80). Nationally, A-State ranks 13th in that span, third among Group of Five teams behind Tulane (92) and UCF (91).

SELECT COMPANY: DE Keyron Crawford and DE Thurman Geathers each had 3.0 tackles for loss against Grambling State in the season opener. It marked just the fourth time since 2000 that A-State had two players with three or more tackles for loss in the same game, first since Darreon Jackson and Kevin Thurmon had 3.0 TFL each against Georgia Southern on Nov. 23, 2019. Ja’Von Rolland Jones (3.5 TFL) and Kyle Wilson (3.0) against Texas State on Nov. 18, 2017 along with Kyle Wilson (5.0) and Chase Robinson (3.0) against Georgia Southern on Oct. 5, 2016 are the other occasions.

GETTING TO THE QUARTERBACK: While posting 5.0 or more tackles for loss 89 times over the last 114 games (since 2013), A-State has a sack in 103 of those 114 games. The Red Wolves 103 games in that span are second in the new-look Sun Belt Conference behind Marshall (105) and only the Thundering Herd have more such games than the Red Wolves among Group of Five programs.

QUITE THE DEBUT: True-freshman DE Keyron Crawford tied for the team lead with five total tackles and led A-State with 3.0 tackles for loss, including a sack, in the win over Grambling State. Crawford is the first true freshman for A-State to have 3.0 or more tackles in any game since 2000. Amos Draper, a redshirt freshman in 2010, had 3.0 TFL at Troy on Sept. 25, 2010. Crawford is the grandson of the late Eddie “Snowman” Crawford, a United States Wrestling Association (USWA) star. Keyron played basketball much of his high school career and started playing football in the fall of 2021. He recorded a safety on his second snap as an edge rusher at Briarcrest Christian School in the Memphis (Tenn.) area.

BEEN A MINUTE: A-State held Grambling State to 102 total yards, fewest by any opponent since Mississippi Valley State had 69 total yards in 2009. The Red Wolves also held Grambling State to 50 or fewer rushing yards, first time an A-State team has accomplished that since Troy had 47 in the 2017 season. It also marked the first time an opponent did not score a touchdown since the 2019 contest against Louisiana.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
INSIDE THE 20: Ryan Hanson posted 21 punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line last season. He posted at least two punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line in seven of 12 games, including four at Washington. Hanson finished the season with an average of 44.04 yards per punt, third in the Sun Belt Conference. For his career, Hanson has landed 33 of his 109 punts inside the 20-yard line with 21 of those 109 punts going 50-plus yards.

RECORD HOLDER: Ryan Hanson enters the 2022 season tied for the program record in highest average punt. Hanson has 109 career punts covering 4,661 yards for an average of 42.8 yards per punt, tied with Ryan Smith (1998-99) for the program record. At the conclusion of the 2021 season, Hanson’s 42.8 yard punt average ranked 31st among active FBS players.

Career Punting Average Record
(Min 40 Punts)
Rk No. Player Years
T1 42.8 Ryan Hanson 2020-22
T1 42.8 Ryan Smith 1998-99
3 42.4 Luke Ferguson 2012-15
4 42.1 Cody Grace 2017-19
5 41.5 Dan Mullen 1972-75
6 41.2 Bruce Gartman 1980-82
7 40.3 Ryan Wilbourn 2009-12
8 40.0 Jarod Little 2003-05
9 39.8 Kyle Richardson 1992-95
T10 39.5 Neely Sullivent 2009-12
T10 39.5 Steve Sampson 1986-87

NO WORK: Ryan Hanson and A-State did not punt against Grambling State, the first time since Sept. 24, 2011 against Central Arkansas. Hanson did get in the game though, holding for the eight PATs.

ON THE RETURN: Johnnie Lang Jr. posted a career-long 63-yard punt return for a touchdown during last season’s contest at Tulsa, A-State’s first punt return for a score since Blaise Taylor found the end zone on a 63-yard return against Nebraska in 2017. Lang finished the season with 16 returns for 129 yards, an average of 8.1 per game, ranked 24th nationally in return average. Against Grambling State, Lang returned two kickoffs for 61 yards, including a career-long return of 31 yards. It marked the first time he returned a kickoff since the 2019 season while at Iowa State.

CHAMP BRINGS EXPERIENCE: Oregon State transfer Champ Flemings is listed on the depth chart as a kick returner. Flemings played in 42 career games at Oregon State and returned 82 kicks for 1,823 yards, an average of 22.2 yards per return.

KICKING IT DEEP: Tristan Mattson solidified kickoff duties last season with 26 of his 60 kickoffs resulting in touchbacks. Just one of those 60 kickoffs went out of bounds and the Red Wolves kickoff return unit ranked 26th nationally limiting opponents to 18.46 yards per return. Four of Mattson’s eight kickoffs against Grambling State went for touchbacks.

THE SHOW BEGINS: Dominic Zvada broke camp as the starting place kicker for A-State as a true-freshman. Zvada, a product of Valley Christian High School in Chandler, Ariz., made 62-of-65 PATs and scored 74 points kicking in his senior season. Zvada converted a 55-yard field goal as a junior, the longest in Arizona high school Class 3A history. Zvada was a perfect 7-for-7 on PATs in the opener.

Ohio State Buckeyes
Notes
FIRST AND TEN
The second game of a rare five-game homestand to open the season for Ohio State has the Buckeyes, ranked No. 2 nationally, hosting the Arkansas State Red Wolves in a 12 noon game Saturday at Ohio Stadium.

Arkansas State, which pounded Grambling, 58-3, is one of eight teams from the Sun Belt Conf. to post wins in Week 1, including a signature Sun Belt victory by Old Dominion over Virginia Tech, 20-17. Coastal Carolina defeated ARMY and Appalachian State had a 40-point fourth quarter but just missed a win vs. North Carolina.

The Sun Belt Conference, which moved to FBS status in 2001, had a first: two teams in 2021 finished in the College Football Playoff final rankings: Coastal Carolina and Louisiana.

This is the first meeting between Ohio State and Arkansas State. Ohio State has previously met on the gridiron and defeated Sun Belt schools Marshall – two times – and Troy.

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day’s teams improved to 9-3 overall against non-conference teams, 14-4 vs. Top 25-ranked teams, 19-1 at home and 35-4 overall with the Buckeyes’ 21-10 victory over No. 5 Notre Dame last weekend.

A 21-10 WIN OVER NO. 5 NOTRE DAME
No. 2 Ohio State pulled out a double-digit win over No. 5 Notre Dame Saturday at Ohio Stadium, 21-10.

The Buckeyes wore down the Irish in the second half after trailing, 10-7 at halftime.

The Buckeyes totaled 246 yards and 15 first downs in the second half and had two long, decisive scoring drives to regain the lead and then extend the lead.

The Ohio State defense was outstanding all game, and it limited the Irish to just 72 yards, five first downs and no points in the second half.

Ohio State had 395 offensive yards and 22 first downs.

A TERRIFIC DECADE
Ohio State is opening a season ranked nationally in the Top 10 for a 10th consecutive year.

Ohio State is 106-13 since 2013 with one CFP national championship, four CFP appearances and five Big Ten titles.

Over these last 10 seasons, Ohio State has a 37-9 record vs. ranked opponents for an .804 winning percentage.

Ohio State is 15-3 (.833) vs. ranked opponents at home during this decade

DEFENSE SHINES IN DEBUT
The new 4-2-5 defense of coordinator Jim Knowles was outstanding, holding Notre Dame to just 256 total yards, including only 76 rushing yards, 12 first downs and no points in the second half.

LB Tommy Eichenberg led with nine tackles, 3.0 tackles-for-loss and two quarterback sacks.

SAF Lathan Ransom had seven tackles and LB Steele Chambers had five.

DT Mike Hall Jr. was most impressive with four tackles, including two TFLs and a quarterback sack

DRIVE, DRIVE ON DOWN THE FIELD
Ohio State had impressive, second half scoring drives vs. Notre Dame to 1) take the lead at 14-10, and 2) extend the lead to 21-10.

The 10-play, 70-yard drive late in the third quarter that regained the lead was capped by a 24-yard C.J. Stroud-to-Xavier Johnson pass play.

Following a fifth consecutive Notre Dame drive to end with a punt, the Buckeyes went 14 plays and 95 yards, chewed up 7:06 on the clock, and took a decisive, 21-10 lead as Miyan Williams pounded in for the score from the 2.

4-4 IN 20-PT. GAMES vs. 31-0
The 21 points scored by Ohio State in the win over Notre Dame was the fewest points for a Ryan Day-coached team.

The previous low was 22 vs. Northwestern in the 2020 Big Ten championship game.

Day’s teams have scored fewer than 30 points just eight times in 39 games (4-4 record) and have scored 30 or more points 31 times and are 31-0 in those games.

Ohio State, under Day, has scored 40-or more points 26 times.

62 CONSECUTIVE 20-POINT GAMES
Terrific research by the Big Ten Network has revealed this gem of a stat streak: Ohio State has scored 20-or-more points in 62 consecutive games – current – to rank third in FBS history.

The two longest streaks are not active so a new record is in play. The streaks:

Consecutive Games with 20+ Points

1. 69 – Oklahoma, 2016-21 (16 vs. WVU)
2. 63 – USC, 2002-06 (9 vs. UCLA)
3. 62 – Ohio State, 2017-present
4. 58 – Oklahoma State, 2010-14 (9 vs. TCU)

JUST ONE TRUE FROSH PLAYS
Unlike last season when eight scholarship true freshmen played in the season opening game at Minnesota, only one true freshman – DE Caden Curry – played in the opener vs. Notre Dame.

A second, walk-on K Jacob Fielding, did match Curry’s output. Both had four plays on special teams.

TALE OF THE PUNT – 1
Notre Dame ran 15 plays and gained 158 yards on its two first-half scoring drives and led 10-7 at the break.

Eight other Irish drives accounted for just 95 yards and all ended in a punt.

The Ohio State defense forced Notre Dame to punt on its final six drives and allowed just 72 second half yards and five first downs.

TALE OF THE PUNT – 2
Sophomore punter Jesse Mirco had his finest game as a Buckeye against Notre Dame.

He punted five times, averaged 45.0 yards per punt and dropped four inside of the 15 yard line (at the Notre Dame 05, 13, 05 and 12).

SCOUTING ARKANSAS STATE
Arkansas State started its season last Saturday with a resounding 58-3 win over Grambling.

The Red Wolves totaled 572 yards of total offense and did much of their damage on the ground, as they racked up 339 yards rushing and scored six touchdowns

Quarterback James Blackman, who started his career at Florida State, was an efficient 15-of-20 passing for 210 yards and two touchdowns.

Wide receiver Champ Flemings caught all seven of his targets for 122 yards and also scored a TD.

The Red Wolves are coached by Butch Jones, who had previous stops at Central Michigan (2007-9), Cincinnati (2010-12) and Tennessee (2013-17).

In his stints at Central Michigan and Cincinnati, Jones’ teams were a combined 50-27.

WINNING WAYS
Ohio State enters Saturday’s game with the third-most wins of any program since the start of the 2012 season: 118.

Only Alabama (129) and Clemson (122) have more in that time span.

The Buckeyes are 118-13 with a winning percentage of .901.

Most Wins Since 2012

1. Alabama 129
2. Clemson 122
3. Ohio State 118
4. Oklahoma 108
5. Georgia 107
6. Notre Dame 97

Best Winning Percentage Since 2012

1. Alabama .907 (129-13)
2. Ohio State .901 (118-13)
3. Clemson .877 (122-17)
4. Oklahoma .817 (108-24)
5. Georgia .792 (107-28)
6. Notre Dame .751 (97-32)

EIGHT IS GREAT
Ohio State will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Ohio Stadium with a terrific slate of eight home games in 2022.

In addition to facing No. 5 Notre Dame, the Buckeyes have two other AP preseason Top 25 teams on schedule: No. 8 Michigan and No. 18 Wisconsin.

The Buckeyes also host Arkansas State (Sept. 10), Toledo (Sept. 17), Rutgers (Oct. 1), Iowa (Oct. 22) and Indiana (Nov. 12).

Over the last 10 seasons (2012-21), Ohio State is tied for second nationally with 65 home wins and a .941 home winning percentage.

Most Home Wins – Last 10 Seasons

1. Alabama 67-3 (.956)
2. Ohio State 65-4 (.941)
   Clemson 65-3 (.955)
3. Georgia 55-7 (.887)
4. Notre Dame 55-9 (.859)

PUTTING UP POINTS
Ohio State finished first nationally last season in scoring offense as the Buckeyes averaged 45.7 points per game.

Since Ryan Day’s arrival in 2017, the Buckeyes have averaged 40 points or more per game every season.

Ohio State is the only program in the nation to have such a streak.

Additionally, Day-coached offenses have scored 40 or more points 38 times since the start of the 2017 season.

The Buckeyes are 38-0 in those games

Sat., Sep. 10 @ 12:00 pm ET
Southern Miss Golden Eagles at Miami Hurricanes

Southern Miss Golden Eagles
Notes
Noting the Golden Eagles
• Southern Miss plays in its 106th football season in 2022, having first fielded a team in 1912. The Golden Eagles are 607-448-27, which is 41st best among FBS teams by winning percentage (.573).

• The second year of the Will Hall era got underway last Saturday. He became the top man of the program on Dec. 2, 2020 (formally introduced on Dec. 7). Hall is the school’s 22nd full-time head coach.

• The Golden Eagles will begin play in their fourth different conference in their football history this season, 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. Southern Miss starts its first year as a member of the Sun Belt Conference.

• The program has collected 23 winning seasons over the last 29 and appeared in 18 bowl games during that time.

• Overall, Southern Miss has enjoyed 73 winning seasons and fi ve years of .500 football over its history. Since 2000, the Golden Eagles have 17 of 22 winning seasons.

Sun Belt Conference Inaugural Season
• After spending the last 26 seasons in Conference USA, the Golden Eagles announced its intention of joining the Sun Belt Conference last fall and became full members July 1.

• The Golden Eagles are a part of the new 14-team Sun Belt Conference that will be separated in the East (App State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, James Madison, Marshall and Old Dominion) and West (Arkansas State, Louisiana, South Alabama, Southern Miss, Texas State, Troy and ULM) division. JMU, ODU and Marshall joins the Golden Eagles as first-year members.

• Southern Miss won five Conference USA titles during its tenure, including one since divisional play started in 2005. They captured their only league title contest and the school’s fifth overall C-USA league crown when they beat Houston, 49-28, in 2011.

• The school’s other C-USA titles came in the inaugural season of 1996 as well as the 1997, 1999 and 2003 campaigns. The Golden Eagles also won two East Division crowns in C-USA (2006, 2011), and captured their first West title in 2015 after moving to that division during the 2014 campaign. Southern Miss won its third division title in 2015, but lost in the C-USA championship game at WKU, 45-28. Southern Miss was 1-2 in C-USA title games.

• Along with the five C-USA titles, the Golden Eagles also won three league titles – 1948, 1950, 1951 – when they were members of the Gulf States Conference.

• Against the current membership of the Sun Belt Conference, the Golden Eagles are 74-28-1 versus league foes, having never met Coastal Carolina, Georgia State and JMU. The Miami Series

• This will be the first meeting between the two schools in the sport of football.

• The game also marks the first time the Golden Eagles have played in the Miami-area – their last game in the Sunshine State was in Boca Raton as they lost to Florida Atlantic 34-17 on Nov. 30, 2019.

• Southern Miss and FIU were each members of Conference USA from 2013-2021 and met twice in their histories – FIU’s first year in the league in 2013 and Southern Miss’ last year in the conference in 2021 – with both games being played in Hattiesburg.

• One Golden Eagle, Frank Gore, Jr., is the son of Frank Gore, who lettered for the Hurricanes from 2001, 03-04. The Hurricanes won the National Championship during his first year in 2001.

Against the Atlantic Coast Conference
The Golden Eagles enjoy a 38-37-2 record (.506) against the current membership of the ACC. Southern Miss holds an 18-11-1 record against Louisville, and have posted a 8-14-1 mark with Florida State, while they are 5-5 versus North Carolina State, 1-2 versus Pittsburgh, 2-0 versus Virginia, and 4-5 versus Virginia Tech. Southern Miss has never met Boston College, Clemson, Duke, Georgia Tech, Miami, North Carolina, Syracuse and Wake Forest in football.

Notes from Liberty Game
• The Golden Eagles had a two-game winning streak snapped and also dropped its third-straight season opener.

• The game was decided in four overtimes, which marked the longest game in Southern Miss history.

• Frank Gore, Jr., rushed for a career-high 178 yards on a career-best 32 carries. It was his sixth 100- yard rushing game. His six 100-yard rushing games is tied for 13th most on the Golden Eagle charts with Tony Smith (1989-91) and Kendrick Hardy (2010-13).

• When Eric Scott, Jr., registered a 22-yard interception return for a touchdown, it marked the fourth time in the last five games that Southern Miss had returned a pick for a score.

• Senior place kicker Briggs Bourgeois blasted a career-long 53-yard field goal in the second overtime. It was the longest field goal made for the program since Parker Shaunfield collected a 51-yard field goal at Auburn on Sept. 29, 2018.

• Malik Shorts led all tacklers with 12 in the contest, as he also collected an interception.

• After starting quarterback Ty Keyes left the game late in the fi rst half with an injury, the Golden Eagles reutilized the SuperBack offense in the second half and overtime as they scored 24 points during that stretch.

• Santrell Latham forced his sixth career fumble on a first-half sack.

• The Golden Eagles produced 11 tackles for loss in the contest, tying the most for the school since Austin Armstrong took over as defensive coordinator at the start of last season

A Golden Eagles Win over Miami would…
• give the Golden Eagles their third win over their last four games

• produce the first win in the state of Florida since defeating UCF 31-21 (Nov. 13, 2010) when the Knights were ranked No. 25 in the AP poll and snapping a four-game losing streak in games played in the state of Florida

• collect the first win over a ranked team since beating No. 7 Houston 49-28 in the 2011 C-USA championship game (12/3)

• snap a nine-game losing streak against ranked opponents

The Offensive Line
The Golden Eagle offensive front line returns six players that made at least one start a year ago and five of those players started in the season opener as the unit produced 391 total offensive yards. Gerquan Scott, who is the only returning Southern Miss player to start every game on the line last year, ran his most consecutive start streak to 17 for the Golden Eagles. Paul Gainer, who has played the most on the offensive line at 25 contests, got his 11th overall start, including eighth in a row at right tackle, while John Bolding started for the seventh straight time, getting the call at right guard.

Ty Keyes Returns as Starting Quarterback
Southern Miss started redshirt freshman quarterback Ty Keyes at quarterback in the opener versus Liberty, but left the game in the first half with an injury. Keyes, who appeared for the first time last season in the second game of the year as a reserve against Grambling State, then starting versus Troy, Alabama and Rice, before being hurt and lost for the remainder of that year. In fact, injuries decimated the QB spot for the Golden Eagles a year ago and the team used a total of 11 players to take center snaps last season – the most in the FBS – after also losing Trey Lowe (Grambling State) early during the year to injury.

The Golden Eagles used quarterbacks No. 8, No. 9 and No. 10 at UTSA when Frank Gore, Jr., Antavious Willis and Dajon Richard all took snaps – all in the wildcat formation – which has been dubbed the SuperBack. Demarcus Jones then became the 11th Golden Eagle to take snaps at SuperBack versus LA Tech. With the use of the SuperBack over the final three games of the season, the Golden Eagles won their final two games and almost upset nationally ranked UTSA in San Antonio in the other. The Golden Eagles used the SuperBack during the second half of the Liberty game and scored 24 points over that stretch.

Keyes was the seventh different Golden Eagles to open the season at quarterback since the start of the 2012 campaign.

SuperBack Returns
After using the SuperBack offense in the final three games of the 2021 season, it returned for Southern Miss in the second half against Liberty in the 2022 season. The trio of Frank Gore, Jr., Dajon Richard and Antavious Willis rotated taking snaps down the stretch.

The Golden Eagles produced 229 offensive yards in the second half and overtime as it was the fifth straight game the team collected 100 or more yards on the ground offensively, finishing the game with 252 yards on the ground.

Gore collected touchdown runs of 46 and 5 yard runs in the second half, with the five-yard scoring run giving the Golden Eagles the lead with 1:54 to play.

Big Play Brownlee
Southern Miss senior Jason Brownlee led the team last season with 46 catches for 643 yards and eight touchdowns, despite having to mesh with all the different signal callers. He posted a solid performance against Rice with eight catches for a career-best 127 yards and against Middle Tennessee registered a career-high nine catches for 120 yards and his fifth career 100-yard receiving game.

After the Middle Tennessee contest, Brownlee recorded a touchdown catch for the second-straight game against North Texas with four catches for a team-high 53 yards. He caught Frank Gore, Jr.’s first career pass of 32 yards at UTSA and followed that with his first two-touchdown catch game – both coming from Gore, Jr. – at Louisiana Tech as he caught five passes for 67 yards. Brownlee finished the season with two more TD catches from Gore, Jr., in the finale – both from 34 yards out – as he finished with fi ve catches for 98 yards against FIU to conclude the 2021 campaign.

Brownlee started the 2022 season with one grab for 35 yards and is the top current receiver for the Golden Eagles who has 81 catches for 1,288 yards with 13 touchdown grabs. Gore Leads the Running Backs Frank Gore, Jr. led the Golden Eagles offense in a couple of roles last season. He was the team’s top running back with 801 yards on the ground with three rushing scores and was also called to take snaps from the center late in the year and converted 10-of-16 passes for 189 yards with four touchdown passes, two coming at LA Tech and two versus FIU. He also led the team in all-purpose yards with 990, as he also had 155 receiving yards.

He started his third season last week with a career-best 178 yards on a career-best 32 carries as he also threw for 48 yards on 1-of-4 passing. It was his sixth 100-yard rushing game of his career. When Gore has rushed for 100 yards in his career, the Golden Eagles are 4-2.

Gore, Jr., led the team in rushing in 2020 with 708 yards on 121 carries for a 5.9 rush average. Gore was a second-team All-Conference USA selection in 2020 and was a member of the league’s All-Freshman team. Gore is a member of the preseason watch list for the Doak Walker Award, given to the nation’s top running back.

Gore, Jr., also has enjoyed success against schools from South Florida in his Golden Eagle tenure, having tallied 111 yards on nine carries with a career-long 73 yard touchdown run on Dec. 10, 2020, in the team’s season finale with Florida Atlantic. Gore finished his second season at home against FIU, in which he tallied 68 yards on the ground with touchdown runs of three and five yards, while also throwing for 81 yards on 4-of-5 passing with a pair of 34-yard touchdown strikes.

Briggs Bourgeois Back Booting Kicks
Redshirt senior Briggs Bourgeois opened 2022 by making all three extra-point attempts to go along with 2-of-3 field goals made, including a career-long 53 yard attempt in the second overtime.

In his career, Bourgeois has converted 24-of-35 field goals, while making 62-of-66 career extra-point attempts. As a kickoff specialist, Bourgeois has 200 career kickoff s for a 59.2 kickoff average and 95 touchbacks.

This is the third consecutive year and fifth overall that Bourgeois has handled most of the kicking duties, after missing 2019 with a leg injury

Miami Hurricanes
Notes

THE GAME
• The #16/#17 Miami Hurricanes continue their first season under the direction of head coach Mario Cristobal on Sat., Sept. 10 vs. Southern Miss at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. Kickoff for the Hurricanes’ second game, slated for broadcast on ACC Network, is set for 12 p.m. ET.

• The game will be broadcast on ACC Network with Chris Cotter (pxp), Mark Herzlich (color) and Lericia Harris (sideline) on the call. Joe Zagacki (pxp) and Don Bailey, Jr. (color) are in the 560 WQAM radio booth for their 21st season together while Josh Darrow manages the sideline duties. Alfredo Alvarez (pxp) and Joe Martinez (color) will carry the game live on WMYM 990AM from Hard Rock Stadium, as will WVUM 90.5 FM.

THE SERIES
• Saturday’s game against the Golden Eagles at Hard Rock Stadium marks the first-ever head-to-head matchup between the two football programs.

THE HURRICANES
• The Miami Hurricanes officially opened the Mario Cristobal era Sept. 3, when the Hurricanes topped Bethune-Cookman, 70-13, at Hard Rock Stadium.

• Miami amassed all but 15 possible offensive yards against Bethune-Cookman. It scored a touchdown on nine of its 11 drives, while another one ended at the opposing six-yard-line and the final drive ended at the nine-yard-line when the game clock expired. Miami’s defense also scored a touchdown.

• Cristobal, a double alum of the University, was named the 26th head coach in program history by school president Dr. Julio Frenk on Dec. 6, 2021.

• Cristobal returned home after spending the previous four seasons as head coach at Oregon. During his time in Eugene, the Ducks were the only team to play in a Power-5 conference championship game each of his final three years. He led the Ducks to a Rose Bowl win and two Pac-12 titles.

• Cristobal is one of only two active head coaches to have produced a top-10 pick in each of the last three drafts, joining only Alabama’s Nick Saban.

• The first-year Miami head coach drew widespread acclaim for the staff he assembled, which includes reigning Broyles Award winner Josh Gattis as offensive coordinator, longtime coordinator and SEC veteran Kevin Steele as defensive coordinator and Charlie Strong as linebackers coach

• Miami was ranked #16 in the Associated Press preseason top 25 and #17 in the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll released earlier in August.

• QB Tyler Van Dyke enters his first full year as a starter with high expectations after earning ACC Rookie of the Year and ACC Offensive

Rookie of the
Year honors as a second-year freshman in 2021. Named to nearly every major offensive award preseason watch list, Van Dyke became the first quarterback since Joe Burrow (2019) to record a streak of six straight 300-yard passing games with three-or-more TDs in each of those games.

• Van Dyke was tabbed to the watch lists for the Davey O’Brien Award, the Manning Award, the Maxwell Award and Walter Camp POY Award

• TE Will Mallory (Mackey Award), James Williams (Bednarik Award), P Lou Hedley (Ray Guy Award), K Andy Borregales (Lou Groza Award), OL Zion
Nelson (Outland) and DL Leonard Taylor (Bronko Nagurski Trophy) were also among those recognized with preseason watch list selections.

• In addition to a talented group of returners, the Hurricanes feature a 2022 recruiting class that finished ranked among the top 15 nationally by every scouting service and a group of newcomers through the transfer portal that includes DL Mitchell Agude (UCLA), DL Jacob Lichtenstein (USC), DL Akheem Mesidor (West Virginia), DL Darrell Jackson (Maryland), DL Antonio Moultrie (UAB), LB Caleb Johnson (UCLA), DB Daryl Porter, Jr. (West Virginia), OL Logan Sagapolu (Oregon), OL Jonathan Denis (Oregon) WR Frank Ladson, Jr. (Clemson) and RB Henry Parrish (Ole Miss).

QUICK HITS
CANES HOST SOUTHERN MISS ON SEPT. 10
• #16/#17 Miami continues its highly anticipated first season under the direction of Mario Cristobal on Saturday, Sept. 10 against Southern Miss. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. on ACC Network.

• Cristobal racked up a 35-13 record and a 22-1 home mark during his four years at UO.

• Miami maintained its unbeaten streak in home openers that dates to 2006, having emerged victorious in its last 16, with a 70-13 win over Bethune-Cookman in its 2022 opener at Hard Rock Stadium on Sept. 3.

• Miami has never lost a home opener at Hard Rock Stadium, racking up an impressive 15-0 record in openers at the facility since moving there in 2008.

VAN DYKE ONE TO WATCH ENTERING ’22
• One of the nation’s top returning quarterbacks resides in Coral Gables, as QB Tyler Van Dyke prepares for his first full season as a starter in 2022.

• The reigning ACC Rookie of the Year, Van Dyke was voted ACC Rookie of the Week five of the final six weeks of the 2021 regular season, when he stepped in admirably after a season-ending injury to starting QB D’Eriq King.

• Van Dyke threw for more than 300 yards and at least three touchdowns in his final six games of 2021, becoming the first collegiate quarterback to compile such a streak since Joe Burrow did so in his Heisman Trophy campaign of 2019.

RADAKOVICH NAMED ATHLETICS DIRECTOR
• Not only were the Hurricanes bolstered by the return of Mario Cristobal, but Miami named longtime Clemson Director of Athletics Dan Radakovich to the same point this past December.

• Radakovich, whose career spans more than 30 years, earned his MBA from the University of Miami in 1982 and worked in the school’s business office from 1983 – 1985.

• Prior to Clemson, Radakovich served as Georgia Tech’s AD from 2006 to 2012, and before that, he was a Senior Associate AD at LSU.

• Radakovich earned his bachelor’s degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1980.

16/#17 MIAMI MATCHES UP WITH SOUTHERN MISS FOR FIRST TIME

• #16/#17 Miami continues its first season under the direction of head coach Mario Cristobal on Sat., Sept. 10 vs. Southern Miss. Kickoff for the matchup is slated for a 12 p.m. broadcast on ACC Network.

• Cristobal was named the 26th head coach in the history of the program on December 6, 2021 after spending the previous four years at the helm of the Oregon Ducks. Cristobal is a two-time UM alum.

• When he departed Eugene, Cristobal was the only Power-5 head coach to lead his team to three straight conference championship games from 2019-2021. He won two Pac-12 titles, delivered a Rose Bowl to the Ducks and is one of just two active coaches to produce a top-10 pick three straight years.

• The Hurricanes are matching up with the Golden Eagles for the first time in program history.

• UM’s game versus Southern Miss is slated for broadcast on 560 WQAM, Radio Actualidad & WVUM.

A LOOK BACK: MIAMI DOMINATES WILDCATS, 70-13, IN SEASON OPENER
• The Hurricanes improved to 6-0 all-time against Bethune-Cookman in its season opener on Sept. 3.

• Miami amassed all but 15 possible offensive yards against the Wildcats in its 70-13 win at Hard Rock Stadium. It scored a touchdown on nine of its 11 drives, while another one ended at the opposing six-yard-line. The Hurricanes’ final drive ended at the nine-yard-line when the game clock expired.

• The Hurricanes logged three interceptions in the win against Bethune-Cookman, with one each by Gilbert Frierson, Kamren Kinchens and James Williams. It marked the second time in the last four years Miami had three interceptions in a game, joining the 9/26/20 matchup with Florida State.

• WR Xavier Restrepo turned in the finest game of his career in Miami’s season opener, catching all five balls thrown his way to finish with 100 yards and a touchdown. It was Restrepo’s first 100-yard game.

• QB Jake Garcia went 8-for-8 in Miami’s win over B-CU. He became the first Hurricane quarterback this century (2000-pres.) to complete seven-plus passes in a game without an incompletion.

• Saturday marked the third time this century (2000-pres.) Miami logged 300-plus yards both rushing and passing in the same game. It is the second season in a row the Hurricanes have achieved that feat, as they last did so on 9/25/21 versus Central Connecticut State (322 rushing & 417 passing). Previously, Miami hit those numbers on 9/21/13 against Savannah State (324 rushing & 313 passing).

VAN DYKE HAS THROWN MULTIPLE TOUCHDOWNS IN SEVEN STRAIGHT
• Named to nearly every offensive award major preseason watch list, QB Tyler Van Dyke is poised for another big season after putting together an ACC Rookie of the Year campaign at Miami in 2021.

• Van Dyke became the third Miami Hurricane to win both ACC Rookie of the Year and ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, joining Hurricanes QB Brad Kaaya (2014) and RB Duke Johnson (2012).

• Van Dyke took over starting duties three games into the season and ended the year by throwing for 2,931 yards, 25 passing touchdowns and just six interceptions. He completed 62.3 percent of passes.

• In the win over Bethune-Cookman, Van Dyke extended his streak of throwing multiple TDs to seven consecutive games. Additionally, for the fifth time during that stretch, he threw zero interceptions.

HOME SWEET HOME OPENERS: MIAMI BACK AT HARD ROCK STADIUM
• The Miami Hurricanes opened their 15th season at world-class Hard Rock Stadium on Sept. 3 vs. Bethune-Cookman; UM holds a 15-0 all-time mark in home openers at the stadium, having outscored opponents 689-119 for an average margin of victory of 38.0 points in those 15 home openers.

• The Hurricanes have not lost a home opener since 2006, when they fell to Florida State 13-10 at the Orange Bowl on Sept. 4, 2006. Miami has won 15 straight home openers since – each one since 2007.

• Since joining the ACC prior to the 2004 season, Miami has played a conference opponent in only three of its 19 home openers: Florida State twice (in 2004 and 2006) and Georgia Tech once (2009).

• In the modern era of Miami Hurricanes football (since 1979), UM has opened the season at home 18 times and is 16-2 in those games. The Hurricanes are 32-12 in regular season openers dating to 1979.

Sat., Sep. 10 @ 12:00 pm ET
North Carolina Tar Heels at Georgia State Panthers

North Carolina Tar Heels
Notes
GAME INFO
TAR HEELS AND PANTHERS
• Carolina and Georgia State will meet on the football field for the second time in as many years this Saturday for a noon ET kickoff in Atlanta.

• The Tar Heels and Panthers met for the first time in 2021 when UNC earned a 59-17 victory in Chapel Hill.

• Georgia State lost its season opener on the road last Saturday at South Carolina by a score of 35-14.

2-0
• North Carolina improved to 2-0 on the season with a 63-61 victory at App State last Saturday in Boone, N.C.

• The Tar Heels are 2-0 for the third time in the last four seasons since Mack Brown’s return to the program in 2019.

BROWN VS. GEORGIA STATE
• Mack Brown enjoyed his first encounter with Georgia State last fall, a 59-17 victory in Chapel Hill in the home opener of the 2021 season.

LAST GAME RECAP
• Carolina and App State played to the first ever 63-61 football game in FBS history last Saturday.

• The 124 points scored were the most ever in a Tar Heel football game. The program dates back to the 1888 season.

• Drake Maye accounted for five total touchdowns (four pass, one rush) passed for a career-high 352 yards and rushed for a career-high 76 yards in the victory.

PEACH STATE NATIVES
North Carolina has 13 players on its roster this season that hail from the state of Georgia.

• Marcus Allen, John Copenhaver, Josh Downs, Tomari Fox, Elijah Green, Will Hardy, Kevin Hester Jr., Jarvis Hicks, Carter Kulka, Brooks Miller, Kaimon Rucker, Jeffrey Saturday, Jahlil Taylor

NEXT UP
• Carolina has an open date next weekend and returns to the gridiron to host Notre Dame on Sept. 24.

UNC SCHEDULE NOTES
Florida A&M: Carolina opens a season at home against a non-conference opponent for the first time since welcoming Cal to Kenan Stadium for the 2017 season. This will be the first meeting between the two schools.

Appalachian State: This is the third time these two in-state rivals have faced off, however, 2022 marks the first game ever played in Boone, N.C. Carolina won 56-6 in 1940, while the Mountaineers picked up a 34-31 win in 2019 in the series.

Georgia State: The Tar Heels are visiting the Panthers as the second game of a home-and-home series. Carolina won 59-17 in Chapel Hill last year in the first meeting between the two programs.

Notre Dame: The Tar Heels and Fighting Irish go head-to-head for the third year in a row. Notre Dame won last fall at home, 44-34, and 31-17 in Chapel Hill in 2020.

Virginia Tech: This is the 19th straight year that Carolina and Virginia Tech will face each other as league opponents. The Tar Heels won 56-45 the last time the Hokies visited Chapel Hill in 2020.

Miami: Carolina has won the last three meetings with the Hurricanes, including a 62-26 victory at Miami in 2020.

Duke: Mack Brown has won 11 straight games against the Blue Devils. The streak includes games from 1990-97 and has continued with victories since his return to Carolina in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Pitt: The Panthers visit Kenan Stadium for the first time since 2018. UNC has won all six meetings at home against Pitt.

Virginia: The Tar Heels earned their first win against the Cavaliers since 2016 with a 59-39 victory last fall in Chapel Hill. The 2022 game will mark the 127th edition of the South’s Oldest Rivalry.

Wake Forest: Carolina and Wake will play a conference game in Winston-Salem for the first time since 2012. The 2019 game was a non-conference matchup. This season also marks the first time the two have played in four-straight seasons since 2001-04.

Georgia Tech: Similar to Pitt, the Yellow Jackets will play in Chapel Hill for the first time since 2018. Nov. 19 will be the latest date in the calendar these two rivals will have ever faced each other. The previous latest date was Nov. 17, 2007.

NC State: The Carolina-State game remains on Thanksgiving weekend. The Tar Heels won 48-21 in the last meeting at Kenan Stadium in 2020.

JOSH “TOUCH” DOWNS
• Josh Downs registered at least eight catches and a TD in eight-straight games during the 2021 season. That was the longest such streak since Fresno State’s Davante Adams did it in nine-straight games in 2013.

• Downs’ streak of eight-straight games with a receiving TD was tied for the third longest stretch in ACC history.

• Clemson’s DeAndre Hopkins set the record with 10 in a row in 2012 that broke the mark of nine that was set by Virginia’s Herman Moore in 1990. Wake Forest’s Sage Surratt (2018-19) and NC State’s Bryan Underwood (2012) also put together eight-game streaks in the last decade.

• Downs led the ACC (5th nationally) with 101 receptions and ranked 2nd in the ACC with 1,335 receiving yards (11th nationally).

• Downs was third nationally with 737 yards after catch and 11th nationally with 59 first downs.

GROUND GAME
• North Carolina led the ACC in rushing yards in each of the last two seasons.

• North Carolina’s rushing attack has produced four 1,000-yard performances over the last three seasons. If you include Sam Howell, who rushed for over 1,000 yards prior to sack yardage, Carolina’s five 1,000-yard rushers are the most nationally over the last three seasons.

• Grad transfer running back Ty Chandler earned All-ACC second-team honors in 2021 by rushing for a team-high 1,092 yards. He ranked fourth in
the ACC with 84.0 rushing yards per game and third with 13 rushing touchdowns.

• Michael Carter (1,245) and Javonte Williams (1,140) both went over 1,000 yards during Carolina’s record-setting offense in 2020.

• Carter went for 1,003 rushing yards in 2019.

EXPLOSIVE PLAY OFFENSE
• Carolina led the ACC with eight plays of 60 or more yards, 13 plays of 50+ yards, 22 plays of 40+ yards and 42 plays of 30+ yards.

• Since 2019 under the direction of offensive coordinator Phil Longo, UNC’s offense leads the ACC in plays of 20+ yards (257), 30+ yards (124), 40+ yards (66) and 50+ yards (38).

TAKEAWAY ARTISTS
• The Tar Heels’ 15 takeaways on defense in 2021 was four more than the whole of the 2020 campaign when UNC had 11.

• UNC was sixth in the ACC with 11 interceptions last season.

• Cam’Ron Kelly was among four players that tied for the ACC lead with four interceptions in 2021.

• Kelly’s four INTs were the most by a Tar Heel defender since M.J. Stewart had four in 2015.

• In the 2022 opener, Storm Duck picked off his third career pass and DeAndre Boykins had a fumble recovery.

CLOSE CALLS
• Since the return of Mack Brown to take over the UNC program in 2019, Carolina owns a 23-17 overall record.

• 11 of the 17 losses have been by seven points or less with three setbacks coming in overtime.

• The first two losses in 2020 came by a mere three points at FSU and at Virginia.

• Nine of Carolina’s 13 games in 2019 were decided by seven points or fewer. That was the most by any team in the AP Poll era going back to 1936.

• UNC lost 43-41 in six overtimes at Virginia Tech in the longest game in ACC history.

• The Tar Heels also lost twice in overtime on the road at Pitt, 34-27 (2019) and 30-23 (2021).

MENACING MURPHY
• Junior defensive lineman Myles Murphy earned All-ACC second-team honors in 2021 during his breakout sophomore season. He was second on the team with eight tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks last fall.

• He begins the 2022 campaign on the watch list for the Bednarik Award, Nagurski Trophy and Outland Trophy.

CAUSING A RUCKUS
• Junior Kaimon Rucker also registered four sacks last fall and was third on the Tar Heel defense with 5.5 TFL.

• He was a menace on defense against Florida A&M by forcing a fumble that led to a Drake Maye to Josh Downs touchdown on the very next play.

• Rucker had two TFL, a sack and four tackles against Florida A&M.

TOUCHBACK TALENT
• Jonathan Kim was second in the ACC with a touchback percentage of 77.4 percent (65 of 84) in 2021.

• His percentage ranked 16th nationally.

• Through two games in 2022, he has kicked touchbacks on 16 of 20 kickoffs.

BIGGERS BLOCKS PUNTS
• Giovanni Biggers was one of 18 players in the country and the only player from the ACC to block two kicks or punts in 2021.

• Biggers blocked punts last season at Georgia Tech and against Miami.

• Carolina led the ACC and tied for first among Power 5 programs with five total blocks in 2021.

WINNING THE 4Q
• The Tar Heels outscored Florida A&M, 21-0, in the Saturday’s season opener.

• UNC enjoyed a +25 (115-90) scoring margin in the fourth quarter in 2021.

• Carolina led the nation in fourth-quarter scoring margin spanning the 2019 and 2020 seasons at +116.

• In 2019, Carolina ranked third in FBS (1st ACC) with a +69 (120-51) point differential in the fourth quarter.

• Carolina was +47 in 2020 in the fourth quarter, the fourth best mark nationally.

• In comparison, UNC ranked ninth worst in FBS in 2017-18 at -72.

Georgia State Panthers
Notes

THE KICKOFF: Saturday’s home opener vs. North Carolina (12 p.m. at Center Parc Stadium on ESPNU) is another milestone for the Georgia State program as the Panthers host a Power 5 opponent for the first time.

Georgia State is playing back-to-back Power 5 opponents for the first time in program history.

The Panthers have won seven of their last nine games.

Georgia State opened the season with a 35-14 loss at South Carolina. The Panthers held their own offensively and defensively, rushing for 200 yards and outgaining the Gamecocks 311 to 306 total yards, but hurt themselves by allowing two special teams touchdowns.

The GSU defense held South Carolina to 79 yards rushing and 306 total yards while allowing only 20 points (including two 50-plus field goals).

Super senior CB Quavian White led the defensive effort with two interceptions, two tackles for loss including a sack, a pass breakup and five tackles.

With his two picks, White equaled teammate Antavious Lane for the current GSU record with nine career interceptions.

Head coach Shawn Elliott’s squad has played in three straight bowl games, including back-to-back wins in the 2020 LendingTree Bowl and 2021 TaxAct Camellia Bowl. The Panthers have played in bowl games in four of Elliott’s five seasons.

Georgia State and North Carolina are meeting for the second straight year. Last year in Chapel Hill, the Panthers were within 24-10 with six minutes left in the third quarter before UNC scored four straight touchdowns and went on to win 59-17.

PANTHERS VS. POWER 5: Georgia State is facing a Power 5 opponent for the second straight week and the 15th time in program history. This is Georgia State’s fourth game against an ACC program, and the Panthers have also faced teams from the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac 12.

One of the biggest moments in GSU athletics history was the Panthers’ 38-30 victory at Tennessee in the 2019 season opener, the program’s first win over a Power Five team.

In that Tennessee win, Georgia State trailed 17-14 at the half but outscored the Vols 24-13 in the second half. Tra Barnett’s 19-yard run gave GSU a 28-23 lead, and then quarterback Dan Ellington sealed the win with a 22-yard touchdown run with five minutes left. Now Georgia State’s tight ends coach, Ellington also threw two TD passes in the game, and the GSU defense held Tennessee to 98 yards rushing.

Last season, the Panthers had a close call at Auburn. Georgia State led until the final minute but the Tigers scored the go-ahead touchdown on a fourth-down pass with 45 seconds left and went on to win 34-24.

WHAT’S THE RUSH: After holding South Carolina to just 79 yards rushing on 32 carries, the Georgia State defense has held four straight opponents under 100 yards. Those four foes have averaged 52 yards per game and 2.5 yards per carry.

Over the last three games of 2021, the Panthers allowed a total of 128 yards rushing. GSU set a school record by holding Arkansas State to minus-3 yards, and then held Troy to 57 yards and Ball State to 74 yards.

BACKFIELD DUO: Senior running backs Tucker Gregg (third) and Jamyest Williams (seventh) both rank among the top seven career rushers in GSU history.

Since the start of the 2020 season, Gregg (1,445) and Williams (1,188) have combined for 2,633 yards, including 1,812 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2021.

SACK THAT: Georgia State has broken its season sack record each of the last two years with 35 in 2020 and then 38 in 2021.

With 73 sacks over the 2021-22 seasons combined, Georgia State lED the Group of 5 and ranked sixth overall in FBS.

The Panthers opened 2022 with three sacks at South Carolina.

PICK ‘EM: Senior cornerback Quavian White and junior safety Antavious Lane share the current Georgia State career record with nine interceptions. Only five active FBS players have more.

NO ROOM TO RUN: Over the last two-plus seasons, Georgia State has held opponents to an average of 136.8 rushing yards per game.

The Panthers allowed 136.7 yards per game in 2020, followed by 141.4 ypg in 2021, the second and third-best season averages in program history.

SUPER-DUPER SENIOR: The Georgia State roster includes 10 “super” seniors who are utilizing the extra season of eligibility granted after the pandemic. Of those 10, five also redshirted and are in their sixth year of college and four are in their fifth year. But tight end Aubry Payne is actually a seventh-year senior who started his college career in 2016 at Western Carolina. Payne, who is married and will turn 25 in October, is just five days younger than his position coach, Dan Ellington.

TAKING THE LEAD: Super senior center Malik Sumter, senior quarterback Darren Grainger, super senior inside linebacker Blake Carroll and junior outside linebacker Jamil Muhammad were elected the 2022 team captains.

HIT STICK: Junior safety Antavious Lane is a two-time All-Sun Belt Conference selection, and he shares Georgia State’s career interceptions lead with nine.

Lane also owns the GSU season record with picks in 2021. He finished the season-with picks in the each of the final three games, including a pick six in the bowl game victory over Ball State.

Nicknamed Hit Stick, Lane is first-team Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference selection and a member of the preseason watch lists for the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy.

SCHEDULE NOTES: Georgia State’s 2022 schedule includes eight opponents who reached post-season play in 2021 (seven bowl teams plus FCS semifinalist James Madison), including two Power 5 opponents for the second straight year.

Georgia State is one of only four non-Power 5 programs in the nation not playing an FCS team this season, along with Old Dominion, Houston and UTEP.

Georgia State is one of only eight non-Power 5 programs that will play back-to-back games against Power 5 opponents. Only GSU, App State and Kent State open the season against back-to-back Power 5 teams.

GSU is playing two Power Five foes in a season for the second straight year and the fourth time in its history, along with 2013 (West Virginia and Alabama), 2014 (Washington and Clemson) and 2021 (North Carolina and Auburn).

2021 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Georgia State won seven of its final eight games in 2021 to finish with a school-record eight wins, capped by a 51-20 victory over Ball State in the TaxAct Camellia Bowl.

The Panthers ranked No. 8 in FBS in rushing, averaging 226.4 ypg, the second highest figure in program history. All-Sun Belt Conference running backs Tucker Gregg (953 yds, 9 TD) and Jamyest Williams (859 yds, 9 TD), who combined for 1,812 yards and 18 touchdowns, and quarterback Darren Grainger led all Sun Belt signal callers with 660 yards.

Grainger passed for 1,715 yards and 19 touchdowns with four interceptions to complement a rushing attack that ranked No. 8 in FBS in rushing, averaging 226.4 ypg, the second highest figure in program history.

The Georgia State defense, which returns eight starters, set school records with 38 sacks and 92 tackles for loss while forcing 21 turnovers.

EXPERIENCED O-LINE: The Georgia State returns offensive line features three senior starters, including sixth-year seniors Malik Sumter at center and Pat Bartlett at right guard.

Sumter (42 starts), Bartlett (43) and left guard Travis Glover (37) and have combined for 122 career starts.

That trio has started every game since the start of the 2019 season (37 straight), helping the Panthers average 222 yards rushing per game over that stretch.

RUN IT BACK: Georgia State’s success at running the football has been a key factor in the Panthers three straight winning seasons and bowl berths under head coach Shawn Elliott.

The last three years have been the three best rushing season in program history, including a school-record 3,141 yards (241.6 pg) in 2019.

Last season, GSU ranked No. 8 in FBS in rushing offense with 226.4 rushing yards per game, the second-best season average in program history.

Over the last three seasons (2019-21), the Panthers averaged 223 yards per game.

TUCKER THE TRUCKER: Senior running back Tucker Gregg, known for his hardnosed style, has trucked his way to 1,584 career rushing yards to rank No. 3 in GSU history.

The former walk-on and Burlsworth Trophy nominee was third in the Sun Belt with 953 yards in 2021 and fourth with nine rushing touchdowns. His 953 yards represent the No. 2 season total in GSU history.

Gregg had seven fourth-down conversion runs last season.

He tied the GSU record with three rushing touchdowns, along with 67 yards, in the win at No. 22/21 Coastal Carolina.

Gregg rushed for a career-high 150 yards on 12 carries at No. 23 Auburn. He had a career-long 57-yard run to set up a score in the first quarter, and then a 50-yard TD run to put GSU ahead 24-10 late in the second quarter. He is the first Panther to have two runs of 50 or more yards in the same game.

sat., Sep. 10 @ 1:00 pm ET
South Alabama Jaguars at Central Michigan Chippewas

South Alabama Jaguars
Notes

SATURDAY STORYLINES
BRADLEY RETURNING TO THE MAC
South Alabama quarterback Carter Bradley is returning to the MAC this weekend and against a team he has seen action against. His most memorable moment came when he connected on a game-winning touchdown with just 1:33 remaining in the game in 2020.

DEFENSE MUST STOP RUSHING ATTACK
Although Central Michigan went to the air against Oklahoma State, the focus of their offense is still the nation’s returning leading rusher from a season ago in Lew Nichols III. He totaled 1,848 yards last year on the ground, averaging 142.2 per game.

SPECIAL TEAMS COME THROUGH
Diego Guajardo led a special teams unit that came through for the Jags on Saturday, He finished the day 6-for-6 in extra points and 2-for-2 on field goals, while Jack Brooks averaged 41.0 yards per punt and the return team came through with some big returns.

SATURDAY WEATHER
Weather in Mount Pleasant, Michigan calls for partly cloudy skies on game day with temperatures hovering around 84 degrees as a high and 61 degrees as the low. Winds will come SSW at 5 to 10 mph on game day with clouds increasing throughout the day. There is a slight 15 percent chance of rain.

SERIES HISTORY
South Alabama and Central Michigan have never met despite the Jags having played five games against schools from the Mid-American Conference (MAC). South Alabama is 3-2 all-time against the MAC having played Kent State (2-1) and Bowling Green (1-1).

JAGS AGAINST THE MAC
South Alabama has played five games against schools from the MAC (just two different schools) and won the last meeting with a MAC school (Bowling Green, 22-19 in 2021). The Jags are 2-1 on the road, 1-0 at home, and lost a bowl game in Montgomery at a neutral site (0-1).

JAGS IN ROAD OPENERS
South Alabama is 6-6 in road openers over the lifetime of the program, including their last two road openers including against Bowling Green of the MAC.

JAGS IN HOME SEASON OPENERS
With their win on Saturday, South Alabama is now 6-3 in season openers at home over the lifetime of the program, including a perfect 4-0 before making the move to Division I.

OFFENSE
JAGS RECORD 500-PLUS YARDS OF TOTAL OFFENSE IN WIN
South Alabama put up 508 yards of total offense in a 48-7 victory over Nicholls on Saturday, the 29th-best total (average-wise) through the first two weeks of the season.

RED ZONE PERFECTION
The Jags were perfect in the red zone in the season opener, finishing a perfect 4-for-4, all touchdowns in the win.

THIRD-DOWN CONVERSIONS MUST IMPROVE MOVING FORWARD
South Alabama struggled in their third-down conversions in the season opener against Nicholls, finishing 3-for-13. They did finish 1-for-1 in fourth down conversions, converting their only attempt on the opening drive inside their own 40-yard line with a La’Damian Webb rush up the middle.

SPECIAL TEAMS
MEEKS JOINS JAGS
Jacob Meeks joins the Jags for the 2022 season after stops at ULM and Texas Tech. He will split the placekicking and kick off duties with Diego Guajardo.

BROOKS AVERAGES 41 YARDS PER PUNT IN SEASON OPENER
Jack Brooks averaged 41 yards per punt in the season opener including a long of 58 yards on six punts. He also knocked four punts inside the 20-yard line.

FOUR RETURNERS FOR JAGS
South Alabama used four different return specialists for punts and kickoffs in the opener – Omni Wells, Caullin Lacy, Jamall Pritchett, and Braylon McReynolds.

DEFENSE
WILFAWN LEADS JAGS
Quentin Wilfawn led the Jags in the season opener with nine total tackles including a tackle for loss. He finished solo stops and a quarterback hurry in the win.

PAIR OF TURNOVERS FORCED IN THE OPENER
South Alabama forced a pair of turnovers in the opener including an interception and a fumble recovery. Brock Higdon jumped on a fumble, while AJ DeShazor ended up with an interception in the win.

NEAR SHUTOUT
The Jags were near a shutout in the opener, giving up a touchdown in the fourth quarter. The seven points given up is the least in a game since the Jags defeated Southern Miss, 31-7 in the opener last year (September 4). The last time South Alabama recorded a shutout came against
Alabama A&M in 2017 (45-0).

NO SACKS RECORDED
South Alabama finished the game on Saturday with no sacks as Nicholls protected its quarterbacks, and both got rid of the ball quickly on quick routes by the receivers.

Central Michigan Chippewas
Notes

The Starting Lineup
SETTING THE SCENE
• Central Michigan plays its first game at Kelly/Short Stadium when it hosts South Alabama on Saturday, Sept. 10

• The contest is scheduled for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff and will be broadcast ESPN+ with talent Dan Gutowsky (play-byplay) and Marcus Ray (analyst).

• CMU has been dominant in its home opener recently, winning 13 of 15 games. CMU’s last five home openers have been:

• 2017 – CMU 30, Rhode Island 27 3OT
• 2018 – Kansas 31, CMU 7
• 2019 – CMU 38, Albany 21
• 2020 – CMU 30, Ohio 27
• 2021 – CMU 45, Robert Morris 0
• Kelly/Shorts Stadium began hosting

CMU football games in 1972. Since then, the Chippewas have posted a 179-84-4 record (.678 winning percentage) at home.

• During Coach McElwain’s tenure, Central Michigan is 11-1 with fans in the stands. CMU went 6-0 in 2019 and 5-1 in 2021.

• CMU’s last nonconference home opener against a Group of Five team was in 1996 against Louisiana Tech. CMU fell in that game, 38-37.

SERIES VS. THE SUN BELT
• This is the first meeting between CMU and South Alabama.

• Central Michigan is 4-6 against current members of the Sun Belt. CMU is 1-0 versus Troy, 1-1 against Louisiana, 2-4 versus Marshall and 0-1 against Arkansas State.

RICHARDSON RECOGNIZED
• Quarterback Daniel Richardson was named the MAC West Division Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in the Chippewas’ 58-44 season-opening loss at Oklahoma State.

• Richardson, a sophomore from Miami, completed 36 of his 49 pass attempts for 424 yards and four touchdowns. His completions, attempts and yards were career highs and he tied his career high in TD tosses

QB1
• Sophomore Daniel Richardson is the Chippewas’ clear-cut starting quarterback for the first time in his career.

• Known to teammates as D-Rich, the sophomore from Miami played in all 13 games in 2021, starting the final nine. He completed 60.4 percent of his passes for 2,633 yards while tossing 24 TD passes against just six interceptions.

• Richardson has appeared in 21 games in his three years in a Chippewa uniform, 14 of them starts.

• In the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Richardson started the first four games and was injured in the fourth game, a 31-23 win at Eastern Michigan. He did not appear in CMU’s final two games of the season. Richardson was named the starter ahead of the opener that season after a tight three-way battle in camp and the incumbent, David Moore, was ruled ineligible by the NCAA.

• In 2021, Jacob Sirmon started the first four games at QB for CMU. Richardson, who had played in each of the first three games, came off the
bench in that fateful fourth game, throwing three fourth-quarter TD passes and sparking a 31-27 come-from-behind victory at home over Florida International on Sept. 25 at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

BIG FEET
• Punter Luke Elzinga and place kicker Marshall Meeder have been major bright spots for CMU over the past two seasons.

• Last season, Elzinga averaged 41.3 yards per punt and 10 of his punts traveled more than 50 yards; 25 of his 57 punts pinned opponents inside their own 20-yard line. He earned All-MAC First Team honors from Pro Football Focus and third team accolades from Phil Steele.

• In 2020, Elzinga became the first CMU punter to earn First Team All-MAC honors since the Chippewas joined the league in 1975.

• Meeder, also a sophomore, was good on 49 of his 51 extra-point kicks and 17 of his 26 field goal tries in 2021. His 17 field goals tied for the second most in program history and his 49 PATs rank as the third most in a season in program history.

• Meeder converted from 49, 52 and 43 yards in the Chippewas’ 24-21 victory over Washington State in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl. He earned the Special Teams Most Valuable Player Award in the game.

• Meeder was named First Team All-MAC and to The Athletic Freshman All-America team in 2020 when he made all eight of his field goal attempts and 16 of his 17 extra-point tries.

• Meeder’s 53-yard field goal vs. Toledo in 2020 ties for the fourth-longest in program history.

• In his career, Meeder has made 25 of his 34 field goal attempts. He is 5-for-6 from 50-plus yards, 9-for-13 from 40-49, and 7-for-9 from 30-39.

• In 2020, Meeder became the third Chippewa place kicker to earn First Team All-MAC honors. The others are Rade Savich, 1977, and Chuck Selinger, 1993.

ON THE OUTSIDE
• Central Michigan graduated two top wideouts in Kalil Pimpleton and JaCorey Sullivan.

• Dallas Dixon is the top returnee at the wide receiver position. He ranked third on the team with 45 catches and was second with 701 yards in 2021. He made eight TD receptions, which was also second on the team.

• He and Sullivan earned Third Team All-MAC recognition, while Pimpleton was a first team pick.

STRONG UP FRONT
• While the Chippewas’ offensive line lost two players to the NFL, they do return three veterans up front in center Jamezz Kimbrough and guards Deiyantei Powell-Woods and Tyden Ferris.

• Kimbrough has started 20 consecutive games and played in 31 in his career.

• Ferris has appeared in 34 career games, 17 of them starts. He started 12 of the Chippewas’ 13 games in 2021.

• Powell-Woods has appeared in 30 career games with 15 starts. He started 11 games in 2021 and three in 2020.

BLOSSOMING
• CMU tight end Joel Wilson played in all 13 games in 2021 with 11 starts. He made 31 catches for 367 yards and six touchdowns. He ranked third on the team in TD receptions, fourth in receiving yards and fifth in receptions. Wilson entered the 2021 season with seven catches for 62 yards in his career.

DEFENSIVE NOTES
• Central Michigan ranked third in the Mid-American Conference in defense in 2021. CMU surrendered an average of 363 yards per game.

• CMU was first in the MAC and 18th nationally in rush defense in 2021 (114.6 yards per game).

• CMU’s defense shared the MAC lead and tied for fourth nationally with 43 sacks in 2021.

• CMU ranked No. 1 in the nation with 8.2 tackles-for-loss per game. The Chippewas totaled 106 tackles-for-loss, ranking sixth nationally.

• CMU’s defense was sixth in the nation in 2021 in third-down efficiency as it allowed opponents to convert on just 29.8 percent of third downs.

TOP RETURNEES
• Cornerback Donte Kent is among the top returnees on defense. The sophomore made 55 tackles (45 solos) and posted 14 pass breakups in 2021. Kent is CMU’s leading returning tackler.

• Kent, who had one interception, ranked third in the MAC and tied for eighth in the nation with 15 passes defended.

• Kent led the team in pass breakups and was named to the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Team.

• Linebackers Kyle Moretti and Justin Whiteside in their respective freshmen seasons.

• Both played in all 13 games; Moretti made 47 tackles, while Whiteside had 28 including three sacks among seven tackles-for-loss.

• Among others who return on defense who logged significant playing time in 2021 are defensive backs Trey Jones and Rolliann Sturkey; linemen
Jacques Bristol, Thomas Incoom, LaQuan Johnson, John Wesley Whiteside, Tyrece Woods and Robi Stuart.

Sat., Sep. 10 @ 2:30 pm ET
Marshall Thundering Herd at Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Marshall Thundering Herd
Notes

Marshall/Notre Dame History
Marshall and Notre Dame have never met on the gridiron, but the schools have, of course, run across one another in other athletic competition over the years.

The very first Marshall/Notre Dame sports meeting came on the baseball diamond, in South Bend, on April 20, 1916. Marshall Coach Boyd “Fox” Chambers took his Big Green nine to Notre Dame and Marshall nabbed an 8-6 victory. Notre Dame avenged that loss the following season, but Marshall returned to South Bend for a pair of games in May of 1929 and won both over the Fighting Irish, by scores of 4-3 and 1-0.

One of Marshall’s more notable wins over Notre Dame came in an elimination game at the 2013 NCAA regional softball tournament in Lexington, Ky. Marshall won the game 3-1 behind a complete-game, six-hit pitching performance from Andi Williamson.

More recently, on Nov. 15, 2019, the Thundering Herd men’s basketball team dropped a 74-64 decision at Notre Dame’s Joyce Center, despite a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double by the Herd’s Taevion Kinsey.

Offense Notes
Marshall’s 380 yards rushing against Norfolk State were the Thundering Herd’s most since Marshall rushed for 432 yards in a 48-7 win over Rhode Island in 2014.

Khalan Laborn (12 carries, 102 yards) and Ethan Payne (11 carries, 110 yards) became the first pair of Marshall players to rush for 100-plus yards in the same game since the Herd’s 31-28 win over Colorado State in the 2017 New Mexico Bowl (Keion Davis, 141 yards; Tyler King, 106 yards).

Quarterback Henry Colombi completed 24-of-26 passes in his Marshall debut, for 205 yards, one touchdown (13 yards to Corey Gammage) and one interception (in the end zone on a deflected pass). Colombi’s .923 completion percentage is the second-highest in a game in school history (min. 10 passes thrown), topped only by Eric Kresser’s 10-for-10 performance in a 56-25 win over The Citadel in 1996.

Colombi completed the first 13 passes he threw against Norfolk State, which ties him for the third-longest completion streak in school history (Grant Wells completed 18 consecutive passes at North Texas in 2021; Eric Kresser completed 14 consecutive passes over two games (The Citadel and East Tennessee State) in 1996; Byron Leftwich completed 13 consecutive passes against Buffalo in 2003).

Talik Keaton caught at career-high eight passes against Norfolk State for a game-high 71 receiving yards. Last Week’s Game

Defense Notes
Marshall’s defense smothered the Spartans, allowing only a field goal late in third quarter after the Thundering Herd had taken a 55-0 lead. The Herd held Norfolk State to 114 total yards, 30 yards rushing, and five first downs. The Spartans ran only 45 offensive plays.

Norfolk State’s five first downs were the fewest allowed by Marshall since a 27-0 win over Ohio in 1997, in which the Bobcats gained two first downs.

That 1997 game against Ohio was the last time that a Marshall opponent ran fewer than the 45 plays than Norfolk State ran Saturday – Ohio snapped the football 41 times that night.

Norfolk State’s 114 yards of total offense were the fewest allowed by Marshall since a 20-3 win over Central Florida in 2004, in which Central Florida gained 104 yards (on 49 plays).

Marshall’s defense scored a touchdown on its own, when defensive end Owen Porter recovered an errant pitchout by Norfolk State and returned it 21 yards for his first career touchdown.

Special Teams Notes
True freshman kicker Rece Verhoff made his Marshall debut one to remember by making both of his field goal attempts (30 and 27 yards) and knocking through all seven of his PAT attempts. Verhoff’s 13 points scored tied him with several Marshall kickers for the eighth-most points in a game in school history. David Merrick set the school record with 15 points against East Tennessee State in 1993 and J.R. Jenkins matched that 15 against Miami (Ohio) in 2000. Marshall kickers have scored 14 points in a game five times.

Redshirt freshman punter John McConnell was called upon only once in his college debut – on the first possession of the game. He launched a 44-yard boot that resulted in a Norfolk State fair catch. McConnell also serves as Marshall’s holder for place kicks.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notes

SERIES HISTORY
• Notre Dame and Marshall are meeting for the first time. Notre Dame is 19-6 (.760) since 1990 versus teams making their first visit to Notre Dame Stadium (full list page 14).

• The Irish have won five in a row against first-time Notre Dame Stadium visitors (Toledo, 2021; Virginia, New Mexico, and Bowling Green, 2019; Ball State 2018).

• The last first-time visitor to Notre Dame Stadium to earn a victory was No. 15 Georgia over No. 24 Notre Dame 20-19 in 2017.

STORYLINES
• Notre Dame’s Dick Corbett Head Football Coach Marcus Freeman, the 30th head coach in school history, will coach his first game in Notre Dame Stadium as the head of the program on Saturday.

• Since Notre Dame Stadium opened in 1930, Irish head coaches are 12-3 (.800) in their first home games, with only Elmer Layden (1934, 6-7 vs. Texas), Lou Holtz (1986, 23-24 vs. No. 3 Michigan) and Charlie Weis (2005, 41-44 OT vs. Michigan State) suffering losses in their Stadium debuts. (Note: Interim head coaches Ed McKeever and Hugh Devore won their first home games in 1944 and 1945, respectively, when Frank Leahy was serving in World War II and are included in the 15 game total). See page 6 for a complete list of Notre Dame Stadium coaching debuts.

• Not only are Notre Dame and Marshall meeting for the first time in football on Saturday, the contest also marks the first visit to Notre Dame Stadium for a Sun Belt Conference team.

• Marshall enters the contest 1-0 after a 55-3 victory over Norfolk State in its 2022 opener.

NOTRE DAME HOME OPENERS
• Notre Dame opens its 94th season at Notre Dame Stadium in 2022. The facility opened in 1930 and the Irish own an all-time record of 369-115-5 (.759) in “The House That Rockne Built.”

• The Irish are 109-18-4 (.847) in home openers (the team did not have a home opener in 1889 or 1929) with a mark of 75-15-2 (.826) at Notre Dame Stadium.

• The Irish have won 10 consecutive home openers in Notre Dame Stadium dating back to 2012 and a victory on Saturday would set the record for consecutive home opener victories in the facility at 11 – the Irish won 10 straight home openers in Notre Dame Stadium from 1964-1973.

IRISH ITEMS – BY THE NUMBERS
1 – Saturday marks Marshall’s first game against Notre Dame in football and also the first game by a Sun Belt Conference team against the Fighting Irish.

3 – Last year Michael Mayer joined Virginia’s Heath Miller (2003) and Rice’s James Casey (2008) as the only FBS underclassman tight ends (freshman or sophomore) in the last 25 years to have at least 70 receptions for 700 yards in a season.

4 – Four Irish freshmen made their debut for Notre Dame against Ohio State – Jaden Mickey, Benjamin Morrison, Junior Tuihalamaka and Zack Yoakam. Sophomore tight end Barret Liebentritt also made his first college football appearance.

7 – Notre Dame has played seven times in its football history on September 10, compiling a 5-2 record, the most recent victory a 39-10 victory over Nevada in 2016.

8 – Sophomore quarterback Tyler Buchner, starting his first career game last week at Ohio State, began the game by completing his first eight passes.

9 – Sophomore Audric Estime started at running back for the Irish at Ohio Stateand with nine rushes in the game, surpassed his total carries from his freshman season (seven in 2021). Estime also scored his first career touchdown against the Buckeyes.

17.7 – Tyler Buchner averaged 17.7 yards per completion in his first career start at Ohio State, which ranks as the third-best in FBS football after the first full weekend.

21 – Notre Dame’s defense held Ohio State to 21 points in the season opener, the least amount of points for a Ryan Day-coached Buckeye team (since 2019). It also was just the 18th tine Ohio State has been held to 21 points or less since 2010.

71 – Junior tight end Michael Mayer pulled in 71 receptions in 2021, the most in a single season for a Notre Dame tight end. After adding five catches at Ohio State last weekend, Mayer is at 118 career receptions and has his eyes set on the school career receptions record by a tight end (140, Tyler Eifert, 2009-12). 45.8 – Graduate student Jon Sot turned in a solid debut performance for the Irish at Ohio State. Over eight punts he netted 45.8 per attempt that ranked Notre Dame sixth in the country after the first full weekend.

101 – JD Bertrand led the Irish in tackles last season with 101, marking the first time since 2018 an Irish player had reached triple digits in tackles during a season. 213 Since 1980, Notre Dame is 213-24 (.899) when it scores 30 or more points.

506 – 506 (506-118-10, .806) of Notre Dame’s 950 program wins have come against unranked teams. As a ranked team, Notre Dame is 363-60-6 (.853) against unranked teams.

HOME OPENER WIN STREAK AT 10
• Notre Dame enters the Marshall game with a 10-game win streak for home openers in Notre Dame Stadium, dating back to 2012 (the last home opener loss was a 20-23 setback to USF to start the 2011 season).

• That 10-game run matches the home opener win streak from 1964-73 for the best in the history of Notre Dame Stadium (since 1930).

• The Irish posted nine-game home opener win streaks from 1953-61 and 1943-51.

• The longest home opener unbeaten streak dates back to when the Irish started the program and played a combination of Brownson Hall Field, Cartier Field and Notre Dame Stadium. From 1897 through 1933, the Irish won 36 straight home openers (there was not a home opener in 1929 while Notre Dame Stadium was under construction). Among that streak at tied games in 1933, 1918 and 1901.

• Among that 36-game unbeaten streak in home openers, the Irish ran off 16 straight wins from 1902-1917 and 13 straight from 1919 to 1932.

Sat., Sep. 10 @ 2:30 pm CT
App State Mountaineers at Texas A&M Aggies

App State Mountaineers
Notes

STORYLINES
• Moving forward from a 63-61 home loss to North Carolina — a game that set attendance and scoring records — App State hits the road to face No. 6 Texas A&M. It’s the Mountaineers’ first-ever game against the Aggies and fourth-ever trip to Texas —App State is 3-0 at Sun Belt foe Texas State.

• Shawn Clark was the only first-year FBS head coach in 2020 to win nine-plus games, and he added a 10-win regular season with a Sun Belt East Division title in 2021. App State has won four Sun Belt titles and gone 6-1 in bowl games (thanks to a record-setting 6-0 start) since the FBS transition.

• At 80-25 since the 2014 transition, App State has the sixth-most wins in the FBS in that span behind just Alabama (105-10), Clemson (99-13), Ohio State (94-11), Oklahoma (87-19) and Georgia (87-21).

• App State will be playing an AP top 10 team for the third time as an FBS program and the eighth time overall. Since the 34-32 win at No. 5 Michigan in 2007, when App State was completing a three-peat of FCS national titles, the FBS-level Mountaineers have played overtime games on the road against a pair of top-10 teams in No. 9 Tennessee (lost 20-13 in 2016) and No. 9 Penn State (lost 45-38 in 2018).

• App State’s last six games vs. Power Five teams have all been decided by seven points or less: before the UNC thriller, the list includes 2021 at Miami (L, 25-23), 2019 at South Carolina (W, 20-15), 2019 at UNC (W, 34-31), 2018 at Penn State (L, 45-38 in OT) and 2017 vs. Wake Forest (L, 20-19).

• App State’s last game against an SEC program was the 20-15 victory at South Carolina in 2019. That season, road wins against the Gamecocks and UNC propelled the Mountaineers to a 13-1 final record.

• App State will play in a stadium with a capacity above 100,000 for the fifth time — the four prior cases were the Penn State and Tennessee games, plus two Michigan trips (also the 2014 FBS debut).

• App State’s 31 road wins since 2014 are tied with Ohio State for third place nationally in that span. Boise State leads the way with 33, and Clemson ranks second with 32.

• In the UNC opener, App State trailed 41-21 after three quarters and scored 40 fourth-quarter points. QB Chase Brice set a school record with six TD passes while throwing for a career-high 361 yards, including 203 with four TDs in just the fourth quarter. UNC survived App State’s go-ahead two-point try following Brice’s 28-yard TD pass with 31 seconds left and a game-tying two-point attempt after Brice’s 26-yard TD pass with nine seconds left — in between, UNC returned an onside kick for a TD.

• With 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble in the opener against UNC, OLB Nick Hampton ranks fourth among active, full-time FBS players with 22.5 career sacks. He recorded 11.0 sacks last season.

MORE STORYLINES
• The attendance at sold-out Kidd Brewer Stadium in Week 1 was a stadium-record 40,168. That surpassed the previous record of 35,126 fans at the 2017 Wake Forest game. App State broke the school and Sun Belt all-time records last year with an average home attendance of 30,441.

• App State, Alabama, Clemson and Oklahoma are the only FBS programs with nine-plus wins every year since 2015. App State is one of eight programs with 10-plus wins in at least five of the last seven years.

• Eight players have been voted team captains: ILB Tyler Bird, QB Chase Brice, ILB Trey Cobb, OLB Nick Hampton, OT Cooper Hodges, CB Steven Jones Jr., DE Hansky Paillant and RB Camerun Peoples.

• Eighteen total players who started at least one game in 2021 returned from a team that enjoyed a 10-win regular season and captured a Sun Belt East Division title during Shawn Clark’s second full season as head coach. Clark’s 2022 staff includes three new assistants in Kevin
Barbay (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks), Lawrence Dawsey (receivers) and Geep Wade (offensive line).

• Wide receivers coach Lawrence Dawsey worked on Jimbo Fisher’s Florida State staffs from 2007-17, serving as the passing game coordinator when the Seminoles won the national championship in 2013, and Dawsey spent the previous two seasons as an offensive analyst for Fisher at Texas A&M.

• App State has three Texas natives of note in offensive coordinator Kevin Barbay (Nederland native who graduated from Lamar University before coaching high school and college football in Texas for 12 of 16 seasons between 2003-18), backup quarterback Brady McBride (Texas State transfer from Coppell) and slot receiver/punt returner Tyler Page (SMU transfer from Friendswood).

• App State is the only FBS program to be in the top 50 in rushing offense AND rushing defense each of the last five years. The Mountaineers were 21st in rushing defense and 34th in rushing offense in 2021.

• Over the last three seasons, App State is one of only seven FBS programs to finish each season in the top 50 in scoring offense AND scoring defense. Last season, App State ranked 22nd in scoring offense (34.5 points per game) and 30th in scoring defense (22.1 points allowed per game).

• App State posted a combined record of 43-10 from 2018-21 with three different head coaches, three different offensive coordinators and three different defensive coordinators over four seasons. Defensive coordinator Dale Jones is in Year 3 since returning to Boone, and offensive coordinator Kevin Barbay gives App State a new offensive coordinator for the fifth straight year. After Shawn Clark and Frank Ponce were co-offensive coordinators for play-caller Scott Satterfield in 2019, the next three coordinators were head coach Eliah Drinkwitz in 2019, Tony Petersen in 2020 and Ponce in 2021.

• Programs in North Carolina have posted an 11-win season at the FBS level a combined 11 times, and App State accounted for three of those in its first six FBS seasons.

• App State has a streak of 37 straight seasons (eight Sun Belt, 29 SoCon) with a league record of .500 or better. Among current FBS programs, counting seasons before and after any transitions, it’s the longest streak by 14 years — Clemson, Oklahoma and Boise State are at 23 in a row.

• App State has the Sun Belt’s most-followed Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok accounts among football programs. From August 2021-2022, it ranked No. 6 among G5 programs in combined followers on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook (with the fourth-most Instagram followers).

OFFENSE
• App State’s offense returns QB Chase Brice (school-record 3,337 passing yards last season), two RBs with 1,000-yard seasons (Nate Noel in 2021, Camerun Peoples in 2020), four of five OL starters from 2021 and three of its top four tight ends. The Mountaineers lost four WRs who signed NFL contracts, but six different players (four receivers, two tight ends) caught a TD pass against UNC.

• New offensive coordinator Kevin Barbay was Central Michigan’s offensive coordinator/QBs
coach in 2021, when CMU’s Lew Nichols III led the nation with 1,848 rushing yards and scored 16 rushing TDs. Through the air, the Chippewas averaged 265.4 passing yards a game while totaling 31 TD passes.

• App State outscored UNC 40-22 in the fourth quarter of coordinator Kevin Barbay’s debut as the Mountaineers nearly came back to win after being down 20. The Mountaineers are the first team in at least 15 years to score 40 fourth-quarter points, according to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg, who also noted that the 62 combined fourth-quarter points is one shy of the FBS record.

• The 124 combined points by App State and UNC were the most in each program’s history and the first time two teams scored 60+ points since 2019 (UCLA-Washington State). App State’s 61 points were its most ever in a losing effort and tied for the 14th-most in a game in school history.

• Last season, Chase Brice set App State’s single-season record for passing yards (3,337) to break the previous record of 3,291 set by Armanti Edwards. Brice tied for the Sun Belt lead with 27 TD passes.

• App State’s new-look receiving corps includes fourth-year sophomore Christian Wells and third-year sophomore Christan Horn on the outside, with work in the slot from fourth-year sophomore Dashaun Davis. Dalton Stroman is a promising redshirt freshman, and App State added a pair of transfers in Kaedin Robinson and Tyler Page. Against UNC, Chase Brice threw one touchdown apiece to Christian Wells (increasing his career total to eight receiving TDs on 29 career catches), Christan Horn (his first career TD against UNC), Dashaun Davis (team-leading 72 yards on a team-best six catches vs. UNC after scoring for the first time in the 2021 bowl) and Kaedin Robinson (26-yard TD with nine seconds left against UNC immediately after a 22-yard catch to start the drive near midfield). Dalton Stroman’s 41-yard gain to set up a first-half touchdown against North Carolina was his second career catch.

• The strong WR effort came after App State had four “super senior” receivers use the extra year of COVID-extended eligibility in 2021. Thomas Hennigan, Malik Williams, Corey Sutton and Jalen Virgil combined for 676 catches, 9,220 receiving yards, 75 receiving TDs and 80 total TDs before each receiver signed with an NFL team following the 2022 draft. Hennigan, Sutton and Williams all rank in the top eight in App State history in career catches, receiving yards and receiving TDs.

• App State has one of the most highly regarded RB rooms in the nation, with Camerun Peoples, Nate Noel, Daetrich Harrington and Anderson Castle (5.3 career yards-per-carry average) being joined by Wake Forest transfer Ahmani Marshall and true freshman Kanye Roberts (national-best 3,511 rushing yards and 64 touchdowns as a high school senior in 2021).

• Nate Noel (116 yards on 14 carries, two TDs), Camerun Peoples (65 yards on 13 carries, one TD) and Daetrich Harrington (48 yards on five carries) combined to rush for 229 yards in Week 1 .

• Nate Noel and Camerun Peoples combined for 2,052 rushing yards last year while ranking No. 2 and No. 3 in rushing yards per game in the Sun Belt. That came after App State was the only FBS team in 2020 with 500-yard rushing seasons from four players, including Peoples, Noel and Daetrich Harrington (who had a league-best 595 yards in the first six games of 2020).

• Last season, App State extended its streak of consecutive years with a 1,000-yard rusher to 10 —the longest streak among current FBS programs, with Buffalo in second place at four straight years. Nate Noel rushed for a league-leading 1,126 yards last season after Camerun Peoples totaled 1,124 yards in a 2020 season with 12 games thanks to a 317-yard performance in the Myrtle Beach Bowl.

• RB Daetrich Harrington returned Oct. 12, 2021 after tearing the ACL in his right knee for the second time in his FBS career on Nov. 7, 2020. He initially tore it in the spring of 2018 (returning nine months later to play) and later suffered a foot injury (he missed the last six regular-season games in 2019). He provided a second-half spark against UNC with 48 yards on five carries.

• In App State’s first eight FBS seasons, the line ranked in top 20 in fewest sacks allowed seven times while also ranking in the top 25 in rushing yards per game in seven of eight FBS seasons.

DEFENSE
• The defense lost seven primary starters from 2021, including ILB and NFL draft pick D’Marco Jackson. CB Steven Jones Jr., OLB Nick Hampton, ILB Trey Cobb and DT Jordon Earle are returning starters.

• Through 25 full years as an App State assistant, defensive coordinator Dale Jones has been part of 231 wins. He coached at Louisville with Scott Satterfield in 2019 following a 23-year run at App State, where he was also the defensive coordinator from 2010-12 and co-defensive coordinator in 2018.

• In Dale Jones’ first seven FBS seasons as a defensive coach at App State, the Mountaineers have 46 games allowing 17 points or less and 22 games allowing single-digit points.

• Outside linebacker Nick Hampton, who was one of only five players nationally in 2021 with more than 10 sacks, 15 tackles for loss and 65 tackles, started 2022 in strong fashion with his 2.5 sacks and one forced fumble. In addition to his 22.0 career sacks, he has 33.0 career tackles for loss.

• With nearly 40 pounds of added weight since entering college, Nick Hampton was named to The Athletic’s “Freaks List” for 2022. His 11.0 sacks in 2021 were the sixth-most among returning FBS players.

• App State’s 117 INTs since 2015 are tied with Iowa/San Diego State for first nationally in that span.

• Named a 2021 first-team All-American from the FWAA and Phil Steele, with a second-team honor from the Walter Camp Football Foundation, cornerback Steven Jones Jr. intercepted five passes last season to give him seven INTs in his last 19 games (with four pick-six TDs in that span). He had two pick-six TDs (out of three total INTs) vs. Arkansas State and one pick-six TD vs. ULM.

• ILB and Arkansas transfer Andrew Parker led the team with eight tackles in his App State debut.

• Inside linebacker Trey Cobb was the only FBS player in 2021 with at least 75 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions and seven passes defended (he also had two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery). He enters 2022 with 228 career tackles.

• While defensive tackle Jordon Earle doesn’t amass eye-opening stats, his work up front in the middle of App State’s defense helped the two starting inside linebackers combine for 195 tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks and four interceptions last season. He made his 22nd straight start in the 2022 opener.

• Outside linebacker Brendan Harrington started six of the first seven games last season after putting together an impressive 2020 season in which he was named the fifth-most valuable defender in college football, based on a Wins Above Average metric from PFF College.

• App State moved forward without departed two-year starters Kaiden Smith at strong safety and Ryan Huff at free safety, but veteran strong safety Nick Ross started twice last year, and sophomore Ronald Clarke started two games at free safety last season. As a true freshman in 2019, Ross returned an interception 20 yards for a TD in the 20-15 win at South Carolina.

• App State’s most experienced defensive end is Hansky Paillant, who has two sacks in 35 career games. First-year starter DeAndre Dingle-Prince has shifted over from defensive tackle, and Deshawn McKnight appeared in 10 games last season as a true freshman.

• Four defensive backs who attended App State since 2018 were with NFL franchises in late August: Shemar Jean-Charles (2020 Packers draft pick, after leading the nation in PBUs and being a first-team All-American in 2020), Josh Thomas (Cardinals), Tae Hayes (Panthers) and rookie Shaun Jolly (Browns).

• Going into last year’s bowl game, App State ranked in the top 20 nationally in scoring defense (No. 16, 19.3 points), total defense (No. 18, 325.5 yards), pass efficiency defense (No. 12, 114.7), INTs (No. 10, 15), defensive TDs (No. 6, four), red zone defense (No. 15, 73.7%) and rushing defense (No. 19, 118.8).

SPECIAL TEAMS
• Under the direction of 2021 Broyles Award candidate Brian Haines, App State ranked 16th nationally in overall special teams based on the Fremeau Efficiency Index (FEI) that combines kickoff return, kickoff, punt return, punt and field goal efficiency into one overall rating.

• After being the kickoff specialist as a true freshman, Michael Hughes has replaced 2021 All-America kicker Chandler Staton, who went 20 of 21 on field goals last season. Staton ended his career at No. 5 in FBS history with 464 career kicking points, and he also set App State career records for field goals (64), field goal percentage (79.0, 64 of 81), extra points (272) and extra point percentage (99.3).

• Clayton Howell is back as App State’s starting punter after being a Freshman All-American in 2018 —Howell, Steven Jones Jr. and Daetrich Harrington are all in their sixth years at App State. From 2019-21, Howell was the holder while Xavier Subotsch served as the team’s primary punter, and App State ranked in the top 25 nationally last year by allowing just 4.1 yards per punt return.

• With App State seeking a new weapon as a kick returner, Milan Tucker had a key 47-yard return past midfield to set up the Mountaineers’ touchdown with nine seconds left against UNC. In the previous six seasons, Darrynton Evans (now a running back with the Chicago Bears) and Jalen Virgil (a Denver Broncos rookie) combined for six kickoff return touchdowns.

Texas A&M Aggies
Notes

WHAT TO WATCH FOR
• Saturday marks the first meeting between the Mountaineers and Aggies … A&M’s most recent game against a Sun Belt foe was a 41-7 win over Texas State to kick off the 2019 season at Kyle Field.

• Senior WR Ainias Smith looks to extend his streak of 24 consecutive games with at least one reception, which dates back to the 2019 season … Smith started the 2022 season making a statement, hauling in a pair of 40-plus yard scoring passing and finishing the game with a career-high 164 yards.

• Junior RB Devon Achane was one of the most productive backs in the nation last season, ranking 11th in the FBS with a 7.00 yard-per-carry average … He led the A&M offense with 10 trips to the end zone, while also adding a 96-yard kickoff return score.

• Sophomore QB Haynes King regained his starting role after he was named QB1 just ahead of the Week 1 matchup with Sam Houston … It was a career-day for King against the Bearkats, as he sent a pair of 60-plus yard TD passes down field and finishing the day with 364 yards and three passing touchdowns.

• A key contributor since arriving in Aggieland, DB Demani Richardson returns for his senior season and leads all Aggies with 32 starts through 33 career games … He helped lead the way in the season opener with five tackles, including a tackle for a 5-yard loss.

• Junior DB Jaylon Jones has started all 22 games of his career he has played in and led the Aggies last season with a pair of picks, while also ranking second on the team with six breakups.

• Junior P Nik Constantinou led the SEC and was 10th nationally in 2021, as he boasted a 46.61 yards-per-punt average on the season … Constantinou was named to the Ray Guy Award Preseason Watch List and was a semifinalist for the national accolade in 2020

QUICK HITS
• With Saturday’s 31-0 shutout of Sam Houston, the Texas A&M defense hasn’t allowed a touchdown on its home turf since last year’s South Carolina game on Oct. 23, 2021 — a streak of 12 quarters without a TD allowed … During that span the Aggies have kept then-No. 12 Auburn, Prairie View and Sam Houston out of the end zone.

• The Aggies’ starting WR trio of senior Ainias Smith, junior Chase Lane and true freshman Evan Stewart combined for 13 catches against Sam Houston — 10 of which produced a first down or a touchdown … Leading the way was Smith with his six catches producing two scores and five first downs.

• The A&M defense picked up right where it left off last season, not allowing a touchdown on its home field for the third consecutive game and giving up just 198 yards of offense, including 91 passing yards … The Aggies finished the 2021 season third in the nation in scoring defense (15.9 ppg) and second in points allowed (191 pts), while also leading the SEC in passing yards allowed (2,312).

• Six of the team’s top 10 tacklers return from a season ago, led by junior DB Antonio Johnson, who tallied 79 takedowns in 2021, including 53 solo tackles.

• The Aggies were tied for fifth in the SEC last season with 55 passes defended on the year … Sophomore DB Tyreek Chappell, who started the final eight games of the season at corner, was fifth in the league after defending 10 passes in 2021.

• The Aggies are 22-4 (.846 win pct.) at Kyle Field under Jimbo Fisher … In the five seasons prior to Fisher’s arrival, the Aggies were 23-12 on their home turf (.657).

• Quick starts have been a harbinger of Aggie victories in the Jimbo Fisher era … The Aggies are 27-4 when scoring first and a perfect 25-0 when leading after the first quarter.

SWISS ARMY KNIFE
• Senior WR Ainias Smith has been called a “Swiss Army Knife” by head coach Jimbo Fisher because of his do-it-all ability on the field.

• Smith made a statement in the first game of his final season in Aggieland, leading the team with six receptions for a career-high 164 yards and a pair of trips to the end zone.

• Smith has recorded seven multi-touchdown games in his career, catching multiple TD passes in a game five times … Against the Bearkats, Smith hauled in a 63-yard scoring pass to put the Aggies up 17 points at the half and sealed the victory in the fourth quarter with a 43-yard TD grab.

• Dating back to the 2019 LSU game, Smith has caught a pass in 24 consecutive games.

• Smith is the only player in Texas A&M history to gain 250+ yards as a receiver, rusher, punt returner and kickoff returner, and is one of 10 players in SEC history to reach the plateau … Smith is one of three SEC players to have accomplished the feat in the past decade.

• Against Mississippi State in 2021, Smith became the third player in SEC history to rack up 1,000 receiving yards while also gaining 250+ yards as a rusher and returner (punt and kickoff) … The others are Kentucky’s Randall Cobb (2008-10) and LSU’s Skyler Green (2002-05).

• A&M’s go-to on punt return, Smith finished the 2021 season 11th in the nation with an 11.3 yards-per-return average, good for third in the SEC … He recorded the first special teams TD of his career on A&M’s first possession of the game against South Carolina when he posted the sixth-longest punt return in SEC history, going 95 yards to the house.

ACHANE IS OFF THE CHAIN
• Junior RB Devon Achane looks to lead the Aggies as the premier back this season after flexing his speed and versatility last year.

• Achane led the SEC and was second in the nation (min. 100 attempts) averaging 7.00 yards per carry last season, while also pacing A&M’s kickoff return team that ranked No. 2 in the country, averaging 30.55 yards per return.

• Achane reached the end zone as rusher, receiver and returner in 2021, leading the offense with 10 touchdowns.

• In the win over New Mexico, Achane’s success came through the air as he caught all three passes that came his way and finished the day with 45 yards and the second receiving TD of his career.

• Achane put his speed on display in the win over No. 1 Alabama when he returned a third quarter kickoff 96 yards to the end zone.

• Against Prairie View, Achane’s two trips to the end zone marked the sixth multi-TD game of his career, fourth of the year … He also tallied four 100-yard games as a sophomore to bring his career total to six through his first two seasons.

• The talented back also runs track for the Aggies, already receiving NCAA All-America selections in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay … In April of this year, Achane clocked the sixth-fastest time in A&M history in the 200m (20.20) and posted a time of 10.14 in the 100m at the 2022 Texas Relays.

KING RETURNS AS QB1
• Sophomore QB Haynes King returned to the field for the Aggies in the 2022 season opener against Sam Houston … King previously earned the starting job in 2021, but suffered a season-ending ankle injury in the first quarter of the Colorado game, A&M’s second game of the season.

• King showed Aggieland why he was able to regain his starting job, going 20-for-31 on 364 yards passing and three touchdowns in the lopsided win over the Bearkats.

• The two 60-plus yard touchdown passes by King marked the first time an Aggie QB has sent multiple scoring passes over 60 yards to the end zone since Oct. 15, 2011, when Ryan Tannehill tossed a pair of 68-yard passes to Ryan Swope against Baylor.

• Despite his limited time on the field, King is set to graduate in December 2022 with a degree in management.

MAROON GOONS
• The Texas A&M offensive line returns great experience from last season … Led by junior Layden Robinson, the Aggies return three of five starters from a year ago.

• Robinson is in his second year as a starter after helping clear the way for one of the top running back tandems in the nation in 2021 … He was a key reserve in 2020 when A&M became the first school in the last 10 years to lead the SEC in sacks allowed (0.7), tackles for loss allowed (3.8) and yards per carry (5.45) in the same season.

• In 2021, the Maroon Goons cleared the way for a pair of 100-yard rushers in the same game on three occasions, as the duo of Isaiah Spiller and Devon Achane rushed for over 100 yards a combined 10 times on the year.

• Sophomores Bryce Foster and Reuben Fatheree II made immediate impacts in their debut seasons as Foster started all 12 games at center and Fatheree II earned a starting role at right tackle for the final nine games of the season … The pair of newcomers were recognized for their
hard work as they were named Freshman All-Americans by the FWAA and The Athletic.

• Sophomore Aki Ogunbiyi, along with redshirt freshmen Matthew Wykoff and Trey Zuhn III, added depth for the Aggies off the bench last season with Ogunbiyi starting four of the eight games he appeared in.

SEASONED SECONDARY RETURNS
• A&M boasts a seasoned secondary that returns four starters, including senior Demani Richardson and junior Jaylon Jones, who have combined to start 54 games.

• In the season opener against Sam Houston, two of A&M’s leaders in tackles were from the secondary with Richardson sending the opposing running back 5 yards behind the line of scrimmage and sophomore DB Jardin Gilbert adding the first interception of his career and returning the ball 13 yards in the second quarter.

• The Aggies picked up right where they left off last season, shutting out Sam Houston and limiting the Bearkats to just 198 yards of offense, including 91 yards through the air which marks the sixth game under Coach Fisher that A&M has held its opponent to less than 100 passing yards in a game.

• A&M was one of the best in the nation at limiting opponents last season, finishing the year second in the country in points allowed (191) and third in scoring defense (15.9) … A&M led the SEC in yards allowed (3,930) and pass yards allowed (2,312).

• The Aggies return six of their top 10 tacklers from the 2021 season, four of which were secondary starters … While Richardson boasts the most career tackles on the current roster (177), junior Antonio Johnson is the top returner in the category after tallying 79 tackles, 53 solo last year.

• A&M’s 55 passes defended last season was good for fifth among SEC teams … Sophomore Tyreek Chappell was fifth in the SEC with 10 passes defended in his debut season, nine of which were breakups, which tied him for fourth in the league … Jones added eight passes defended, putting him in a tie for 13th in the SEC.

JOHNSON EMERGES AS LEADER
• Junior DB Antonio Johnson emerged as one of the SEC’s top tacklers among DBs in his first season as the Aggies’ starter at nickel in 2021.

• Johnson tallied 79 tackles on the year, which was the second most on the team … He led the Aggies and was tied for 11th in the SEC with 53 solo takedowns.

• On the season, Johnson led the team in tackles in four games, including against Mississippi State when he tallied a career-high 15 … He added 11 tackles at Ole Miss to record the second double-digit tackle game of his young career.

• Against Prairie View, Johnson laid the boom on the Panthers’ QB to force a fumble and set up an Aggie defensive touchdown as he registered both stats for the first time in his career.

• Johnson was third on the team with five passes defended last season and recorded the first interception of his career when he picked off Missouri in the first quarter and returned the ball 6 yards.

NON-CONFERENCE GRAVEYARD
• Kyle Field is a graveyard for non-conference opponents with the Aggies enjoying a 33-1 record against non-Big 12 or SEC opponents on their home field since 2010.

• Texas A&M’s lone out-of-conference loss at Kyle Field in that span was a narrow 28-26 decision to No. 2 Clemson on Sept. 8, 2018.

• Under head coach Jimbo Fisher, the Aggies have posted a record of 9-1 against non-SEC opponents at Kyle Field.

Sat., Sep. 10 @ 4:00 pm ET
Norfolk State Spartans at James Madison Dukes

Norfolk State Spartans
Notes

OPENING KICKOFF
• Norfolk State plays its second straight road game against an FBS opponent this week when the Spartans match up against new FBS and Sun Belt
Conference member JMU.

• The Spartans dropped their opener last week at Marshall, 55-3. NSU was outgained 612 yards to 114.

• NSU is coming off a 6-5 2021 season in its first year under head coach Dawson Odums. Officially, it marked the first winning for NSU since 2007 and included a six-game win streak, tied for the second-longest in school history.

• The Spartans, who were picked to finish third in the MEAC this year, welcome back 12 starters from last year, including four on offense and eight on defense.

• Seven Spartans were named to the preseason AllMEAC teams, including preseason Offensive Player of the Year RB J.J. Davis.

• JMU won its opener last Saturday at Bridgeforth Stadium, 44-7, over Middle Tennessee. Todd Centeio threw six touchdown passes and accounted for 397 yards of total offense (287 passing, 110 rushing).

• In its last year at the FCS level in 2021, JMU went 12-2 and lost to eventual champion North Dakota State in the national semifinals.

SERIES HISTORY
• This is the third meeting all-time between NSU and JMU. The teams met in 2017 at JMU (75-14 JMU win) and 2018 at NSU (17-0 JMU win).

• In the team’s last meeting, the Dukes were declared winners after one quarter of play after inclement weather interrupted the game and the two sides decided not to continue.

PRESEASON PREDICTIONS
• NSU was voted to finish third in the MEAC this season in the preseason poll of league head coaches and sports information directors. Reigning champ South Carolina State was picked first, followed by N.C. Central. Delaware State, Howard and Morgan State round out spots four through six in the poll.

• NSU had seven All-MEAC preseason picks. RB J.J. Davis, C Colby Byrd, DB Brandon Savage and LB Marquis Hall were first-team selections. WR
Da’Quan Felton, LB Tyler Long and DB Justin Toler were second-team choices.

• Davis, the MEAC’s leading rusher as a freshman in 2021, was voted the preseason MEAC Offensive Player of the Year.

• Davis, Byrd and Savage were first-team All-MEAC picks last year, while Hall and Long were second-team selections.

MORE PRESEASON HONORS
• In addition to his preseason MEAC honor, J.J. Davis was also named a preseason HBCU All-American by BOXTOROW and was selected to the preseason watch list for the Black College Football Player of the Year along with LB Marquis Hall.

NSU VS. FBS
• NSU is no stranger to playing Division I FBS opponents. The Spartans are 0-16 all-time in such games, including a loss to Marshall last week and defeats to Toledo and Wake Forest last year.

• The Spartans have become increasingly competitive in those games, however. NSU scored 10 points at Toledo and then 16 at ACC runner-up Wake Forest last year, its second-best output all-time against an FBS foe.

DAVIS SET FOR AN ENCORE
• Despite splitting carries in a talented running back rotation, J.J. Davis made quite the splash in his freshman year at NSU in 2021.

• A former transfer from Cincinnati, Davis led the MEAC with 887 rushing yards on just 123 carries. His average of 7.2 yards per carry was the best in all of Division I FCS.

• A five-time MEAC Rookie of the Week and one time Offensive Player of the Week, Davis was second in the MEAC with 11 total touchdowns (10 rushing, on receiving).

• Davis had four 100-yard rushing games, including three against MEAC foes and a career-high 217 on just 18 carries at N.C. Central.

• Davis had three plays of more than 70 yards last year: A 72-yard TD run vs. Elizabeth City State, an 86-yard TD reception on a short pitch vs. Morgan State, and an 88-yard rush at NCCU that was the longest run in school history.

SCORING SPREE
• The Spartans led the MEAC with a 33.2 points per game average last year. That mark was the best in NSU’s Division I history and third-best for the program all-time.

• NSU also led the MEAC in rushing offense (212.2 ypg) and total offense (440.5 ypg). The rushing output was also a Division I record and ranked second in school annals for all years.

• NSU’s total yardage (4,845) set an all-era school record and the 440.5-yards-per-game average was second-best in school history.

• The Spartans posted four 40-point games last year, including 63 against Elizabeth City. That is the most in a game in NSU’s D-I history and fifth-most in school history.

REPLACING QB1
• One question facing the Spartans this offseason was who will replace four-year starting quarterback Juwan Carter?

• All Carter did as a Spartan was set new school records for passing yards (9,271) and total offense (10,248). He was named MEAC Offensive Player of the Year last year, the second Spartan to ever earn that distinction.

• There is no shortage of options to replace Carter. Leading the way are two Division I transfers in Otto Kuhns (Eastern Illinois) and Jaylan Adams (The Citadel).

• Kuhns, who arrived in time for spring, started seven times for EIU last year and passed for 1,134 yards and six scores. He is a native of Columbus, Ohio.

• Adams spent four years at The Citadel and was the Bulldogs’ primary starter the last two seasons. In their run-first offense, Adams rushed for 948 yards and 12 TDs last year while throwing for 1,071 yards. He is from Johnson City, Tenn.

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS
• NSU returns eight starters from the defensive side of the ball. Though three of the four defensive line starters from 2021 are gone – including first-team All-MEAC ends De’Shaan Dixon and Chris Myers – NSU returns starters at all seven positions from its back seven.

• Linebackers Tyler Long (team-high 78 tackles) and Marquis Hall (49) are both back after anchoring the middle of the defense. Both made second-team All-MEAC last year. Long ranked fourth in the MEAC in tackles.

• Starting corners Brandon Savage (first-team All-MEAC) and Justin Toler, rover R.J. Coles, nickel Tayvion Land and free safety Stuart Anderson return as well after starting at their respective positions in 2021. Christian Ruffin, who split time with Anderson at safety, is also back.

• All told, seven of NSU’s top nine tacklers from last year return, as do the players who accounted for 13 of NSU’s 14 interceptions in 2021.

Extra Points – Offense
RB #3 Frank Boyd III
• Liberty transfer with 1 year eligibility remaining

• 228 of his 250 career rushing yards at LU came in 2018 (5.4 ypc, 3 TDs)

• 1st team all-state as senior at Manchester HS in’16 QB #4 Otto Kuhns

• 3-10, 30 yards passing at Marshall

• Eastern Illinois transfer with 3 years remaining

• Started 10 games in 2 years at EIU (including COVID year)

• 7 starts as freshman in fall 2021 (3 in COVID year in spring 2021)

• Career Stats at EIU: 1,643 passing yards, 11 pass TD, 144 rushing yards, 2 TD

WR #5 Da’Quan Felton

• 1 catch, 4 yards at Marshall

• 6 starts as redshirt freshman in 2021

• 2nd on team with 28 rec., 492 yards

• Ranked 7th in MEAC in ypg and 10th in rec./game

• Father, Ronald Boone, was an All-CIAA TE at NSU

• Career Highs: 6 rec. (2x), 104 rec. yards (Morgan State, 2021)

QB #9 Jaylan Adams
• 3-4, 54 yards passing at Marshall

• Spent 4 seasons at Citadel, starting in 2021 spring and fall seasons

• Accounted for 2,019 yards of total offense and 19 TDs in 2021 (948 rush yards, 1071 passing)

• Ran for 1,690 yards, 21 TD in 4 years at Citadel

• 5 100-yard rushing games in 2021

WR #10 Tremayne Talbert
• 20 rec., 207 yards, 1 TD in 2021

• Played in 20 games over first 2 years at NSU

• Career Highs: 6 rec., 68 yards (Morgan State, 2021)

RB #13 Kevon King
• Ran for 1,785 yards and 27 TDs as a senior at Oscar Smith HS

• 1st team all-state, All-Tidewater Player of the Year

• Helped OSHS to 2 straight state titles RB #15 J.J. Davis

• 8 carries, 11 yards at Marshall

• Preseason MEAC OPOTY

• Preseason All-MEAC first team for 2022

• BOXTOROW preseason All-American

• Black College POTY preseason watch list

• 1st team All-MEAC 2021

• 5-time MEAC Rookie of the Week; MEAC OPOTW after NCCU also

• 4 100-yard rushing games

• MEAC leader in rushing in 2021 (887 yards).

• No. 1 in NCAA FCS in yards per carry (7.2)

• School-record 88-yard run at NCCU

• 217 rushing yards at NCCU (18 carries) were most by a Spartan since Daryl Jones in 2007

• Scored on a 72-yard run vs. ECSU and 86-yard reception vs. MSU

• No. 2 in MEAC in scoring (11 TDs, 66 points)

• Cincinnati transfer – redshirted 2019

QB #18 Christopher Price
• Redshirted 2021 season
• Passed for more than 2,000 yards and 24 touchdowns as a senior at Landstown HS
• Earned All-Beach District and all-region honors

WR #20 Jason Wonodi
• 2 catches, team-high 50 yards at Marshall
• Played QB, WR and CB at Brockton (MA) HS
• Over 2,600 all-purpose yards as a HS senior
• Also ran track for Brockton

WR #24 Chris Butler
• 1 catch, 28 yards at Marshall
• 4 catches, 33 yards in 2021 as RS-freshman
• Track, basketball and football standout at Glen Allen HS

• All-region and all-metro performer caught 13 TD passes as a senior

RB #27 Jordin Lennon
• 3 carries in opener

• Named to the all-region, All-Tidewater and all-state football teams as a senior at York HS

• Rushed for 2,150 yards and scored 31 total touchdowns, including one interception return

• State qualifier in wrestling as a senior

RB #32 Lex Henry
• 4 carries, 5 yards in opener

• Ran 53 times for 281 yards with one touchdown as
a freshman in 2021

• Also caught two passes for 29 yards and one score

• Career Highs: 8 rushes (Howard, 2021), 57 rushing yards (VUL, 2021)

OL #55 Baron Franks II
• 2 career starts at RT

• Redshirted 2021

• All-region offensive lineman at Greenville (S.C.) Sr. HS

OL #75 Evan Gregory
• Played in 4 games at Maryland in 3 years

• Started vs. No. 12 Indiana in 2020

• Four-star recruit by Rivals and three stars by 247 Sports at DeMatha Catholic HS

OL #77 Jeremiah Bolling-Farrar
• Started 6 times in 3 years at Wagner

• Spent one season at Louisburg College

• Starred at Hopewell HS

OL #69 Jeff Woods
• Started all 11 games at left tackle in 2021 • Redshirt sophomore originally signed with UConn

OL #74 Colby Byrd
• All-MEAC 1st team in 2021

• Preseason All-MEAC first team for 2022.

• Started last 10 games at center

• 3x MEAC OL of the Week (after ECSU, VUL, MSU)

TE #81 Ademola Faleye
• Appeared in nine games during his freshman campaign in ‘21

• Caught five passes for 38 yards and one score on the year.

• Notched season highs with three receptions for 25 yards and one score, a 15-yard TD, against Morgan State.

Extra Points – Defense
DEFENSE
DB #0 Stuart Anderson Jr.
• All-MEAC 3rd team in 2021

• 38 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 2 INT last year

• Also holds for PAT/FG

• Career Highs: 8 tackles (Howard, 2021), 1 INT (2x), 1 PBU (2021 Howard)

DL #1 D.J. Djonkam
• 4 tackles at Marshall

• Played in 18 games over four years at NSU

• 8 tackles, 0.5 sack in 2021

• 10 tackles in 11 games in 2019

DB #2 Brandon Savage
• 5 tackles at Marshall

• 1st team All-MEAC 2021

• Preseason All-MEAC 1st team 2022

• 35 tackles, 3 INT, 7 PBU in 2021

• Career Highs: 10 tackles (FAMU, 2019), 1 INT (6x), 2 PBU (2x)

DB #6 Justin Toler
• Career high 9 tackles at Marshall

• Started 5 games at CB in 2021

• T-2nd in MEAC with 3 INT (2 vs. Hampton)

• 2021 Stats: 27 tackles, 3 INT, 1 sack, 1 PBU

• Career Highs: 6 tackles (2x), 2 INT (Hampton, 2021), 1 sack (NCCU, 2021), 1 PBU (2x)

DB #7 Tayvion Land
• Started all 11 games in 2021 after transferring from Liberty

• 2021 stats: 32 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 INT

• Career Highs: 6 tackles (2x), 1.5 TFL (St. Francis, 2021), 1 INT (Howard, 2021)

LB #11 TYLER LONG
• 11 tackles, 1 INT at Marshall

• Named to the All-MEAC second team in 2021

• Preseason All-MEAC 2nd team in 2022

• Led NSU and ranked fourth in the MEAC with 78 tackles last year

• Also: 3.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 1 PBU, 2 QBH

• Older brother, David, plays for Tennessee Titans

• Career Highs: 12 tackles (SCSU, 2021), 1.5 TFL (Morgan State, 2021), 1 sack (Morgan State, 2021)

DE #12 T.J. Stevenson
• 1 sack, forced fumble at Marshall

• UNC transfer redshirted 2021

• 3-star recruit and No. 11 player in VA according to ESPN.com as a senior

• 31 TFL, 16 sacks as a senior at Phoebus HS in Hampton in 2020-21

DB #16 Christian RUFFIN
• Started 4 times and played all 11 games at FS as true freshman in 2021

• MEAC Rookie of the Week after Howard win

• Returned blocked punts for TDs at Howard and

DSU
• 2021 Stats: 38 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 INT, 2 PBU

• Career Highs: 9 tackles (St. Francis, 2021), 2 PBU (Morgan State, 2021), 1 INT (Morgan State, 2021)

DB #17 Joseph White
• Played in 26 games over 4 years at U.Va.

• 3-star recruit out of Landstown HS

• All-Beach District at WR and DB

LB #19 Daylan Long
• 7 tackles, 1 TFL at Marshall

• Transfer from Miami (Ohio), where he redshirted in 2021

• Younger brother of LB Tyler Long

DB #28 R.J. Coles
• Career-high 12 tackles at Marshall

• Started all 11 games at rover/SS in 2021

• 1st career INT vs. VUL; 1 more vs. MSU

• 2021 stats: 56 tackles, 2 INT, 2 PBU

• Career Highs: 12 tackles (Marshall, 2022), 1 INT (2x), 1 PBU (3)

DL #48 Sage Beuchert-Irvine
• 8 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 sacks in 2021

• Redshirted 2019

• Career Highs: 3 tackles (ECSU, 2021), 2 sacks (ECSU, 2021)

DL #52 Anthony Blume
• 2 tackles at Marshall

• Started last 9 games of 2021 at DT

• 2021 stats: 33 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 QB hurries

• Career Highs: 5 tackles (2x), 1 TFL (ECSU, 2021), 0.5 sack (ECSU, 2021)

LB #56 Marquis Hall
• 7 tackles, 1 sack at Marshall

• All-MEAC 2nd team in 2021

• Preseason All-MEAC 1st team 2022

• Black College POTY preseason watch list

• 2nd in MEAC in forced fumbles last year

• 2021 stats: 49 tackles, 4 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 2 FF

• Career Highs: 12 tackles (2x), 1.0 TFL (5x), 1 sack (NCCU, 2021), 1 FF (2x), 1 FR (NCCU, 2021

DL #92 Cameron Curry
• 3 tackles at Marshall

• Football and basketball standout at Chantilly HS

• 53 tackles, 13.5 TFL, 9 sacks as HS senior

DL #95 Levontae Jacobs
• Career high 4 tackles at Marshall

• Played in 3 games in 2021

• Maintained redshirt

• All-county and all-conference pick at West Rowan (NC) HS

DL #98 Shamar Hill
• Played in 6 games as freshman in 2021

• Registered 1 sack, vs. ECSU DL #99 Amadeu vital

• 8 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 2 sacks in 3 games played in ‘21

• Missed last 8 games due to injury

• Transfer from Glenville State

• 4 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks at Toledo last season

Extra Points – Special Teams
SPECIAL TEAMS
K #61 Grandin Willcox
• 35-yd. punt average, 25-yard field goal at Marshall

• True freshman from Ocala, Fla.

• Football and soccer prep standout

• 6-8 on FG as a HS senior

K #91 Carson Wilt
• Redshirted 2021

• All-state performer at Atlantic HS (Lake Worth, Fla.)

• Two-time all-county and All-Sun Sentinel

James Madison Dukes
Notes

DUKES GET SET TO CLASH WITH SPARTANS
• James Madison is back home once again this Saturday when it hosts Norfolk State on Hall of Fame Weekend.

• This is JMU’s second of three non-conference games on the season.

• Kickoff from Bridgeforth Stadium is set for 4 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN3.

• Pregame radio coverage on the Morris Insurance & Financial JMU Radio Network begins at 3 p.m.

• Saturday’s game is sponsored by Glo Fiber and the 2022 season is presented by CarMax.

BREAKING DOWN THE SERIES WITH NSU
• Saturday marks the third meeting between JMU and Norfolk State, with the Dukes leading 2-0.

• While there have been two games, only five quarters have been played, after the most recent meeting in 2018 was called after 15 minutes due to weather.

• JMU won the inaugural meeting, 75-14, in 2017 at home after accumulating 728 total yards, which was one yard shy of the JMU single-game record. That included rushing for 472 yards, fourth most in school history.

• The following season, JMU led 17-0 after one but multiple lightning delays forced the game to be called.

• Norfolk State has gained just 120 yards in the five quarters played against the Dukes.

JMU BEGINS FBS ERA WITH BIG WIN
• JMU left no doubt in its FBS debut last Saturday in a 44-7 blowout win against Middle Tennessee.

• Todd Centeio threw for 287 yards and six touchdowns while rushing for 110 to lead the JMU offense.

• Kris Thornton caught 11 passes for 145 yards and three touchdowns, while Reggie Brown had five grabs for 78 yards and a pair of scores.

• JMU ran for 261 total yards, as Percy Agyei-Obese returned from injury to rush for 82 yards.

• The Dukes outgained the Blue Raiders, 548-119, holding MTSU to just 12 rushing yards.

• The defense tallied 15.0 tackles for loss and four sacks. Taurus Jones had 2.5 TFL, a forced fumble and a recovery, while Isaac Ukwu had 2.0 TFL and a sack. Jailin Walker also had a career-high nine stops.

• After a scoreless first, JMU scored 37 straight points in a span of 19:19 to bridge the second and third quarters.

JMU ACTIVE STREAKS
• Six straight home wins

• Seven straight regular-season wins

• 24 straight games holding opponents under 50% on third down

• Five straight games with multiple passing TD

• 20 straight wins in home openers

HOME COOKIN’
• New subdivision, same result.

• Since 2016, JMU has been incredible at the friendly confines of Bridgeforth Stadium.

• Over the past six-plus seasons, the Dukes have gone 44-2 on their home turf.

• That includes four unbeaten seasons, going 9-0 in 2017 and 2019, 8-0 in 2016 and 5-0 in 2020.

• During the span, JMU has scored 50+ points in 21 games, had nine over 60 points, four over 70 and two with at least 80.

• JMU’s first home loss from 2016-21 came on Oct. 6, 2018 when current head coach Curt Cignetti led Elon to a 27-24 win.

• The Dukes saw a 19-game home win streak end last season on Oct. 9, 2021, falling 28-27 to Villanova.

JMU’S SEASON & HOME OPENERS
• After the Middle Tennessee win, the Dukes are now 28-22-1 all-time in season openers, dating back to their 1972 inaugural campaign.

• JMU has won its past three season openers, adding in a pair of Morehead State wins in 2020 and 2021.

• In the last three openers, JMU has averaged wins by a margin of 54.7 to 5.7.

• In home openers, JMU improved to 40-11, which includes 20 straight home-opening victories.

• During its current 20-game win streak to begin the Bridgeforth slate, JMU has outscored its opponents by an average of 49.1 to 8.7.

• JMU has scored more than 40 points in 16 of those wins, including 80 in the 2016 opener.

• The last opposing team to win JMU’s home opener was Hampton back on Aug. 31, 2002 (31-28).

JMU VERSUS NORFOLK STATE
Overall: JMU leads 2-0
Current Streak: JMU W2
JMU Home Games: 1-0
Last: Sept. 16, 2017 (JMU 75, NSU 14)
JMU Away Games: 1-0
Last: Sept. 8, 2018 (JMU 17, NSU 0)
Most JMU Points: 75 on Sept. 16, 2017
On Road: 17 on Sept. 8, 2018
Most Opp. Points: 14 on Sept. 16, 2017
JMU Win Margin: 61 on Sept. 16, 2017
Opponent Win Margin: N/A
Date Game W/L Score
9/16/17 Norfolk State W 75-14
9/8/18 at Norfolk State W 17-0

THIRD-DOWN PROWESS ON D
• JMU’s defense has found its groove in recent years of getting off the field on third down.

• The Dukes have held opponents to under 50% on third down in 24 straight games, dating back to the 2020-21 season opener.

• North Dakota State finished right at 50% in the 2019 national championship game and no other team has been over 50% in 51 straight games.

• The last team to do so was NC State, which finished 11/16 in the 2018 season opener.

• JMU finished its run in the FCS last year having not allowing an FCS team over 50% in 63 consecutive outings.

UP NEXT FOR THE DUKES
• James Madison will be on its first of two bye weeks following Norfolk State.

• The ensuing week, JMU opens Sun Belt play on Saturday, Sept. 24 at App State.

• Game time and network will be announced next Monday from ESPN and the SBC.

• It will be the 17th meeting and first since 2008, with App leading 12-4.

THE SUN HAS RISEN
• James Madison ushered in a new era, as it officially joined the Sun Belt Conference on July 1.

• The Dukes are one of 14 full-time members of the Sun Belt, and with the additions of JMU, Old Dominion, Marshall and Southern Miss, the
league unveiled its east and west divisions.

• The east consists of App State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, JMU, Marshall and ODU.

• The west is comprised of Arkansas State, Louisiana, South Alabama, Southern Miss, Texas State, Troy and ULM.

• James Madison is first institution to host five FBS opponents in the first year of its FBS transition since the NCAA implemented the two-year transition process for reclassifying institutions in 1997.

• New SBC members went 3-1 in their debuts in the league with USM’s 4OT loss being the lone setback.

Sat., Sep. 10 @ 6:00 pm ET
Old Dominion Monarchs at East Carolina Pirates

Old Dominion Monarchs
Notes
• Old Dominion travels to Greenville, North Carolina to take on East Carolina on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 6 p.m.

• ODU drove 74 yards in two minutes and 25 seconds capped by a one-yard touchdown run by Blake Watson to defeated Virginia Tech last Friday 20-17 in Norfolk.

• The win over the Hokies is the second in program history over a Power-Five program. Both wins are over Virginia Tech.

• Linebacker Jason Henderson tied the ODU single-game record with 18 tackles and added two pass breakups and 1.5 tackles for loss. Henderson tied TJ Ricks’ 18 tackle game against Charlotte in 2015.

• ODU is 0-3 all-time against ECU and 0-2 in two trips to Greenville.

• ODU and North Texas both started last year 1-6. They join the 2016 Miami (Ohio) team that started 0-6, as the only teams since 1936 (AP Poll era) to win six games after starting a season 1-6 or worse.

The Outcome
An ODU win would mean:
• Give ODU its first win over East Carolina

• Give ODU its first 2-0 start since 2015

The Meeting
This is the fourth meeting between the two schools on the gridiron and the third time they will meet in Greenville. ODU played at ECU in 2013 in the program’s first FBS game, a 52-38 setback.
2013 – at ECU – ECU 52 ODU 38
2018 – at ECU – ECU 37 ODU 35
2019 – vs. ECU – ECU 24 ODU 21

Kuuuuuuuuntz is Back
Redshirt junior tight end stood out last season, not just because he is six foot eight, but because his 73 catches were the second most in the country last season by a tight end and the third most by any player in school history. This preseason, Kuntz was named a preseason PFF All-American, firstteam All-Sun Belt, No. 11 on Bruce Feldman’s “Freak List”, No. 49 on PFF’s Top-100 player list and was named to the Mackey Award Watch List given to the top tight end in the country.

Jennings Rises to Challenge
Last season Ali Jennings caught 16 passes in the first half of the season, and 46 the second half of the season. The 2022 opener was also the tale of two halves for Jennings. Jennings caught one pass for 16 yards with a fumble in the first half. In the second half he caught four passes for 106 yards, including receptions of 24 and 38 yards to set up the game-winning score.

Tackling Machine
Linebacker Jason Henderson was all over the field in Friday’s win over Virginia Tech. He tied TJ Ricks’ school record with 18 tackles. He also totaled two pass breakups and 1.5 tackles for loss.

Turnover Machine
The five caused turnovers by the ODU defense on Friday tied the single-game school record. ODU intercepted four passes and recovered a fumble on a botched field goal attempt that Robert Kennedy returned for a touchdown. The five turnovers ties the five turnovers ODU caused in a 2016 victory over Southern Miss.

Kennedy Returns
Safety Robert Kennedy was expected to start last season before an injury in camp derailed the beginning of his season. He started his first career game in Friday’s win over Virginia Tech and had a big impact. He gave ODU a 10-7 lead late in the first half when he recovered an errant field goal snap and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown. He also registered six tackles and two pass breakups.

Special Teams Play
Old Dominion special teams play was solid last week against Virginia Tech. Robert Kennedy returned a failed VT field goal attempt for a touchdown, Ethan Duane had a 48.6-yard average on eight punts and freshman kicker Ethan Sanchez was perfect on four kicks.

Experienced Up Front
Old Dominion returns four-of-five starters from last year’s offensive line and graduated only center Isaac Weaver. The unit has 70 combined starts between five players led by Nick Saldiveri.

Kick Return Craziness
LaMareon James returned two kickoffs for 100-yard touchdowns last season, including returning the opening kickoff in the Myrtle Beach Bowl against Tulsa for a TD. That was the first opening kickoff for a touchdown in ODU history. His first 100-yard touchdown came in ODU’s second win of the season against Louisiana Tech.

Overtime History
Old Dominion has played two overtime games in program history and ODU is 1-1 in those games. ODU won in overtime at home against LA Tech in 2014 and lost at Marshall last season.

East Carolina Pirates
Notes
THE GAME
East Carolina continues its four-game homestand to start the 2022 season playing host to Old Dominion Saturday, Sept. 10 followed by Campbell (Sept. 17) and Navy (Sept. 24) … ECU will look to get into the win column after a tough loss to No. 13 NC State in the season opener … The Monarchs are rolling into town after a 20-17 come from behind win over Virginia Tech … This will be the fourth meeting between the two schools with the Pirates holding a 3-0 series lead.

EAST CAROLINA RECORDS, STREAKS & TRENDS
Has allowed only three 4th-quarter offensive TDs in the last seven games dating back to ‘21 … Has forced at least one turnover in 19 of the last 21 games (and in 30 of the last 31) …Has held the edge in time of possession for six-straight contests (32:18 vs. NC State) …Had +6.4 ppg, +86.7 pypg and +107.0 typg cumulative margins in all eight AAC games …Had a collective time of possession edge in all eight AAC games (+8:42 avg.) …Snapped more offensive plays in all eight AAC games (+112 the last five contests) …Is averaging 38,295 fans per game since the start of 2021 season …

FAST FACTS
Record – 0-1 (.000); AAC Record/Standing – 0-0 (.000)/NA; Last 5 Games – 3-2; Last 10 Games – 6-4; Last 15 Games – 8-7; Streaks – East Carolina will play the 35th game of the Mike Houston Era when the Pirates face off against Old Dominion. ECU’s contest against the Monarchs will be the Pirates’ 906th since the start of football in 1932 (454-440-11/.508).

SCHEMES
ODU utilizes a multiple offensive attack while also employing a multiple defensive alignment. ECU will feature a multiple pro-style look on offense and are a multiple unit on defense.

THE SERIES
East Carolina leads 3-0 … During Mike Houston’s initial season with the Pirates, his defense booked 11 tackles for loss which included four sacks spearheading a 24-21 win in Norfolk … In the first meeting between the two schools, the Pirates used a then-school-record passing performance (447 yards, 46 completions) from Shane Carden to open the series with a victory in Greenville (2013) before benefitting from Jake Verity’s game-winning field goal in 2018:

HOUSTON AGAINST THE MONARCHS
Mike Houston is 1-0 all-time against Old Dominion as a head coach … Houston and the Pirates earned a 24-21 win back in 2019 that snapped a 10-game road loosing streak.

RAHNE AGAINST THE PIRATES
This will be the first meeting for Ricky Rahne’s against East Carolina.

LAST MEETING
East Carolina 24, Old Dominion 21

A swarming East Carolina defense booked 11 tackles for lost yardage, including four sacks, to spearhead the Pirates’ 24-21 non-conference win over Old Dominion at S.B. Ballard Stadium … The victory snapped ECU’s 10-game road losing streak dating back to 2017 while also serving as the first non-league road triumph since 2014 … Through its effort on the defensive side of the ball, the Pirates built a 17-3 halftime lead by limiting the Monarchs to just 106 total yards (38 passing) in the opening 30 minutes … East Carolina also used a four-yard blocked punt return for a touchdown by Warren Saba – its first special teams score in nearly four years – late in the first quarter to break a 3-3 deadlock before quarterback Holton Ahlers connected with Blake Proehl on a 72-yard TD strike early in the second stanza … ODU bounced back to trim the margin to four, 17-13, midway through the third quarter on a Nick Rice field goal and a five-yard scoring run by Stone Smartt … ECU answered the charge on Anthony Watley’s five-yard touchdown catch that capped an eight-play, 75-yard march to open the fourth quarter … The Monarchs rallied back again on Kesean Strong’s one-yard plunge and a subsequent two-point pass conversion with 2:13 remaining but the Pirates recovered the onside kick to seal the win … Kendall Futrell created most of the pressure with a team-best seven tackles, three sacks and a pair of quarterback hurries … ECU kept the Monarch’s ground game mostly in check by allowing a meager 90 yards on 42 carries – an average of just 2.1 per attempt … Ahlers completed 8-of-21 passes for 202 yards

EAST CAROLINA AGAINST THE SUN BELT CONFERENCE
East Carolina has compiled an all-time record of 36-34 (.514) against current members of the Sun Belt Conference … The Pirates are 3-0 against Old Dominion, 11-5 vs. Marshall, 3-0 vs. Georgia Southern, 2-0 vs. Arkansas State, 1-0 vs. Texas State, 0-1 vs. Georgia State, 0-1 vs. James Madison 4-7 vs. Louisiana, 12-20 vs. Appalachian State … Since taking over the helm of the program, Mike Houston is 2-2 (.500) all-time against Sun Belt teams which included a split last year with a season-opening loss against Appalachian State (33-19) and a road win at Marshall (42-38).

LOOKING FOR MORE LOOT
Despite its impressive 45-3 win, East Carolina’s 16-game streak of forcing at least one turnover came to a halt against Temple on Nov. 6 (2021) … The run, which began on Oct. 3, 2020 at Georgia State and produced 36 takeaways (22 interceptions, 14 fumble recoveries), was the program’s longest since a 33-game streak (from 2007 to 2010) … In all, ECU still has at least one takeaway in 19 of the last 21 (and 30 of 33) contests.

NON-SATURDAY MAYHEM
East Carolina is 21-29 in non-Saturday games since 2000 … Oddly, the Pirates have fared better on the road (14-14; 7-15 at home) … In terms of days (including bowls), ECU is 5-1 on Sundays, 1-1 on Mondays, 2-1 on Tuesdays, 0-3 on Wednesdays, 8-12 on Thursdays and 5-11 on Fridays … Most recently, ECU is 10-14 when deviating from the normal Saturday routine since 2010 … The Pirates’ last Monday outing was a successful one as East Carolina downed Ohio 37-20 on Dec. 23, 2013 in the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.

SEASON OPENERS
The Pirates dropped to 40-46 (.465) on opening day since ECU started its football program back in 1932 … With its 21-20 loss against No. 13 NC State, the Pirates have dropped its last six.

AT DOWDY-FICKLEN STADIUM
East Carolina’s all-time record at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium is 196-112 (.636) … The Pirates opened the facility on Sept. 21, 1963 with a 20-10 win over Wake Forest in front of 17,000 fans, celebrated the stadium’s 50th anniversary in 2013 and recently hosted its 300th game vs. Tulane in 2020 … Before a 4-2 clip in 2021, a 1-3 record two years ago and a collective 13-19 mark from 2015-2019, ECU was 5-1 in 2014, 2013 and 2012 (15-3) and won a combined 10 of 12 home matchups in 2009 (6-1) and 2008 (4-1) … Overall, ECU has posted 40 winning campaigns at DFS since 1963.

AGAINST NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS
The Pirates have produced a 40-59 (.404) regular season non-league record, which includes an 0-1 clip in 2022 … Last year the Pirates split their four non-conference games falling to Appalachian State and South Carolina to open the season before rallying back to post victories against Marshall and Charleston Southern … During his first season as head coach at ECU in 2019, Mike Houston led the Pirates to a 3-1 record – the program’s first winning non-conference ledger since 2014.

Sat., Sep. 10 @ 6:00 pm ET
Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs at Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs
Notes

SCOUTING THE CHANTS
Coastal Carolina has emerged as a Group of Five power just five seasons into its FBS era, entering the 2022 season after consecutive 11-win campaigns under Coach Jamey Chadwell … Offensively, the Chants are led by Heisman Trophy candidate Grayson McCall, who set a new NCAA record last season for pass efficiency and has completed 71.0 percent of his career attempts for 5,386 yards and 54 touchdowns (six interceptions) … Jerrod Clark (6-4, 340, R-Sr.), Josaiah Stewart (6-2, 230) and D’Jordan Strong (5-11, 190, R-Sr.) pace a very effective, multiple defense for Coastal Carolina … Stewart had 15.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks last season and Strong broke up 10 passes in 13 games at corner.

THE GAME
Gardner-Webb hits the road on Saturday to begin a two-game swing away from home, visiting former Big South foe Coastal Carolina in Conway, S.C. Kickoff is set for 6:00 pm with the live stream available on ESPN+ (Jeff McCarragher, Nate Ross). Dave Friedman and Reginald Walker, Jr., will call the game on the radio live on WGNC 1450 AM / 101.1 FM. The radio stream is also available via the TuneIn Radio app.

SERIES NOTES
Gardner-Webb and Coastal Carolina have a series history that dates back to the Chanticleers’ first season in 2003 … Coastal leads the all-time series 12-2, with both of Gardner-Webb’s wins coming on the road in 2003 and 2011 … The two teams’ last meeting came on October 15, 2016 in Boiling Springs, with Coastal Carolina coming away with a 17-7 win … Four of the seven games played in Conway have been decided by five points or less, including Gardner-Webb’s win in 2011 (26-24) and GWU losses in 2005 (34-31, OT), 2007 (17-14) and 2009 (26-21).

SERIES HISTORY
10/04/03 Gardner-Webb 38, Coastal Carolina 17 Conway, S.C.
10/30/04 Coastal Carolina 31, Gardner-Webb 19 Boiling Springs, N.C.
10/15/05 Coastal Carolina 34, Gardner-Webb 31 (OT) Conway, S.C.
11/11/06 Coastal Carolina 52, Gardner-Webb 24 Boiling Springs, N.C.
11/10/07 Coastal Carolina 17, Gardner-Webb 14 Conway, S.C.
11/08/08 Coastal Carolina 23, Gardner-Webb 18 Boiling Springs, N.C.
11/07/09 Coastal Carolina 26, Gardner-Webb 21 Conway, S.C.
10/30/10 Coastal Carolina 30, Gardner-Webb 27 (OT) Boiling Springs, N.C.
10/22/11 Gardner-Webb 26, Coastal Carolina 24 Conway, S.C.
11/03/12 Coastal Carolina 55, Gardner-Webb 33 Boiling Springs, N.C.
10/12/13 Coastal Carolina 42, Gardner-Webb 7 Conway, S.C.
11/01/14 Coastal Carolina 38, Gardner-Webb 14 Boiling Springs, N.C.
11/07/15 Coastal Carolina 46, Gardner-Webb 0 Conway, S.C.
10/15/16 Coastal Carolina 17, Gardner-Webb 7 Boiling Springs, N.C.

GREAT EIGHT
Gardner-Webb tied a school record with eight rushing touchdowns in its opening night win over Limestone (9/1) and did not pass for a touchdown for the first time since a February 27, 2021 win over No. 24 Elon during the spring season. Five different GWU players scored on the ground, with Janiero Crankfield (3) and Bailey Fisher (2) leading the way

HOT ROUTES
Gardner-Webb head coach Tre Lamb (32, September 16, 1989) is the second youngest head coach in the FCS ranks currently, with only Austin Peay skipper Scotty Walden (32, November 15, 1989) slightly younger.

The Runnin’ Bulldogs have scored 50 or more points 19 times during its NCAA Division I tenure, going 18-1 in those games. The only loss came in a 53-51 sprint at Charlotte on October 5, 2013.

Gardner-Webb’s average margin of defeat in four of its losses last season was just 5.8 ppg. That included narrow road losses at FBS Georgia Southern, #10 Kennesaw State and Hampton (double OT).

Narii Gaither is one of only two backs returning for the 2022 season in the FCS who led their team in receptions and rushing yards last season, along with Tennessee State’s Devon Starling. Gaither played in just eight full games.

Gardner-Webb was 2-2 in four meetings with Coastal Carolina head coach Jamey Chadwell during his time at Charleston Southern in the Big South. Both wins came when the Bucs were ranked in the top-15 nationally (2013, 2016).

Gardner-Webb is 45-12 when limiting opponents to less than 100 yards rushing. The ‘Dogs have accomplished the feat five times in its last eight home games under current defensive coordinator Josh Reardon.

Gardner-Webb has two preseason All-America selections on its roster – Narii Gaither and Ty French – for the first time since 2014. GWU is the lone Big South squad with multiple preseason All-America selections in 2022.

Gardner-Webb and Charleston Southern are the two remaining original football members of the Big South Conference. The two schools began play in 2002, with GWU claiming that first league trophy. The first conference season featured GWU, CSU, Liberty and Elon.

THE MAYOR OF ROCK HILL
Gardner-Webb welcomes back one of the most talented offensive players in the country in Narii Gaither (5-10, 181, Sr.). The Rock HIll, S.C., native is a preseason FCS All-America choice as an all-purpose back and is one of only two men in the nation returning after leading his team in both rushing yards and receptions. Gaither, who nearly reached the 1,000-yard rushing mark last season despite playing in just eight full games, was also recently named to the Walter Payton Award Watch List – given annually to the top offensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision. He didn’t disappoint in the season opener, churning out 137 yards and a score on just 13 carries – despite playing less than two full quarters.

BONJOUR
Another star returning for Gardner-Webb plays defense and does so at a very high level. Defensive end Ty French (6-3, 234, Jr.) is a preseason FCS All-America choice, as well as one of the nation’s most feared pass rushers. A disruptive force on the edge, the Moultrie, Ga., native had 14.5 tackles for loss last season and recorded 7.0 sacks over his final four starts of the season. A two-time, first-team All-Big South selection, French was recently named to the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List. The Buchanan Award is given each season to the top defender in the Football Championship Subdivision.

TIGHT SQUEEZE
Five of Gardner-Webb’s seven losses last season came down to the final moments. The Runnin’ Bulldogs stuffed Georgia Southern’s final offensive chance and drove well into the FBS Eagles’ territory in the season opener – but dropped a 30-25 decision on the road. Against Campbell in the 2021 N.C. East/West BBQ Bowl on October 9, the ‘Dogs made another key defensive stop with less than four minutes to play in a tie game. A muffed punt at the 10-yard line set the Camels up nicely for a quick go-ahead score. Campbell added another late score for a 42-28 win in Boiling Springs. On October 30, Gardner-Webb stormed back with two touchdowns in the final three minutes to take a 30-27 lead with 43
seconds left at No. 10 Kennesaw State. The Owls used a timely kickoff return out near midfield and tossed the game-winning touchdown with just 11 seconds to go. On November 6, Gardner-Webb was stopped on fourth down in the first overtime period at Hampton and the Pirates scored on first down to end the game, 26-21. GWU dropped its home finale last season in double overtime to Charleston Southern in November.

DIALING LONG DISTANCE
Gardner-Webb has four active ball carriers who has at least one touchdown run of 40 yards or more during their time in Boiling Springs – Narii Gaither (43 yards, TD), Donovan Jones (79 yards, TD), Jalin Graham (73 yards, TD) and Bailey Fisher (68 yards, TD)

COMFORT IN THE TRENCHES
Preseason All-Big South linemen Clayton Frady (6-5, 295, Jr.) and Gabriel Thompson (6-3, 304, Jr) have combined for 32 career starts on offense over the past two seasons, and anchor a veteran group up front. Offensive line coach Joe Scelfo welcomes back six linemen who have starting experience on offense. Transfer center Reed Davis (6-3, 275, Gr.) earned starting experience as well during his time at UT-Martin. On defense, Janathian Turner (6-3, 306, R-Sr.) has made 32 career starts at tackle and returns to the starting lineup along with All-America end Ty French (6-3, 234, Jr.) and talented nose guard Charlie Jackson (6-4, 322, Jr.). Defensive coach Jamere Hogue also welcomes back six linemen with starting experience for the 2022 season. Transfer tackle Salik McRae (6-3, 301, Gr.) earned significant starting experience during his time on a strong Savannah State defense.

CRANK IT UP
Redshirt freshman back Janiero Crankfield (5-8, 175) made the most of his first significant playing time in the backfield on September 1, racing for 89 yards and three touchdowns on just nine carries. He added a 12-yard catch and 33 return yards for 134 all-purpose yards in a blowout win. Crankfield was named Big South Freshman of the Week and Stats Perform FedEx Ground honorable mention FCS National Freshman of the Week for his efforts. The Orlando, Fla., native played in four games last season, but still qualified for a redshirt.

THE PARTNERSHIP
The Big South Conference and the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) have created an association of their football member institutions, to begin with the 2023 NCAA Division I football season. The unique agreement combines the two conferences’ football membership to ensure NCAA championship access. It will provide the football member institutions a schedule of games against all the teams in their home conference and additional games against schools from the other conference. This new model for FCS football also creates more stability for the multisport conferences.

LID LIFTERS
Gardner-Webb won its 12th season opener since 2002 on Thursday night and has more wins in seasons openers during that stretch than any other Big South Conference team. GWU is 12-9 in those games.

FUTURE SCHEDULE NOTES
Gardner-Webb has its slate of FBS opponents almost complete for the next few seasons, with dates at Appalachian State (2023), East Carolina (2023), Charlotte (2024) and Georgia Tech (2025) and Liberty (2026) on tap.

BEST IN STATE
Three current players on Gardner-Webb’s roster were State Players of the Year as seniors. Quarterback Bailey Fisher (Rabun County HS, Ga.) earned Class 2A Offensive State Player of the Year honors in 2017. Defensive back Jamari Brown (Eastside HS, Ga.) was named Class 4A Defensive State Player of the Year in 2018. Running back Donovan Jones (Champagnat Catholic, Fla.) was the Class 2A Offensive State Player of the Year in 2020

WELL PREPPED
Despite Gardner-Webb’s veteran roster, several true freshmen made notable impressions during fall camp and should make a push for significant playing time early in 2022. On offense, receiver Karim Page (6-0, 180, Fr.) was among the best at his position in August drills and should see snaps on Thursday after a standout career at Dalton (Ga.) High. On defense, linebacker Ty Anderson (6-0, 210, Fr.) lived up to his advance billing. A former three-star recruit at Thomasville (Ga.) High, Anderson had 493 career stops on the prep level and will see plenty of action for Gardner-Webb this season after an impressive fall cam

HELLO OLD FRIENDS
GWU will face three former Big South Conference foes in 2022, traveling to Coastal Carolina (9/10), Elon (9/17) and Liberty (10/15). Elon is now a member of the CAA, while Coastal Carolina (Sun Belt) and Liberty (C-USA) compete in the FBS.

PRESEASON HONOR
Narii Gaither (5-10, 181, Sr.) was named Big South Preseason Offensive Player of the Year in July, and is only the second Gardner-Webb man to earn that honor in league history. Quarterback Tyrell Maxwell was also named prior to the 2017 season after earning the postseason award in 2016. Gardner-Webb has seen seven men earn Big South Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honors, including four consecutive between 2007 and 2010.

ELITE COMPANY
Gaither is one of only three backs to pace the Big South Conference in total rushing yards for two consecutive seasons, joining Liberty’s Dre Barnes (2002-2003), Stony Brook’s Miguel Maysonet (2010-2012) and Coastal Carolina’s De’Angelo “Hop” Henderson (2014-2015) also accomplishing the feat. Maysonet is the only man to lead the league for three consecutive seasons.

SECOND (ARY) TO NO ONE
Gardner-Webb welcomes back an experienced secondary, paced by preseason All-Big South safety Jamari Brown (5-11, 198, R-Jr.). Six of the eight players on the two deep have started games during their time with the Runnin’ Bulldogs. Brown returns after totaling 59 tackles (38 solo) in 10 starts. He is the Big South’s top returner among secondary players in total hits.

A CUT ABOVE
Transfer Cutrell Haywood (6-0, 217, Gr.) joined the program in January from the University of Idaho and made a quick, strong impression. The Stockton, Calif., native totaled 145 receptions during his time with the Vandals, including a pair of 50-catch campaigns. He was an All-State choice at Stagg High, leading the entire state of California in yardage after catching 100 balls for 1,644 yrads and 22 scores.

TACKLES AND BOOKS
All-Big South linebacker William McRainey (6-0, 219, Jr.) has started each game of his career so far and led the league, while ranking No. 15 nationally with 109 total tackles last season. The Shallotte, N.C., native earned 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-District honors and will be an Academic All-America candidate again in 2022.

THE BIG MAN
Starting tackle Travis Burke (6-8, 285, R-Fr.) is the tallest man to start a game for Gardner-Webb since junior college transfer Alex Vega (6-8, 385) started for the Runnin’ Bulldogs during the 1995 season. Other recent starters near that height – defensive end Shaquille Riddick (6-7, 245) in 2013 and tackle Corey O’Daniel (6-7, 345) in 2010 both earned All-Big South honors, with Riddick named FCS National Defensive Lineman of the Year.

UP NEXT
Gardner-Webb will continue its reunion tour of former Big South schools, traveling to face Elon on September 17 at 6:00 pm. The game will stream live on FloSports and will air live on WGNC Radio 1450 am / 101.1 FM with Dave Friedman and Reggie Walker.

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
Notes

SERIES HISTORY
Series Record (Streak):………………………………………………………………………Coastal leads 12-2 (CCU: W5)
at Coastal Carolina (Streak):…………………………………………………………………………………….5-2 (CCU: W2)
at Gardner-Webb (Streak): ………………………………………………………………………………………7-0 (CCU: W7)
Neutral Sites (Streak):………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. N/A
Last Meeting:………….. Oct. 15, 2016 – Coastal Carolina 17, Gardner-Webb 7 at Boiling Springs, N.C.

COASTAL CAROLINA BY THE NUMBERS
2 – The Chanticleers have posted two-straight 11-win seasons over the last two years, going 11-1 in 2020 and 11-2 in 2021.

5 – Coastal Carolina has won five-straight games over Gardner-Webb, as the two teams played every year from 2003 through 2016 as former Big South Conference foes.

11 – Coastal has won 11-straight regular season non-conference games entering Saturday’s game versus Gardner-Webb.

12 – CCU is 12-2 all-time versus Gardner-Webb on the gridiron. The 12 wins are the most wins by the Chanticleers over a single team in the
program’s 19-year history.

20 – The 2022 football season marks 20 seasons of Coastal Carolina, as the program’s first season of football was the 2003 season.

30 – Coastal was one of only two teams in ALL of FBS to rank in the top 30 in both rushing offense (6th) and passing offense (28th) – (Coastal
Carolina and Ole Miss) – in 2021.

A COASTAL WIN WOULD …
• give Coastal a 2-0 start to a season for the third straight year and the 11th time in program history;

• put the Chanticleers at 2-0 at home for the 2022 season;

• extend CCU’s current winning streak over non-conference opponents in regular-season play to 12 straight games dating back to 2019;

• improve CCU’s record to 13-2 all-time versus Gardner-Webb;

• extend the Chants’ winning streak over the Runnin’ Bulldogs to six-straight games.

A COASTAL LOSS WOULD …
• hand the Chanticleers their first loss of the season (1-1);

• be the Chants’ first loss to Gardner-Webb since 2011, when both teams were in the FCS and members of the Big South Conference;

• put Coastal at 12-3 all-time versus Gardner-Webb;

• put CCU at 4-2 all-time versus FCS opponents as an FBS member (since 2017).

BEST SEASON IN SUN BELT HISTORY
• Coastal’s undefeated run through the Sun Belt Conference regular-season slate in 2020 was tied for the best conference regular-season in
Sun Belt Conference history.

• With the win at Troy (Dec. 12. 2020) in the regular-season finale, Coastal Carolina became the only team in Sun Belt Conference history to finish the regular season undefeated at 11-0 overall.

FINDING THEIR WAY IN THE FUN BELT
• Coastal finished the 2020 regular season at 8-0 in conference play, posting its best conference record since joining the Sun Belt as a full-time member in 2017.

• Last season in 2021, the Chanticleers recorded their second consecutive conference winning record by going 6-2 overall.

• Prior to the 2022 season, Coastal had not won more than two conference games in any season since joining the Sun Belt in 2017 and just six
total conference games in the program’s history in the Sun Belt.

SEASON-OPENER SUCCESS
• With their win over Army West Point (Sept. 3) in the season opener last week, Coastal Carolina is 13-7 all-time in season openers.

• CCU is 6-2 in season openers at home inside Brooks Stadium, including a 21-14 win over Newberry in the program’s inaugural game in 2003.

• The Chants are 4-2 in season openers in their brief FBS history with a win over UMass (2017), a loss at South Carolina (2018), a home defeat versus Eastern Michigan (2019), a road win at Kansas (2020), and back-to-back home wins versus The Citadel (2021) and Army (2022).

SCOUTING THE RUNNIN’ BULLDOGS
• Gardner-Webb University enters the contest at 1-0 overall this season with a 56-21 home win over Limestone (NCAA DII) in the season opener on Sept. 1.

• The Dawgs are 7-9 under third-year head coach Tre Lamb, going 2-2 in the abbreviated COVID-19 2020 spring season and 4-7 overall last year.

• Gardner-Webb was picked to finish third in the 2022 Big South Conference Football Poll and was one of five Big South teams to receive a first-place vote in the balloting.

• GWU returned 61 letter-winners from last season, including an impressive 24 starters. Six of GWU’s offensive linemen who returned have starting experience and will clear a path for All-America candidate Narii Gaither – who was just shy of his first 1,000-yard rushing season in 2021 and has led the Big South in rushing yards in each of the last two years.

• Gaither was named the Big South Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and was joined on the All-Big South preseason offensive team by linemen Gabriel Thompson and Clayton Frady, receiver Justin Franklin, and quarterback Bailey Fisher.

• Ty French paced the Dawgs’ contingent on the preseason All-Big South defensive team and was also an All-America candidate heading into the 2022 season. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound junior has led GWU in tackles-for-loss and sacks each of the last two seasons.

• French was joined on the All-Big South preseason defensive team by linebacker William McRainey and safety Jamari Brown.

• In a 56-21 season-opening win over Limestone (Sept. 1), The Webb tied a school-record with eight rushing touchdowns. GWU ran for 412 yards on 57 carries – its most ground yardage since moving to NCAA Division I in 2000.

• Redshirt freshman Janiero Crankfield carried the ball nine times for 89 yards and three touchdowns to be named the Big South Freshman of the Week and honorable mention FedEx Stats Perform National Freshman of the Week.

• Defensively, GWU saw the field for just 59 plays. Limestone had 216 of its 347 offensive yards after halftime, as Gardner-Webb went to a heavy dose of reserves over the final 30 minutes. The Saints had just 76 yards rushing on 23 carries for the game.

SERIES SNAPSHOT WITH GWU
• Coastal Carolina and Gardner-Webb have met a total of 14 times on the gridiron with CCU holding a 12-2 advantage.

• The 14 meetings are tied for the second-most meetings between the Chanticleers and one single team, as CCU has also played Charleston Southern 14 times. Coastal has played Liberty 15 times in the program’s history.

• Entering Saturday’s matchup, the Chants have won five-straight games over the Runnin’ Bulldogs, with the last meeting coming back in 2016 in Boiling Springs, N.C.

NON-CONFERENCE WINNING STREAK
• With CCU’s non-conference win over Army West Point (Sept. 3) last week in the season opener, the Chants are on an 11-game winning streak in regular-season non-conference play.

• The Chanticleers’ last non-conference regular-season loss came to Eastern Michigan (30-23) in the 2019 season opener on Aug. 31, 2019.

Regular-Season Non-Conference Winning Streak
DATE OPPONENT RESULT
09/07/19 at Kansas W, 12-7
09/14/19 Norfolk State W, 46-7
09/21/19 at UMass W, 62-28
09/12/20 at Kansas W, 38-23
09/18/20 Campbell W, 43-21
12/05/20 #8 BYU W, 22-17
09/02/21 The Citadel W, 52-14
09/10/21 Kansas W, 49-22
09/18/21 at Buffalo W, 28-25
09/25/21 UMass W, 53-3
09/03/22 Army West Point W, 38-28

HOME. SWEET. HOME.
• Coastal Carolina’s winning percentage of .730 (84-31) at home in Brooks Stadium ranks 29th among all FBS schools in regards to winning percentages at their current home stadium. *

Sat., Sep. 10 @ 6:00 pm CT
Eastern Michigan Eagles at Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns

Eastern Michigan Eagles
Notes

The Eastern Michigan University football team will hit the road for the first time this season when it travels to the bayou for a meeting with the University of Louisiana, Saturday, Sept. 10, at Cajun Field. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT. Eastern Michigan (1-0) is coming off a season-opening, 42-34 victory over Eastern Kentucky University, Sept. 2. Meanwhile, Louisiana (1- 0) enters the contest after a 24-7 triumph over Southeast Louisiana University just one day later, Sept. 3.

The game will be broadcast nationally on the NFL Network. WEMU 89.1 FM will also carry the action as Tom Helmer and Rob Rubick will have the call, along with pregame and halftime contributions from Greg Steiner.

TOMASEK SELECTED MAC WEST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Freshman punter Mitchell Tomasek made his collegiate debut with the Green and White against Eastern Kentucky, Sept. 2, punting three times in the game for 126 total yards. Tomasek averaged 42 yards per boot, while placing one kick inside the 20 as he angled his punt toward the sideline and out of bounds to pin the Colonels on their own three-yard line. Tomasek also logged a best of 51 yards to help flip the field for the Eagles.

HOT IN THE OPENERS: EMU fought to earn a 42-34, week one win over Eastern Kentucky, Sept. 2. With the win, EMU improves to 79-46-1 all-time in home openers and 45-17-1 when opening the season at home. In 131 years of EMU football, the Eagles have a record of 62-61-8 in
season-opening games.

CONTINUING TO FLUSH IT: Eastern’s motto has been to go 1-0 each week while “flushing” the previous outcome. The short-term memory has proven beneficial for the program, with 42 of the last 71 (59%) contests decided by eight points or less. Eight games have been decided in overtime
with 19 coming down to the final play. The trend was no different against EKU in EMU’s season-opener, where the Eagles emerged victorious by an eight-point, 42-34, margin.

OH SO CLOSE: The Eagles have played in 42 one-score games since the beginning of the 2016 season and hold a 19-23 record in those contests. The setbacks have been by an average of fewer than six points. Overall, 21 of the 42 games have been decided by three points or less. According to ESPN, since 2018, only one team has recorded more one-possession heartbreaks – the University of Nebraska. The Huskers have 21 losses of the sort, while EMU has 15. STRAIGHT FROM THE BEAR: The EMU Office of Athletic Media Relations is no stranger to noting EMU’s close-game tendencies, but ESPN’s Chris Fallica, known as “The Bear” on the network’s flagship pregame show, College Gameday, took to Twitter to discuss it as well. According to Fallica, 35 of EMU’s last 40 MAC games and 49 of its last 61 games overall have either been a win or a one-possession loss.

MOVING THE CHAINS: EMU’s offense was one of the best in the Mid-American Conference on third down a season ago. As an offense, Eastern converted 42.4 percent (67-of-158) of its third down tries. That number ranked 45th in the nation in the regular season. The EMU scoring unit is off to a good start in 2022. A 6-for-11 rate of conversion against EKU, Sept. 2, puts EMU second in the MAC and 26th in the nation in third down conversion percentage after the first week of the season.

SO FAR, SO GOOD: EMU was a perfect 5-for-5 on scoring opportunities in the red zone against Eastern Kentucky, Sept. 2. Last season, the Green and White were just 48-of-57 (84%) in the red zone, with 35 of those conversions going as touchdowns (61%). EMU’s five red zone scores against EKU were all touchdowns. The Eagles are one of 63 FBS teams with a perfect red zone clip in 2022. Red zone success is not uncommon at EMU. Offensively, EMU ranked No. 1 in the nation with a 100 percent red zone scoring clip (tied with Washington State University) in 2020. The Eagles produced points in 28-of-28 trips inside the opponent’s 20-yard line that season. In total, 21 of EMU’s red zone trips resulted in touchdowns. Additionally, the team averaged 4.66 trips to the red zone per game in 2020.

GOOD START ON OFFENSE: EMU put together 395 yards of total offense in its season-opener against Eastern Kentucky, Sept. 2. That number is the most by the team since it collected 430 against Western Michigan, Nov. 16, 2021. Eastern Michigan has totaled 395 yards-or-more of total offense in 55 percent of its games (11-of-20) since Chris Creighton took over the play-calling duties at the start of the 2020 campaign. EMU hit that margin in just 47% of games (35-of-75) during the first six seasons of the Creighton era (2014-19), in which he did not call plays.

MOVING UP THE LADDER: With his team’s 42-34 win over Eastern Kentucky, Sept. 2, Head Coach Chris Creighton picked up his 38th victory at Eastern Michigan. He now sits just three wins away from tying Jim Harkema (41 wins), for the fourth-best total by any head coach in program history.

FIRST TIME FOR EMU: Eastern secured the program’s first win against Eastern Kentucky with its 42-34 victory over the Colonels, Sept. 2. The team’s head-to-head record is now 1-3-1 against the Richmond, Ky.-based institution. The 2022 meeting was the first against EKU since the 1971 season, when the two teams deadlocked for a 0-0 tie in Ypsilanti, Oct. 16. This year’s matchup was the first in series history with EMU playing as a Division I program. Additionally, the win marks the first time the Eagles have defeated an Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) team. It also is the first contest against an ASUN opponent in program history.

FORTY-TWO ON THE BOARD: The Eagles racked up 42 points against EKU, Sept. 2, the most ever posted by the program against EKU. Eastern Michigan totaled more points against Eastern Kentucky in 2022 than it has in its previous four matchups with the Colonels combined (16). The 42 points scored is the third most by a Chris Creighton-led EMU team in a season debut. His best season-opening total came in 2016, when the Eagles put up 61 points in a 61-14 rout over Mississippi Valley State University, Sept. 2. The Green and White also took down Monmouth University, 51-17, Aug. 31, 2018.

WIN THE TURNOVER BATTLE: A common goal in Head Coach Chris Creighton’s program, Eastern has won or tied (28 wins, 5 ties) the turnover battle in 33 of its last 35 victories under Creighton. The Eagles tied the turnover battle (2-2) against EKU.

SPECIAL TEAMS SPARK: EMU kick returners made an immediate impact on field position for the Green and White in its season-opening game against EKU, Sept. 2. The Eagles returned four kicks for 110 yards. The squad was led by senior Hassan Beydoun, who totaled a team-best 75 yards of total kickoff return yardage. Newcomer Jaylon Jackson got in on the action as well, with a game-best 35-yard return against the Colonels. The team’s 27.5 yards per return average currently ranks second in the MAC and 17th in the nation. Last season, EMU averaged just 17.0 yards per kick return, which ranked 11th in the MAC.

PLAYMAKER POWELL: First-year signal caller Taylor Powell was outstanding for the Green and White in his debut, against Eastern Kentucky, Sept. 2. Powell finished the game 21-of-30 through the air, amassing 271 yards while tossing for three touchdowns. He also ran one in to finish the night with four total scores. His three passing touchdowns are the ninth, 10th and 11th of his collegiate career, respectively (Troy University – 7; University of Missouri – 1). Additionally, it is the first time Powell has thrown for three touchdowns in a single game in his career while his four total touchdowns are also a single-game career high.

BETTER THAN MOST: Senior signal caller Taylor Powell is off to an efficient start in 2022. He completed 70 percent (21-of-30) of his passes against Eastern Kentucky, Sept. 2. That number currently ranks fifth in the MAC and 42nd in the nation. EMU’s 70 percent team completion percentage is atop the Mid-American Conference.

SAMSON SETS THE STANDARD: After leading all Mid-American Conference players with 13 rushing touchdowns in 2021, it did not take senior running back Samson Evans long to get going in 2022. The Prairie Ridge, Ill. native led the team with 89 yards rushing on 15 attempts, and found the endzone twice against Eastern Kentucky, Sept. 2. Evans has scored a rushing touchdown in three consecutive contests dating back to 2021. Additionally, his effort against EKU marked his fifth multi-score game as an Eagle. The 15 attempts on the ground is a career-high for Evans, who previously rushed a personal-best 14 times against Ball State University, Nov. 11, 2020 – his career debut at EMU. He has attempted 10+ runs six times during his EMU career.

LAST TIME VS. THE RAGIN’ CAJUNS: EMU and UL have not met on the field for 16 years. The last time Eastern met with the Ragin’ Cajuns came Sept. 30, 2006, when Louisiana defeated the Eagles 33-14 at Cajun Field in Lafayette. Redshirt freshman quarterback Andy Schmitt led the Eagles offensively, going 23-for-35 for 171 yards in the air while rushing for 62 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Senior Eric Deslauriers racked up nine catches for 100 yards receiving.

ALL-TIME VS SUN BELT: EMU currently stands at 7-12-1 against current Sun Belt Conference programs. The Green and White have recorded victories against Arkansas State University, Coastal Carolina, Louisiana, the University of Louisiana-Monroe, Marshall University, and Texas State University. Eastern Michigan holds its best Sun Belt record with two wins against Louisiana-Monroe (2-2-1).

LAST TIME VS SUN BELT: Last season, the Eagles defeated Texas State by a score of 59-21 at Rynearson Stadium in week three of the regular season, ,Sept. 25, 2021. The Green and White put up 59 points on nine different scoring plays. The Eagles got on the board first, taking the lead for good at 7-0 when Samson Evans pushed it for a four-yard touchdown run to end a 10-play, 66-yard drive. Eastern Michigan then rode that lead to victory, increasing their advantage by 31 points along the way.

THE LONE LOUISIANAN: Offensive lineman Richard Bates Jr. is the only Eagle on the 2022 roster who hails from the Bayou State. The Kenner, La. native has appeared in 17 career games for the Eagles with seven starts over two years. Bates attended Scotlandville Magnet School in Baton Rouge, La. and was named all-district his junior and senior year, as well as all-state in his junior and senior years.

Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns
Notes
LOUISIANA HOSTS EASTERN MICHIGAN ON NFL NETWORK
Louisiana looks to improve to 2-0 for the third time in the last 14 years when it plays host to Mid-American Conference member Eastern Michigan at Cajun Field. The game is the third meeting all-time between the schools and will mark the first contest for the Ragin’ Cajuns to air on NFL Network.

A LOOK AT THE RAGIN’ CAJUNS
• Louisiana Football enters the 2022 season as the reigning Sun Belt Conference Champions and four-time defending champions of the Sun Belt West Division.

• Coach Michael Desormeaux owns a 2-0 career record after leading the team to a 36-21 win over new Sun Belt Conference member Marshall on Dec. 18, 2021, in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.

• The Ragin’ Cajuns won the 2021 Sun Belt Conference Championship on Dec. 4, 2021, after defeating App State, 24-16, in Lafayette.

• The title was the program’s first outright Sun Belt Conference title in program history and the team’s first outright title overall in 53 years.

• Louisiana enters the Eastern Michigan game boasting the nation’s longest winning streak at 14. The Cajuns have not lost since facing Texas in the season-opener on Sept. 4, 2021.

• The Ragin’ Cajuns were one of four teams in the nation with 13 or more wins a year ago, joining national champion Georgia (14), Cincinnati (13) and Alabama (13).

• Louisiana completed a perfect regular season in Sun Belt Conference play (8-0). The Ragin’ Cajuns had been perfect in league play just one time in their history prior to last season, posting a 5-0 mark in Gulf States Conference play during the 1970 season.

• Louisiana finished the regular season at No. 16 in the AP Top 25, No. 18 in the USA Today/AFCA Coaches Poll and No. 23 in the College Football Playoff Top 25.

• Louisiana earned five Preseason All-Conference selections, four of which were First Team performers. Zi’Yon Hill-Green (DL), Eric Garror (DB), Rhys Byrns (P) and Chris Smith (AP) were all named to the First Team, while Andre Jones (LB) garnered Second Team recognition.

• For the fourth consecutive season, the Ragin’ Cajuns were predicted to win the West Division after picking up a league-best 95 points and earning a league-best 12 first-place votes in the Preseason Coaches Poll.

TEAM NOTES
• Over the last four seasons, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns have won four Sun Belt Conference West Division titles, won the 2021 Sun Belt Conference Championship, were the 2020 Sun Belt Co-Champions and have been victorious in three bowl games (LendingTree Bowl [2020) and SERVPRO
First Responder Bowl (2021), R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl [2021]).

• Louisiana has won its last 10 games at home – one shy of matching the school-record set during the 1976-77 seasons.

• Louisiana’s roster has 94 players on its roster (68.1 percent) who hail from within the Pelican State – the most of any of the five FBS programs in the state (Louisiana, LSU, Louisiana Tech, Tulane, ULM).

• Louisiana is 14-10 all-time against schools from the Mid-American Conference and have won its last three games against MAC schools (2x Ohio, Miami [Ohio]).

• Louisiana has recorded a 2-0 start to the season 11 times since moving to Division I in 1972 and three times in the past 14 seasons (2009, 2012, 2020).

• Head coach Michael Desormeaux is the first Ragin’ Cajuns coach to start his career 2-0 since Sam Robertson in 1980 and can join A.L. “Red” Swanson (1950) as the first coach in school history to start his career with three straight wins.

• Seven players for Louisiana (QB – Chandler Fields, OL – Nathan Thomas, OL – Jax Harrington, CB – Amir McDaniel, S – Brandon Bishop, DE – Jordan Lawson, DL – Marcus Wiser) recorded their first career starts for the Ragin’ Cajuns.

• Louisiana owns a perfect 16-0 record against Sun Belt West Division opponents and is 26-7 overall against Sun Belt opposition over the last four seasons.

• Louisiana earned five Preseason All-Conference selections, four of which were First Team performers. Zi’Yon Hill-Green (DL), Eric Garror (DB), Rhys Byrns (P) and Chris Smith (AP) were all named to the First Team, while Andre Jones (LB) garnered Second Team recognition.

• The Ragin’ Cajuns defense returns five players who started in at least 50 percent of the team’s games, with Andre Jones and Eric Garror starting in all 14 of the team’s contests.

• Last year’s defense ranked first in the Sun Belt and 11th nationally in scoring defense (18.5), while leading the league and ranking 22nd in the nation in total offense (404.8).

• Louisiana’s secondary looks to continue its impressive play after the Cajuns ranked first in the Sun Belt and 14th in Division I in passing yards allowed (190.1).

• The Ragin’ Cajuns return 69.5 percent of their takeaways from a season ago, including 80 percent of their interceptions. Eric Garror led the unit with two picks in 2021.

QUARTERBACK NOTES
• For the first time in four seasons, Louisiana will have a new starting quarterback after the departure of Louisiana great, Levi Lewis.

• Lewis finished his career 35-7 as the team’s starting quarterback and ranks first in program history in career total offense (10,271), first in career touchdown passes (74), first in career completions (727) and second in career passing yards (9,191).

18 Chandler Fields

• Was named the starting quarterback for the 2022 season on August 22.

• Earned his first career start in a 24-7 win over Southeastern Louisiana completing 65.0 percent of his passes (13-for-20) for 173 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

• Entered the 2022 campaign 12-for-22 for 122 yards and one touchdown in his career.

• Appeared in eight games, completing nine of 13 passes for 106 yards and a touchdown in 2021.

• The 47th-ranked player in Louisiana and the No. 31 pro-style QB in the nation out of high school.

• 247Sports Composite three-star recruit.

10 Ben Wooldridge

• Transferred to Louisiana from Fresno State.

• Saw his first action in a Louisiana uniform after playing three series against SLU, finishing 7-for-11 for 68 yards.

• Appeared in five games for Fresno State, going 8-for-16 for 117 yards as a sophomore in 2020.

• Played in three games in 2019 for the Bulldogs, going 4-for-6 and throwing a 17-yard touchdown pass.

2 Zeon Chriss

• Ranked as a three-star quarterback and the No. 2 quarterback prospect in the state of Louisiana by 247Sports.

• As a junior, Chriss threw for 2,005 yards and 25 touchdowns while leading Madison Prep to the Class 3A state crown.

RUNNING BACK NOTES

13 Chris Smith

• Earned Preseason First-Team All-Conference honors as an All-Purpose back after earning First Team All-Purpose honors and Third-Team honors as a running back after the 2021 season.

• Also picked up preseason recognition by being named to the Doak Walker Award Watch List and the Wuerffel Trophy Award Watch List.

• Smith finished as Louisiana’s leading rusher last season, totaling 855 yards on 153 attempts and leading all running backs with 14 catches for 65 yards and a receiving score.

• He was also active as a kick returner with 23 returns for 481 yards, moving his season all-purpose yardage total to 1,390 yards.

• Produced one of the top single-game rushing performances in Louisiana history at Arkansas State (Oct. 21), rushing for 238 yards on 24 carries and scoring two touchdowns.

• His 238 yards were the fifth-most by a Ragin’ Cajun in a game in program history.

0 Jacob Kibodi

• Began his Louisiana career at running back and switched to wide receiver before transitioning back to the running back room in 2022.

• Rushed for 27 yards on six carries with a long of 11 in Louisiana’s win over Southeastern Louisiana.

• Transfer from Texas A&M; his lone career 100-yard rushing game came as a freshman against Louisiana (101 yards) on Sept. 16, 2017.

20 Dre’Lyn Washington

• Appeared in two games on special teams in 2021, recording his first-career tackles in the New Orleans Bowl victory over Marshall (Dec. 18).

WIDE RECEIVER NOTES

8 Michael Jefferson

• Secured Honorable Mention All-Sun Belt Conference honors after the 2021 season.

• Led the team with 481 yards on 18 receptions while also catching four touchdowns.

• Averaged 26.7 yards per catch last season, the best on the team.

• Hauled in three passes for a season-high 108 yards in Louisiana’s New Orleans Bowl victory over Marshall (Dec. 18).

• Caught two passes for 41 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown pass, in the Sun Belt Championship game against App State (Dec. 4).

29 Peter LeBlanc

• Led the team with 37 receptions and ranked second with 417 yards.

• Set a career high with nine catches for a career-best 118 yards in the win over Georgia State (Nov. 4).

• Caught four passes for 67 yards, including a long of 35 yards, against App State (Dec. 4) in the Sun Belt Championship game.

17 Dontae Fleming

• Ranked third on the team with 27 receptions and is tied for fourth on the team with 322 receiving yards to go along with two touchdowns this year.

• Led the receiving core with four catches for 70 yards, including his second-career score against Georgia Southern (Sept. 25)

• Snagged two passes for 14 yards and found the end zone in the win over Troy (Nov. 13).

7 John Stephens, Jr.

• Caught 13 passes for 167 yards and four touchdowns.

• Hauled in three passes for a career high 48 yards against Nicholls (Sept. 11).

• Notched three receptions for 37 yards and a career high two touchdowns against Ohio (Sept. 16).

• Snagged three passes for 30 yards in the New Orleans Bowl victory over Marshall (Dec. 18).

• Recorded in his first touchdown as a Ragin’ Cajuns on a 14-yard connection against Nicholls (Sept. 11).

• Had two catches for 16 yards and caught a touchdown pass against Liberty (Nov. 20).

6 Errol Rogers, Jr.

• Hauled in 26 passes for 215 yards in 2021.

• Contributed a career-high five catches and career-best 50 yards against Texas (Sept. 4).

TIGHT END NOTES

88 Johnny Lumpkin

• Earned All-Sun Belt Conference Honorable Mention honors after the 2021 season.

• Landed on the John Mackey Award Watch List ahead of the 2022 season, the third time in his career he has been named on the list.

• Led Louisiana with career-bests in catches (5), yards (72) and touchdowns (2) in a 24-7 win over Southeastern Louisiana.

9 Neal Johnson

• Led all Louisiana tight ends in 2021 with 487 yards on 22 receptions and scored a touchdown.

• Had a monster day over ULM (Nov. 27), catching three passes for 80 yards, including a career-high 55-
yard reception in the first quarter of the contest.

• Paced Louisiana’s receivers at Liberty (Nov. 20) with four catches and brought in his score.

24 Pearse Migl

• Snagged a 17-yard pass from Chandler Fields on a fourth-and-3 to set up Louisiana’s final touchdown in a 24-7 win over Southeastern Louisiana.

OFFENSIVE LINE NOTES
• For a second consecutive season, the offensive line was named a Joe Moore Award Semifinalist for their stellar play in 2021, one of 13 teams listed and one of two from the Sun Belt.

• The unit ranked fourth in the Sun Belt and tied for 42nd nationally with 1.86 sacks allowed and paved the way for Louisiana’s rushing attack which ranked 40th in the nation with 187.1 yards per game.

53 AJ Gillie

• Veteran of the line with 13 career starts.

• Started 12 of 14 games at left guard.

• Member of the offensive line that ranked fourth in the Sun Belt and tied for 42nd nationally with 1.86 sacks allowed and paved the way for Louisiana’s rushing attack which ranked 40th in the nation with 187.1 yards per game

65 Carlos Rubio

• Earned start at right tackle in the 2022 opener vs. Southeastern Louisiana.

• Made two appearances in victories over Ohio (Sept. 16) and Georgia Southern (Sept. 25) before missing the remainder of the 2021 season due to injury.

• In 2020, he was a big piece of Louisiana’s offensive line, appearing in 10 games and starting in seven.

73 David Hudson

• Started two games against Liberty (Nov. 20) and ULM (Nov. 27) and appeared in eight on the year.

50 Nathan Thomas

• Appeared in seven games during the 2021 season.

• Earned first career start at left tackle in Louisiana’s season-opener against Southeastern Louisiana.

70 Jax Harrington

• Earned first career start (right guard) in the 2022 opener vs. Southeastern Louisiana.

51 James Ohonba

• Graduate transfer from Michigan State who saw action in the 2022 opener vs. Southeastern Louisiana

• Native of Stockbridge, Ga

DEFENSIVE LINE NOTES

4 Zi’Yon Hill-Green

• Started 12 games in 2021 and finished fifth on the team with 59 tackles.

• Finished second on Louisiana’s defense with 6.5 sacks and tied for second with 9.5 tackles of loss.

• Forced his second career fumble against App State (Oct. 12) and earned his sixth fumble recovery of his career against Troy (Nov. 13).

• Ranked third on the team and 16th in the Sun Belt conference with 4.5 sacks in 2021.

• Posted a season-best eight tackles against Georgia State (Nov. 4).

• Tallied seven stops in a victory over Nicholls (Sept. 11).

• Submitted a complete performance in the Sun Belt Championship Game against App State with five tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks.

• Notched nine 4+ tackle performances throughout his redshirt-senior campaign.

• Blocked his first-career kick with a PAT deflection against Georgia Southern (Sept. 25).

• Named to the 2021 Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team after receiving conference second-team honors in 2020.

97 Ja-Quane Nelson

• Recorded 19 tackles, 1.0 tackle-for-loss, a break up and a fumble recovery with appearances in all 14 games during the 2021 season.

• Recorded four tackles and broke up a pass for the first time in his career against Georgia State (Nov. 4).

• Tallied three tackles against Texas State (Oct. 30).

• Recovered the fumble against Troy (Nov. 13).

• Notched his first career sack in the victory at Arkansas State (Oct. 21).

• Registered a pair of tackles against Georgia Southern (Sept. 25).

• Began the 2021 season with two tackles at Texas (Sept. 4).

90 Mason Narcisse

• Contributed 16 tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss and 1.0 sack in 13 appearances.

• Earned his first career start in the victory over Ohio (Sept. 16).

• Hauled in his first career interception at Liberty (Nov. 20).

• Totaled three tackles, including two for loss and forced a fumble against Troy (Nov. 13).

• Recorded three tackles against Texas State (Oct. 30).

• Notched two tackles and his first-career sack in the game against Nicholls (Sept. 11).

• Tallied a pair of tackles in the win over Georgia State (Nov. 4).

• Credited with two tackles in the team’s season-opener at Texas (Sept. 4).

91 Sonny Hazard

• Was credited with six tackles, 2.0 tackles-for-loss and 2.0 sacks in 11 appearances.

• Totaled three tackles, 1.0 for loss in the victory over Ohio (Sept. 16).

• Made a solo stop against South Alabama (Oct. 2).

• Recorded a 0.5 sack and 0.5 tackle-for-loss in the win over ULM (Nov. 27).

• Added a tackles and 0.5 sack against Liberty (Nov. 20).

8 Kendall Wilkerson

• Produced 16 tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss, 1.0 sack and three hurries appearing in all 14 games.

• Blocked an extra point attempt and added a tackle against South Alabama (Oct. 2).

• Set career-highs in tackles (4) and tackles-for-loss against Georgia Southern (Sept. 25).

• Notched his second-career sack against the Eagles.

• Credited with two tackles including 0.5 for loss against ULM (Nov. 27).

LINEBACKER NOTES

10 Andre Jones

• A 2022 Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference selection at linebacker.

• Moves to linebacker after earning All-Sun Belt Conference honors in 2021 as a defensive lineman.

• Started all 14 games and ranked fourth on the team with 60 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks.

• Recorded a career-high eight tackles, including two solo stops, along with a 0.5 sack and a recovered fumble in the victory over ULM on Nov. 27.

• Produced six tackles, a 0.5 tackle-for-loss, a 0.5 sack, a pass break up and a quarterback hurry against Georgia State (Nov. 4).

• Credited with five tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss and two pass breakups in the road win over Georgia Southern (Sept. 25).

• Tied for a team best with six tackles in the season opener at Texas (Sept. 4).

• Had a big day in the office at Liberty (Nov. 20), recording four tackles, 1.0 sack, also forced and recovered a fumble.

• Tallied four tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, a sack and forced a fumble in the New Orleans Bowl.

• Recorded five tackles, 1.0 tackle-for-loss and a quarterback hurry in the win at Arkansas State (Oct. 21).

• Made five stops against South Alabama (Oct. 2).

• Produced four tackles against App State (Oct. 12).

• Picked up four tackles in the triumph over Ohio (Sept. 16).

• Credited with three tackles, including a career-best 2.0 for loss, and 1.0 sack against Troy (Nov. 13).

• Totaled two tackles in the 2021 SBC Championship (Dec. 4).

• Credited with two tackles, including 1.0 for loss, against Texas State (Oct. 30).

6 Kris Moncrief

• Appeared in all 14 games and produced 31 tackles with 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks.

• Tallied his first career interception with a 67-yard return for a touchdown in a victory over Nicholls (Sept. 11).

• Forced the first fumble of his career and matched his career best with six tackles against Troy (Nov. 13).

• Recovered the second fumble of his collegiate tenure in Louisiana’s New Orleans Bowl victory over Marshall (Dec. 18).

• Totaled five tackles against Texas State (Oct. 30).

• Credited with three tackles against Texas (Sept. 4).

• Recorded a huge sack in a critical moment against App State (Oct. 12) for a loss of nine yards.

19 AJ Riley

• Made one start against Nicholls (Sept. 11) and appeared in all 14 games.

• Recorded 23 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and a pass breakup.

• Snagged his first career interception in the victory over Liberty (Nov. 20).

• Made a season-high five stops against the Colonels.

• Tallied two sacks and three tackles against Georgia State (Nov. 4).

• Notched a pair of tackles and added 1.0 sack in the season opener at Texas (Sept. 4).

• Collected two tackles against South Alabama (Oct. 2).

• Totaled two tackles in the win over App State (Oct. 12).

• Added a pair of tackles against Texas State (Oct. 30).

• Tacked on two tackles in the win over Troy (Nov. 13).

43 Jourdan Quibodeaux

• Played in all 13 games and made two starts – against Nicholls (Sept. 11) and Ohio (Sept. 16).

• Ranked ninth on the team with 38 tackles, added 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

• Set a career-high with nine tackles against the Colonels.

• Began the season with four tackles at Texas (Sept. 4). Tallied three tackles, including 1.0 for loss in the New Orleans Bowl victory over Marshall (Dec. 18).

• Made three stops against ULM (Nov. 27), including 1.0 for loss.

• Totaled a trio of tackles at Georgia Southern (Sept. 25).

• Posted two tackles, 1.0 sack and 1.0 TFL in the victory over Liberty (Nov. 20).

• Credited with a pair of tackles against App State in the title game (Dec. 4).

• His father, Dale, was a defensive lineman for Louisiana and was named to the Southland Conference’s
1980’s All-Decade Team.

33 Tyler Guidry

• Credited with 14 tackles and 1.0 tackle for loss in 13 appearances.

• Notched a pair of tackles in the SBC title game against the Mountaineers (Dec. 4).

• Tallied three tackles in the season opener against Texas (Sept. 4).

• Recorded two tackles against ULM (Nov. 27).

• Collected a pair of tackles against Texas State (Oct. 30).

• Totaled a pair of tackles in the conference opener against Georgia Southern (Sept. 25).

• Made a solo stop in Louisiana’s New Orleans Bowl Victory over Marshall (Dec. 18).

DEFENSIVE BACK NOTES

7 Eric Garror

• Had two tackles and an interception in the season-opener against Southeastern Louisiana (Sept. 3).

• Produced 23 tackles, 1.05 tackles for loss and seven breakups.

• Notched two picks, the sixth and seventh of his career against App State (Oct. 12) and Texas State (Oct. 30).

• Credited with a season-high five tackles, four of which were solo stops, in the opener against Texas (Sept. 4).

• Added four stops versus Ohio (Sept. 16).

• Recorded three tackles, including 1.0 tackle-for-loss in the victory over South Alabama (Oct. 2).

• Led the Ragin’ Cajuns with two pass breakups on the road at Arkansas State (Oct. 21).

• Recorded a pass breakup to seal the win and added a tackle against Georgia State (Nov. 4).

• Posted a breakup in the title game win over App State (Dec. 4).

21 Trey Amos

• Tallied 14 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and five pass breakups in 12 appearances.

• Credited with a season high four tackles and broke up a pass in the victory over ULM (Nov. 27).

• Earned his first career start in the win over Texas State (Oct. 30).

• Recorded one tackle, including 0.5 tackle-for-loss and a pass breakup against Texas State (Oct. 30).

• Earned a pair of stops in the season opener against Texas (Sept. 4).

• Made two tackles against Georgia State (Nov. 4).

24 Bralen Trahan

• Appeared in all 14 games for the Ragin’ Cajuns.

• Ranked eighth on the team with 40 tackles, including 1.0 for loss, in addition to two pass breakups, a fumble recovery and an interception during the 2021 campaign.

• Totaled a career-high nine tackles and a career best 2.0 tackles for loss against Nicholls (Sept. 11). Recorded a crucial interception at the end of the first half of the 2021 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.

• Entered the 2021 campaign with several preseason honors including the Bronko Nagurski Watch List, the Chuck Bednarik Watch List and the Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team.

• Tabbed a Second Team All-Sun Belt performer and earned Third Team All-America honors from Pro Football Focus after appearing in all 11 games and starting in four starts a season ago.

• Ranked fourth on the team in 2020 with 48 total tackles.

• Concluded the 2020 season with 13 passes defended and nine pass breakups which ranked fourth and 22nd in the nation, respectively.

• Led the team, ranked third in the Sun Belt and eighth nationally with four interceptions in 2020.

• His four picks in 2020 were the most in a single season by a Ragin’ Cajun since Sean Thomas in 2013.

2 Brandon Bishop

• Totaled 30 tackles, 1.0 tackle-for-loss, an interception, the first of his career, and a pass breakup.

• Brought in the interception and was credited with three tackles in the victory over App State (Oct. 12).

• Matched a career-high with five tackles in the season opener against Texas (Sept. 4).

• Made a trio of stops including 0.5 for loss against Troy (Nov. 13).

• Recorded four tackles in the victory over ULM (Nov. 27).

• Added four tackles in the win over Ohio (Sept. 16).

• Contributed two tackles at Liberty (Nov. 20).

• Credited with a pair of tackles against Marshall in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl(Dec. 18).

0 Kam Pedescleaux

• Made eight starts and 12 appearances.

• Ranked seventh on the Louisiana defense with 51 tackles, including 30 solo.

• Added 5.0 tackles for loss and two pass breakups.

• Snagged his second-career interception a victory over Liberty (Nov. 20).

• Tallied his first-career fumble recovery against Texas State (Oct. 30).

• Matched the team high with seven tackles, including 1.0 tackle-for-loss in the SBC title (Dec. 4).

• Led the defense with a career high 10 tackles, including seven solo, and 2.0 tackles-for-loss against ULM (Nov. 27).

• Credited with six tackles against South Alabama (Oct. 2).

• Notched 3+ tackles on nine occasions.

13 Amir McDaniel

• In first career start, credited with his first career interception, which set up Louisiana’s final touchdown in the fourth quarter of a 24-7 win over Southeastern Louisiana.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES

45 Kenneth Almendares

• Handled Louisiana’s kicking duties for the first four games of the season before being sidelined for the final 10 games with a lower body injury.

• Was 14-for-14 on extra point attempts and 4-fo-5 on field goals during the 2021 season.

• Began the year with a perfect 2-for-2 performance against Texas (Sept. 4) and set a new career high in field goals converting from 48 yards out.

• Was perfect against Nicholls (Sept. 11) with a pair of field goals and three extra points.

• Converted a career-high seven extra point opportunities against Ohio (Sept. 16).

• Went 4-for-4 on PATs at Georgia Southern (Sept. 25).

37 Preston Stafford

• Grad transfer from LSU who handled extra point and field goal duties in the season-opener against Southeastern Louisiana.

• Converted all three extra points for the Ragin’ Cajuns and connected on a 36-yard field goal in the first quarter.

84 Thomas Leo

• Backup punter to Rhys Byrns.

• Handled kickoff duties in the season-opener against Southeastern Louisiana averaging 63.4 yards in
five total attempts.

47 Rhys Byrns

• A Preseason First-Team All-Sun Belt Conference selection and named for the second consecutive season to the Ray Guy Award Watch List.

• Ranked first in the Sun Belt and 11th in the nation with 46.3 yards per punt average.

• Punted six times for 284 yards (47.3 avg.) including a 55-yarder in the Sun Belt Championship game against App State (Dec. 4).

• Had a big day punting the rock at Troy (Nov. 13), recording six boots for 295 yards and a long of 70.

• Pinned three balls inside the 20-yard line against Troy.

• The 70-yard punt was Byrns’ longest of the season and tied for the second- longest of his career.

• Matched a career high with seven punts for 289 yards, placing five balls inside the 20-yard line against Georgia Southern (Sept. 25).

• Matched a career-high with four punts over 50 yards against South Alabama (Oct. 2).

• Punted four times for 212 yards, placing two balls within the 20-yard line, against Texas (Sept. 4).

• Hit five punts for 220 yards, pinning two inside the 20-yard line and hitting one over 50 yards, at Liberty (Nov. 20).

• Had three punts for 148 yards, including a long of 56 yards, against App State (Oct. 12).

• Punted three times totaling 139 yards, including a game-high 61 yarder against Georgia State (Nov. 4).

13 Chris Smith

• A 2022 Preseason First-Team All-Sun Belt Conference selection as an all-purpose back.

• Averaging 20.9 yards per kick return, good for third in the Sun Belt and 49th nationally.

• Had two kick returns for 21 yards, including a long of 17, at Troy (Nov. 13).

• Notched two returns for 25 yards against App State (Oct. 12).

• Recorded a season-long 87 yard kickoff return to open the game against South Alabama (Oct. 2).

• Tied a career-high with four kickoff return attempts for 137 yards against the Jaguars.

• Named the Sun Belt Conference Special Teams Player of the Week after his big day in Mobile, the third time he has earned the honor in his career.

• Had two kickoff returns totaling 39 yards against Georgia Southern (Sept. 25).

• Took a kick back for 18 yards against Ohio (Sept. 16).

• Returned two kicks for 65 yards, including a season-long 45 yard return, against Nicholls (Sept. 11).

• Opened the season with one return for 21 yards at Texas (Sept. 4).

7 Eric Garror

• Named SBC Special Teams Player of the Week (Sept. 5) after scoring on an 83-yard punt return vs. Southeastern Louisiana.

• Punt return for a TD was his second of his career – one shy of the school-record set by Todd Scott (1987-90) – and equaled his longest return since Iowa State in the 2020 season opener.

• Garror’s 83-yard punt returns are tied for the third-longest in school history.

• With 553 yards in punt return yards in his career, Garror is six shy of eclipsing the school-record of 558 set by Scott (1987-90).

• Garror holds three (83, 83, 72) of the 11 punt returns of over 70 yards in school history

Sat., Sep. 10 @ 6:00 pm CT
FIU Panthers at Texas State Bobcats

FIU Panthers
Notes

NUMBERS TO KNOW
1 – Head Coach Mike MacIntyre opened his tenure as FIU head coach with his first victory at the helm of the Panthers on Sept. 1 vs. Bryant.

32 – Points scored by FIU in the fourth quarter and overtime during season opening win over Bryant.

48 – Total number of new players on the FIU roster in 2022.

2 – Players that started both in the 2021 and 2022 season openers (Davon Strickland & Jermay Passmore).

QUICK HITS
FIU and Texas State will be meeting for the second straight season and the second time in history on Saturday night in San Marcos.

The Panthers dropped a 23-17 overtime decision to the Bobcats in Miami on Sept. 11, 2021 in the previous matchup.

SETTING THE STAGE
PANTHERS OPEN ROAD SLATE AT TEXAS STATE ON SATURDAY
The Panthers will open the road portion of the schedule with a visit to San Marcos, Texas, to battle Texas State on Saturday, Sept. 10 in a 7 p.m. ET kickoff on ESPN+.

The game will mark the first of three trips slated for the Lone Star State in 2022 for FIU as the Panthers will also head to Denton to battle North Texas on Nov. 5 and El Paso to face UTEP on Nov. 19.

The contest will be televised live on ESPN+ with Brant Freeman (pxp), Keith Moreland (analyst) and Koral Riggs (sideline) on the call.

The game can also be heard on Miami’s WQBA 1140 AM with AJ Ricketts (pxp) and Corey Brooks (analyst) calling the action.

FIU OPENS MIKE MACINTYRE ERA WITH OT WIN IN OPENER
The Panthers rallied by scoring 32 points in the fourth quarter and overtime to post a 38-37 victory over Bryant on Sept. 1.

Sophomore quarterback Grayson James tossed his fourth touchdown of the game in overtime and then connected with EJ Wilson Jr. on the ensuing two-point conversion attempt to cap a thrilling come-from-behind 38-37 overtime victory over the Bulldogs in Mike MacIntyre’s first game as FIU head coach.

James, entered the game for the Panthers in the third quarter and directed each of the Panthers’ final five scoring drive. He finished the contest 16-of-31 for 207 yards and a career-high four touchdown passes – all in the second half.

LAST TIME VS. TEXAS STATE
Saturday’s matchup will mark the second consecutive season, yet only the second time that FIU and Texas State have met on the gridiron.

The Bobcats edged the Panthers 23-17 in overtime at FIU Stadium in the only previous meeting on Sept. 11, 2021.

TSU’s Brock Sturges scored a pair of touchdowns on the ground, including the game winner from 11 yards out in overtime.

D’Vonte Price rushed for 111 yards in the loss for the Panthers and quarterback Max Bortenschlager completed 17-of-34 passes for 259 yards and two TDs.

Tyrese Chambers snagged four passes for a team-high 79 yards, including one for a TD in the loss. The Panthers lost three fumbles in the defeat.

PANTHERS PERFECT IN RED ZONE
FIU was a perfect 5-for-5 in the red zone during its 38-37 win over Bryant in the season opener on Sept 1. The Panthers scored four touchdowns and one field goal during their red zone visits – which has them currently tied with 63 other teams for tops in the nation.

53-POINT FLURRY IN OPENER
FIU trailed Bryant 16-6 entering the fourth quarter of the season opener on Sept. 1 before coming from behind with a total of 32 points in the fourth quarter and overtime. The game featured a total of 53 combined points scored during the fourth quarter and overtime – a total of seven
touchdowns, six extra points, one two-point conversion and one field goal during the stretch.

JAMES COMES OFF BENCH VS BRYANT
Sophomore signal Grayson James came off the bench in the season opener following an injury to starter Gunnar Holmberg in the third quarter to lead the Panthers back from a 16-6 deficit to a 38-37 overtime victory He completed 16-of-31 passes for 207 yards and four touchdowns, including a five-yard scoring connection with Tyrese Chambers in overtime and the ensuing two-point conversion to EJ Wilson via a three-yard pass. James entered the contest with a total of 18 completions on 27 pass attempts for 162 yards and a touchdown in his career – all of which came in 2021. He became the first FIU quarterback to record four TD passes in a game since Max Bortenchalger notched four against Charlotte on Oct. 8, 2021.

BIGGEST COMEBACK FROM FIU SINCE…
FIU rallied from a 16-0 deficit in the season opener to post a 38-37 overtime win over Bryant. The win marked the largest come-from-behind win (16-0 deficit) for the Panthers since defeating Old Dominion 28-20 on Sept. 8, 2018, after trailing 17-0.

DOUBLE TROUBLE FOR BRYANT
FIU wide receivers Tyrese Chambers and Kris Mitchell each registered a pair of touchdown catches in the Panthers 38-37 win over Bryant in the 2022 season opener on Sept. 1.

It marks the first time that a Panther has recorded two TD grabs in the same contest since Bryce Singleton snagged two vs. Old Dominion on Nov. 6, 2021. Mitchell finished with career bests in receiving TDs (2) and yards (80).

CHAMBERS PICKS UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF
Senior wide receiver Tyrese Chambers snagged two touchdowns for the first time this season and has now recorded at least one TD in nine of 13 games at FIU. The Biletnikoff candidate has posted 75 yards or more in 7-of-13 career games

SCOUTING TEXAS STATE
The Bobcats enter Saturday’s meeting with the Panthers looking for their first win following a 38-14 setback at Nevada on Sept. 3.

Texas State, who finished 4-8 in 2021, is led by signal caller Layne Hatcher, who is in his first season with the Bobcats after transferring from Arkansas State. He has thrown for over 7,000 yards in his career – which ranks 14th among active FBS quarterbacks. In addition, Hatcher has tossed 67 career touchdowns – seventh-most among active FBS players.

Overall, the Bobcats return 54 letter-winners from last season, including 10 offensive and six defensive starters.

The Bobcats have not won a home opener since 2018

FIU VS. THE SUN BELT
The Panthers are 13-37 all-time vs. programs that are currently members of the Sun Belt Conference – entering Saturday’s clash with Texas State.

FIU vs. The Sun Belt
Georgia Southern 0-2
Marshall 2-7
Old Dominion 3-4
Arkansas State 2-7
Louisiana 2-8
South Alabama 1-0
Texas State 0-1
Southern Miss 1-1
Troy 2-7

Texas State Bobcats
Notes

INSIDE THE SERIES
Texas State record…………………….1-0
Last Meeting ……………………………W, 23-17 (OT) on Sept. 11, 2021
Last Meeting in San Marcos………..N/A
Streak…………………………………….W1
Streak at Home ………………………..N/A

SETTING THE TABLE
In its home opener for the 2022 season, Texas State will host FIU on Saturday, Sept. 10 at Bobcat Stadium for a 6 p.m. kickoff.

The Bobcats are coming off a season-opening 38-14 loss at Nevada. They trailed 14-7 at halftime, but 3 turnovers over the span of 4 minutes in the third turnover resulted in 21 points for Nevada as the Wolf Pack pulled away with a 24-point third quarter. Texas State still outgained Nevada, 277-274, in the game.

FIU enters San Marcos with a 1-0 record after coming back to beat Bryant in overtime, 38-37, at home last week.

This is the second year in a row Texas State and FIU will face off as the Bobcats came back to beat the Panthers, 23-17, in overtime in Miami in 2021. After allowing 10 points in the third quarter, Texas State answered with a Brock Sturges touchdown run with 10:09 left in the fourth quarter to tie the game. In overtime, Sturges rushed for an 11-yard touchdown to help capture the victory.

FIU outgained Texas State, 400-336, in last year’s game but 171 rushing yards, including 72 on 14 carries by Calvin Hill, helped spur the Bobcat offense.

The Bobcats are looking to snap a three-game losing streak in home openers

HOME OPENERS
Texas State will look to snap a three-game losing streak in home openers on Saturday.

• The Bobcats last won their home opener in 2018, topping Texas Southern, 36-20.

• Texas State is 5-5 in its home openers since joining the FBS level in 2012.

• Texas State won 16 consecutive home openers from 1996 to 2011.

• All-time, Texas State is 50-23-1 in home openers (records since 1948).

• The Bobcats have not lost 4 straight home openers since 1985-1989 when they dropped 5 in a row.

A RARE WAY TO GO
Texas State became only the 3rd team in the nation in the last 5 FBS seasons to allow 38+ points but less than 275 total yards of offense in the loss at Nevada.

• It was the first time that has happened since Wisconsin allowed 41 points and 242 yards against Notre Dame on Sept. 25, 2021.

• The only other time since 2018 that has happened was Wake Forest vs. Wisconsin when the Demon Deacons surrendered 42 points and 266 yards of offense.

GETTING DEFENSIVE
Texas State held Nevada to 274 total yards last week, which was the fewest yards allowed by the Bobcat defense since Sept. 28, 2019 against Nicholls (220 yards).

• It was the first time the Bobcats held an FBS opponent to less than 275 yards of total offense since Nov. 17, 2018 at Troy (220 yards). That was also the last time Texas State held an opponent to that threshold in a road game.

• Texas State is 36th in the country in total defense entering the FIU matchup.

• Texas State has held its opponents to 275 total yards or less 12 times in its FBS history and 4 times on the road.

• The Bobcats are 6-6 in games in which they have held opponents to 275 total yards or less since 2012 and 1-4 in the last 5 instances.

GOING YARD
Layne Hatcher’s 289 passing yards against Nevada were the most for the Bobcats since Nov. 21, 2020 against Arkansas State (443 yards).

• Last year, Texas State’s season-high for passing yards in a game was 279 (vs. Troy, 10/6/21).

• It was the 13th time that Hatcher has thrown for 290+ yards in a game and first since Nov. 13, 2021 vs. ULM (444 yards) with Arkansas State.

• The redshirt junior has thrown for 300+ yards 10 times in 33 career games, including 6 times as a redshirt freshman in 2019.

10 FOR HAWKINS
After registering a career-high 10 receptions last week against Nevada, wide receiver Ashtyn Hawkins enters the week 5th in the country in receptions.

• The 10 receptions by Hawkins were the most by a Bobcat since Hutch White on Nov. 9, 2019 vs. South Alabama.

• It was the most by a Bobcat receiver in a nonconference game since Hutch White vs. Wyoming on Sept. 7, 2019.

• Hawkins is only the 5th different Bobcat to have 10+ catches in a game in the program’s FBS era (since 2012).

• It was also the most receptions by a Bobcat in a season opener since 2016 (Eric Luna, 10, at Ohio on Sept. 3, 2016).

• He also had 96 receiving yards and 2 touchdown catches.

• Hawkins is the first Bobcat in the program’s FBS era to have 10+ catches and 2+ receiving yards in the same game.

FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS
In his Bobcat debut, defensive lineman Levi Bell had 10 tackles, 3.0 TFLs and 1.0 sack in 44 defensive snaps against Nevada.

• Bell was rated as the 4th-best interior defensive lineman by PFF grades for the week.

• Bell became the first Bobcat with 10+ tackles and 3.0 TFLs in a single game since Nikolas Daniels on Oct. 26, 2019 at Arkansas State (14 tackles, 3.5 TFLs).

• He was the first Bobcat with 3.0 TFLs in a game since Nico Ezidore had 4.0 on Oct. 17, 2020 at South Alabama.

• Bell’s 3.0 TFLs were the most by a Bobcat in their Texas State debut in the program’s FBS era (since 2012).

• It was the most tackles by a Bobcat in their Texas State debut since Troy Lefeged, Jr. had 10 against Baylor in the 2021 season opener.

AT A LOSS
With the help of Bell’s 3.0 TFLs, the Texas State defense had 7.0 TFLs against Nevada, with six different players contributing at least an assisted tackle for loss.

• Dating back to last season, the Bobcats have 7.0 TFLs in 3 of the last 5 games.

• The Bobcats had 8.0 TFLs last year against Arkansas State (Nov. 27) and ULM (Nov. 6).

• It was the first time Texas State had 7.0+ TFLs against a nonconference opponent since Sept. 12, 2020 against UTSA (8.0). It was their most
in a road nonconference game since Sept. 30, 2017 at Wyoming.

SIONE, TOO (POU)
Sione Tupou finished the Nevada game with 10 tackles, matching Levi Bell for the team-high.

• In his last 9 games, Tupou has 10+ tackles in 4 of them.

• Since posting a career-high 14 tackles against South Alabama in 2021, Tupou is averaging 7.1 tackles per game.

• In the 9 games prior to the current stretch, Tupou was averaging 4.2 tackles/game.

• The 10 tackles against the Wolf Pack were his most in a game since Nov. 13, 2021 vs. Georgia Southern.

• Tupou has 5 games of 10+ tackles in his career at both Texas State and UTEP.

• In a Bobcat uniform, Tupou has 144 career tackles since 2020, which trail Nico Ezidore (151) for the most over that stretch and are 4
ahead of Jarron Morris (140).

LIMITING THE OTHER SIDE
In addition to the total yards, Texas State held Nevada to 4.3 yards per play (63 plays, 274 yards).

• It was the lowest yards per play average for the Texas State defense since Sept. 28, 2019 against Nicholls (4.0 yards/play).

• It was the lowest against an FBS opponent since Nov. 17, 2018 at Troy (3.0 yards/play)

• Last year, the Texas State allowed 5.8 yards per play for the entire season and 6.0 yards per play in nonconference action.

THE RED ZONE CHANNEL
Texas State did make the most of its 2 trips to the red zone against Nevada, scoring touchdowns in both instances.

• The Bobcats are coming off a 2021 season in which he scored 31 times in 36 trips to the red zone.

• They were a top-50 team in the red zone last year as they ranked 46th in the country with the 86.1 percent scoring rate.

• Texas State had 22 touchdowns on 36 trips to the red zone in 2021 (61.1 percent).

• The Bobcats have scored in 9 straight trips to the red zone, including 7 times with a touchdown (77.8 percent touchdown rate).

• The streak dates back to Nov. 13, 2021 against Georgia Southern.

• In the game at Nevada, the Bobcats scored both times in the red zone with touchdown passes. It was the first time Texas State culminated a trip to the red zone with a touchdown pass since Oct. 16, 2021 vs. Troy. The Bobcats went 13 trips to the red zone without a passing touchdown until last week.

IN NONCON
The Bobcats are aiming to even up their record against nonconference opponent FIU.

• Texas State beat FIU last year, 23-17, in overtime.

• That win over the Panthers snapped a 5-game nonconference game losing streak for the Bobcats.

• The Bobcats have posted a .500-or-better nonconference record in 4 of its 10 FBS seasons, with the last being 2018.

Sat., Sep. 10 @ 6:00 pm CT
Alabama A&M Bulldogs at Troy Trojans

Alabama A&M Bulldogs
Notes
NO NOTES AVAILABLE

Troy Trojans
Notes

Series
Series (Overall): 1-0
Series in Troy: 0-0
Series in Huntsville: 1-0
Neutral Site: 0-0
Sumrall vs. AAMU: 0-0

Did You Know?

• Jon Sumrall begins his first season as Troy’s head coach; he is the 23rd head coach in program history

• Jon Sumrall is the third straight Troy head coach who was previously an assistant coach at Troy — Neal Brown, Chip Lindsey. In fact, including Sumrall, six of Troy’s last seven head coaches (Robert Maddox, Rick Rhoades, Chan Gailey, Brown, Lindsey, Sumrall) previously served as an assistant for the Trojans; only Larry Blakeney had not

• Troy held Ole Miss to 167 yards through the air; it was the fewest passing yards by a Power Five opponent since Nebraska had 160 in 2018 and the seventh-fewest all-time allowed by a Troy defense against a P5 opponent. Ole Miss averaged 274.8 passing yards last season

• Troy held Ole Miss to seven points, 165 yards and 65 rushing yards in the second half

• Kimani Vidal and Austin Stidham were named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team … Stidham became Troy’s first-ever Academic All-American in program history in 2020 and the fifth two-time Academic All-American in Troy Athletics history in 2021

• Carlton Martial was one of three finalists for the Burlsworth Trophy last season, which is presented to the nation’s top player who began their career as a walk-on … the other two finalists were UGA QB Stetson Bennett and Arkansas LB Grant Morgan

• Since 2000, Martial is one of just two players at the FBS level to record more than 425 tackles, 45 tackles for loss and five interceptions in their career – he has 442 tackles, 47 tackles for loss and five interceptions

• Troy’s bandit position has produced an All-Sun Belt First Team selection in five of the past seven seasons – Javon Solomon – 2021, Hunter Reese – 2017 & 2018, Rashad Dillard – 2016, Tyler Roberts – 2015

• Troy is tied for ninth nationally with four starters returning on the offensive line while the Trojans’ combined 105 starts among its O-line is tied for 27th

Sat., Sep. 10 @ 6:30 pm CT
Georgia Southern Eagles at Nebraska Cornhuskers

Georgia Southern Eagles
Notes

Series History
Overall Record…………………………………………….First Meeting
In Statesboro…………………………………………………..Never Met
In Lincoln ………………………………………………………..Never Met
At Neutral ……………………………………………………….Never Met
Front vs. GS……………………………………………………..Never Met
Helton vs. Nebraska ………………………………………..Never Met
Helton vs. Frost……………………………………………….Never Met
Current Streak………………………………………………………….N/A
Last Meeting ……………………………………………………………N/A
Longest GS Streak…………………………………………………….N/A
Longest Nebraska Streak …………………………………………N/A
Largest GS Win…………………………………………………………N/A
Largest Nebraska Win………………………………………………N/A
GS vs. current Big Ten Members………………………………..0-2
GS vs. teams from Nebraska ……………………………………..0-0
GS in state of Nebraska……………………………………………..0-0

Of Note
• Georgia Southern and Nebraska have never met in football.

• Georgia Southern has played two previous games against current members of the Big Ten Conference, falling at Indiana in 2017 and at Minnesota in 2019.

• Eagle quarterback Kyle Vantrease started for Buffalo last year in Lincoln, going 27-for-50 for 224 yards with an interception. He also had an 81-yard punt that went for a touchback.

• Georgia Southern has never played a football game in the state of Nebraska or a team from the Cornhusker State.

• Eagle head coach Clay Helton is 2-3 in true season-opening road games as a head coach.

• Georgia Southern has one win against a Power 5 team, coming in 2013 at The Swamp as the Eagles beat Florida, 26-20.

COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF
10 – Kyle Vantrease hit 10 different receivers against Morgan State and threw for 367 yards and four touchdowns. His passing yardage was the fourth-most in program history and his passing scores tied the school mark.

9 Nine true freshmen played in the opener against Morgan State.

8 Alex Raynor made a career-high eight PATs on as many tries in the 59-7 win over the Bears last week.

7 Seven Eagles made their first start at Georgia Southern last week against Morgan State: Wylan Free, Trevon Locke, Rasheed Miller, Jeremy Singleton, Kyle Vantrease, Jalen White and Pichon Wimbley.

6 Kyle Vantrease’s 367-yard effort in the opener last week was just the sixth 300-yard game in program history. The Eagles have never had back-to-back 300-yard efforts from a quarterback.

5 The Georgia Southern defense posted five tackles for loss, three interceptions and a sack while not giving up any points in the opener last week against MSU.

4 Former UMass head coach and current Nebraska offensive coordinator Mark Whipple coached against Georgia Southern four times while at UMass, posting a 2-2 record.

3 This will be the Eagles’ third game all-time against current members of the Big Ten Conference. Georgia Southern fell at Indiana in 2017 and in the last minute at Minnesota in 2019.

2 Eagle head coach Clay Helton is 2-3 in true season-opening road games as a head coach.

1 It’s Corn — This will be the first game Georgia Southern has played in the state of Nebraska or a team from the Cornhusker State.

Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game
• Georgia Southern has had a 100-yard rusher in 74 of its past 101 games dating back to its move to the FBS in 2014.

• Dating back to the start of the 2018 season, Georgia Southern has won 23 of its past 28 games when having a 100-yard rusher.

• Since the start of the 2018 season, Georgia Southern has had 34 100-yard rushing performances, coming from nine different players. The nine different 100-yard rushers is the most in the conference during that span.

• GS has outrushed its opponent in 71 of the past 101 games dating back to its move to the FBS in 2014.

• GS has won 18 of the past 25 games dating back to the start of the 2019 season when winning the rushing battle.

• The Eagles have won 47 of the past 50 games when they’ve rushed for 300 yards or more.

• The Eagles have won 72 consecutive games when rushing for at least 400 yards dating back to a 1998 loss against UMass when rushing for 457 yards in the I-AA Championship Game.

• Georgia Southern has had five 500-yard rushing performances since joining the FBS in 2014. The rest of the league has combined for three 500-yard rushing games during that span.

• The Eagles have a +34 turnover margin since the start of the 2017 season, taking the ball away 105 times against 71 turnovers.

• GS has forced at least one turnover in 47 of its past 64 games dating back to the start of the 2017 season.

• Dating back to 2017, the Eagles have won 18 of their past 24 games when not committing a turnover.

• Dating back to 2014, the Eagles have won 34 of their past 47 games when winning the turnover battle.

• The Eagles are 202-32 in the modern era (since 1983) when winning the turnover battle in a game, 69-92 when losing it, and 69-32 when the margin is tied.

• In the modern era, GS is 238-18 when scoring 30 or more points, 103-141-1 when scoring less than 30 points. As a member of the FBS (since 2014), the Eagles are 37-4 when scoring 30 or more points, 17-43 when scoring less than 30 points.

• GS is 215-1 all-time when having a lead of 18 or more points at any point in the game. That lone loss came in 2005 when the Eagles led at Texas State 35-16 in the third quarter and lost 50-35.

• The Eagles have won 65 straight games when holding a lead of 17 or more points at any point in a game dating back to that 2005 Texas State game.

• Since 1983, Georgia Southern is 198-16 when allowing 17 points or less. The last time the Eagles lost a game when allowing less than 18 points was in 2013, a 16-14 loss to Furman at home. The current streak of victories when allowing 17 or less points is at 29.

Nebraska Cornhuskers
Notes
Nebraska continues a four-game homestand on Saturday evening at Memorial Stadium against the Georgia Southern Eagles. The matchup is set for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff, with television coverage provided by FS1. The game is also available on the Fox Sports App and can be heard on the Huskers Radio Network and Huskers.com.

Nebraska enters the contest at 1-1, following a 38-17 victory over North Dakota last Saturday at Memorial Stadium. The game was tied at 17 late in the third quarter before Nebraska scored the game’s final 21 points to pull away for the victory. The Huskers leaned on the running game in the second half, churning out 181 yards on the ground after intermission. The Blackshirt defense also rose to the occasion in the second half, allowing only 133 yards after halftime.

Georgia Southern is under the direction of first-year head coach Clay Helton, who took over the Eagles program after six seasons as the head coach at USC. Georgia Southern opened the season on Saturday with a 59-7 victory over Morgan State. The Eagles dominated the contest on the strength of an explosive passing game that accounted for 367 yards and four touchdowns through the air, as Georgia Southern had 500 yards of total offense. Defensively, Georgia Southern limited Morgan State to 250 total yards and forced four turnovers.

Saturday’s game will feature several special events, including Ag Day at Memorial Stadium, with Nebraska planning several presentations honoring the state’s agricultural background. Nebraska will also wear throwback uniforms recognizing the 1983 “Scoring Explosion” season, and the 2022 class of the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame will be honored before the game.

SERIES HISTORY: NEBRASKA VS. GEORGIA SOUTHERN, SUN BELT
Saturday’s game is the first-ever meeting between Nebraska and Georgia Southern. It will mark the Huskers’ first game against a Sun Belt Conference opponent since opening the 2019 season against South Alabama.

• Nebraska is 15-2 all-time against current members of the Sun Belt Conference, with 16 of the 17 games taking place in Memorial Stadium.

HUSKERS ENJOYING FOUR-GAME HOMESTAND
Nebraska opened its seven-game home schedule last Saturday with a 38-17 victory over North Dakota. The game was the first of four straight home games at Memorial Stadium, including three non-conference games and the Big Ten home opener against Indiana on Oct. 1.

• The 2022 season marks the first time Nebraska has played four straight home games since opening the 2013 campaign with five straight games at Memorial Stadium.

• This marks the fifth time since 2000 Nebraska has had a homestand of four games or longer. (also in 2002, 2005, 2008, 2013).

NEBRASKA OFFENSE STARTING FAST
In the season’s first two games, the Nebraska offense has been at its best to open both the first and second half. The Huskers have produced four touchdowns on four drives to open halves in games against Northwestern and North Dakota.

• The Huskers’ drives to open halves in 2022 have all covered at least 75 yards in 3:24 or less. The average of the four touchdown drives to open halves has been 7.5 plays, 81.3 yards and 2:23.

• Dating back to last season, Nebraska has scored a touchdown on its opening drive of the game in four consecutive games. The game-opening scoring drives have been directed by three different quarterbacks.

HUSKERS HIT RARE 300-100-100 COMBO IN OPENER
The Nebraska offense reached a rare milestone in the season opener against Northwestern. The Huskers recorded a 300-yard passer with Casey Thompson throwing for 355 yards, a 100-yard rusher in Anthony Grant, who had 101 yards and two touchdowns, and a 100-yard receiver with Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda catching four passes for 120 yards and a touchdown.

• The Northwestern game marked just the eighth time in school history Nebraska has produced a game with a 300-yard passer, 100-yard rusher and 100-yard receiver.

• Three of the eight games have come during Scott Frost’s tenure as head coach, most recently in a 42-38 win at Illinois in 2019. Nebraska also accomplished the trifecta in a 2018 matchup against Purdue.

GRANT PACING HUSKER RUNNING GAME
Nebraska has an impressive group of newcomers pacing the offense this season. Through two games, running back Anthony Grant is at the top of the list of impact newcomers. Grant has posted a pair of 100-yard rushing games, including a 189-yard effort in the victory over North Dakota. His play against the Fighting Hawks earned Grant recognition as the co-Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week. Grant began his career at Florida State where he played in 12 games in 2018, and came to Nebraska after rushing for 2,549 yards in junior college and earning the 2021 National Offensive Player of the Year.

• Grant is averaging 145.0 yards rushing per game to rank sixth in the nation and third in the Big Ten. His 189 rushing yards against North Dakota were the most by a Husker since the final game of the 2020 season at Rutgers when Dedrick Mills ran for 191 yards.

• Grant is the first Husker running back to post consecutive 100-yard rushing games since Devine Ozigbo had three straight 100-yard games in 2018. Grant has also become the first Husker to open a season with two straight 100-yard rushing games since 2017.

• Prior to Grant, no Husker had opened his Nebraska career with a pair of 100-yard rushing games since quarterback Taylor Martinez accomplished the feat in 2010.

• Grant has scored two rushing touchdowns in each of Nebraska’s games this season. It is the first time a Nebraska running back has had consecutive games with multiple rushing TDs since Ozigbo did the same against Northwestern and Minnesota in 2018.

• Grant is among the nation’s leaders with seven runs of 10 or more yards, including a pair of 46-yard touchdown runs.

• In 42 rushing attempts, Grant has yet to have a negative rushing play.

HUSKER STREAKS CONTINUE IN 2022 SEASON
Nebraska owns impressive streaks in the 2022 season, most notably an NCAA record sellout streak at Memorial Stadium.

• Nebraska has sold out 384 consecutive games at Memorial Stadium (including Georgia Southern), dating from the next-to-last home game of the 1962 season through this Saturday.

• The Huskers have scored in 329 consecutive games. The streak is the longest in school history, the seventh-longest in FBS history and the fifth-longest active streak. The last time Nebraska was shut out was a 19-0 loss at No. 17 Arizona State on Sept. 21, 1996.

• Nebraska has also scored in 352 consecutive home games, a school record. The last time the Huskers were shut out at home came on Nov. 9, 1968, against Kansas State (12-0 loss).

• Nebraska is 253-0 all-time when scoring 35 or more points at home. Scott Frost is also 25-0 in his head coaching career when his team scores at least 35 points.

SCHEDULE NOTES
• Nebraska is scheduled to play three games against opponents who were ranked in the final AP poll of the 2021 season. The Huskers take on Oklahoma (10th) on Sept. 17, Michigan (3rd) on Nov. 12 and Iowa (23rd) on Nov. 25. Michigan (8th) and Oklahoma (9th) each appeared in the 2022 preseason AP poll.

• In addition to the three ranked opponents from last season, Nebraska will face Wisconsin, Minnesota and Purdue, who were all among the top four teams receiving votes outside of the top 25.

• Nebraska is scheduled to play seven games against opponents who played in a bowl game last season.

Sat., Sep. 10 @ 7:00 pm CT
Nicholls Colonels at ULM Warhawks

Nicholls Colonels
Notes
FOUR DOWNS

• The Nicholls State University football team heads to Monroe for a matchup against former league rival ULM. Both programs were on the wrong end of lopsided outcomes in their openers as the Colonels fell 48-7 to Sun Belt Conference member South Alabama, while the Warhawks were defeated at Texas, 52-10. The game will air on ESPN3 and can be listened to on ESPN Radio New Orleans 100.3 FM with Casey Gisclair and Seth Thomas on the call.

• Saturday will be the third game for head coach Tim Rebowe against a former employer. Rebowe was an assistant at ULM from in the early 2000s before heading to Lafayette to coach the next 11 years at Louisiana. In his first season as head coach at Nicholls in 2015, the Red and Gray opened at ULM and had a rough going, falling 47-0. The Colonels made the trip to UL last season and battled the Ragin’ Cajuns in a 27-23 loss. With the two losses, Nicholls is 0-5 against the Sun Belt since Coach Rebowe’s arrival.

• Nicholls and ULM have a long history with 26 previous matchups, but Saturday’s game marks just the second meeting since 2000. The Warhawks have dominated the series with a 23-3 advantage, helped by their current nine-game winning streak. The last win for the Colonels was back in 1991 in a 15-10 victory, which was one of the two Nicholls wins in Monroe. ULM has not only won the last nine but has done so in convincing fashion, winning by an average of 21.8 points. The 47-0 setback in 2015 was the first of five consecutive losses to start the Tim Rebowe Era, but the Colonels turned things around that season and won a total of three games, including two of the last three.

• Nicholls will be looking to knock off an FBS program for the fifth time since 2000. The last victory for the Red and Gray came in an overtime win at Kansas to start the ‘18 season. The Colonels lost the following year at Kansas State and then went 0-2 last fall against Memphis and Louisiana. Although Nicholls fell short against the Ragin’ Cajuns, they took UL down to the wire in a 27-24 loss. The Colonels also had close calls in 2016, dropping a 26-24 game at No. 9 Georgia before their 41-40 overtime loss at South Alabama. The other three victories were against Arkansas State (‘01), Rice (‘07) and Western Michigan (‘13). Last Saturday’s loss at South Alabama (48-7) was the third largest point differential for the Colonels against the FBS in the Rebowe Era, with the other two coming in his first season (ULM 47-0, Colorado 48-0).

A WIN OVER ULM WOULD…
… be the fifth win for Nicholls over an FBS team since 2000. Since defeating Kansas in ‘18, the Colonels have dropped the last nine.
… snap a nine-game losing streak against the Warhawks. The previous seven wins for ULM came as an FBS program. The last Colonel victory was in 1991.
… give Nicholls its first win vs. the Sun Belt under HC Rebowe. Colonels have lost the previous five matchups (47-0 at ULM ‘15; 41-40 (OT) at South Alabama ‘16; 24-3 at Texas State ‘19; 27- 24 at Louisiana ‘21; 48-7 at South Alabama ‘22).
… be at least the third FCS win over an FBS school this season. In Week 1, Delaware defeated Navy and William & Mary took down Charlotte.
… be the 19th road win under Coach Rebowe. Nicholls has had at least one road win in each of his seven seasons.

LAST MEETING (9-12-15)
@ULM — 47 NICHOLLS — 0
Colonels Fall to ULM in Opener, 47-0

MONROE, La. – The ULM Warhawks put together a 30-point second quarter to pull away from the Nicholls State University football team as the Colonels fell in their season opener, 47-0, Saturday night at Malone Stadium.

The loss spoiled the debut of Nicholls head coach Tim Rebowe and pushed the Colonels’ overall losing streak to 19 games. ULM (1-1), which plays at the FBS level, improved its all-time record to 23-3 against the Colonels and has won the last nine meetings. Saturday
night’s matchup was the first contest between the instate schools since 2000.

Nicholls was limited to 260 yards on offense and gave up 593 yards. Michael Henry had a solid first half for the Colonels, rushing for 74 yards on 11 carries. He added four more carries after the break, finishing with 77 yards. Tuskani Figaro got the start under center, passing for 101 yards on 10 of 17.

ULM set the tone early by scoring on its first two drives. Following a field goal on the game’s opening drive, the Warhawks took a 10-0 lead after Devontae McNeal scored on a 3-yard touchdown. Nicholls went three-and-out in each of its first three drives in the quarter.

The Warhawks broke open the game in the second quarter, led by quarterback Garrett Smith who accounted four all four touchdowns in the stanza. Smith started the scoring with a 10-yard touchdown run and followed up with his first of three passing TDs before the half with a 13-yard strike to Ajalen Holley. Holley had a big night for ULM, catching eight balls for 155 yards.

Down 24-0, Nicholls pieced together a 9-play, 57-yard drive, but came up empty on the scoreboard. On a 4th-and-3 from the ULM 24, Rebowe elected to go for it, but the Warhawks hit Figaro in the backfield and forced the ball loose.

ULM then closed out the half with 16 points. Smith hit Harley Scioneaux for a 17-yard score and the defense blocked a punt into the end zone for a safety. After the free kick, Smith connected with Holley for a 47-yard touchdown for a 40-0 lead. Smith finished with 370 yards and completed 26 of 33 passes.

The Colonels had their best drive of the night early in the third quarter, going 82 yards on 14 plays. Figaro and Terry Lucas Jr. hooked up for a 31-yard pass, but after the ULM defense held strong inside the 10-yard line, Francisco Condado missed on a 21-yard field goal. Lucas led the team with five receptions for 51 yards.

ULM added a rushing touchdown in the fourth to make the final. The Warhawks racked up 202 yards on the ground, while Nicholls finished with 159. Tobias Lofton added 39 yards on 10 carries for the Colonels. B.T. Sanders led Nicholls with 12 tackles and Hezekiah White added nine.

OFFENSIVE NOTES
QUARTERBACKS
Lettermen Returning: 1
Starters Returning: 0
After serving as the backup quarterback for the last three seasons, Kohen Granier enters the fall at No. 1 quarterback on the depth chart. Granier saw limited backup duty before taking over as the starting QB in the final two games last season. He subbed in the week before at McNeese and led Nicholls to its first win in Lake Charles since 2008. Granier then ended the season with a River Bell Classic victory over Southeastern. Seeing action in eight games last season, Granier threw for 616 yards and four touchdowns. Returning from last season are sophomore Leonard Kelly and redshirt freshman Dillon Monette. Both served as backups and have yet to throw a pass as a Colonel. Joining the team this season are Southern Illinois transfer Jakob Foss and South Terrebonne product Christian Arceneaux.

RUNNING BACKS
Lettermen Returning: 4
Starters Returning: 2
Injuries depleted the backfield last season as running backs No. 1-3 suffered season-ending injuries, but it did not stop the Colonels from having the No. 5 rushing offense in the FCS. Julien Gums returns after playing the first four games last season, capping his year with two 100-yard performances. A two-time All-Southland honoree, Gums has over 2,500 yards rushing for his career and is closing in on becoming the program’s all-time leader in rushing and rushing TDs. As the No. 4 running back last season, Collin Guggenheim ended the year on a tear by rushing for five consecutive 100-yard games. He rushed for 930 yards and 10 touchdowns, setting a new program record with 103.3 yards rushing per game. Guggenheim ended the season with a program Southland-record 266 yards rushing in the Colonels’ River Bell Classic win at Southeastern and earned All-Southland First Team. John Carrington III and Marquese Albert served as the primary backups and look to return after injuries. Albert rushed for over 100 yards in his first career start and followed with two solid games in his next two where he totaled 155 yards and a TD. Carrington also rushed for over 100 yards in his lone career start in the spring victory over UIW. Redshirt freshman Jaylon Spears is also expected to see time in the backfield.

WIDE RECEIVERS
Lettermen Returning: 3
Starters Returning: 1
With the graduation of the program’s all-time leading receiver, Dai’Jean Dixon, the offense will feature a new crop of wide receivers. The unit features eight true/redshirt freshmen. Leading the veterans is slot receiver K.J. Franklin, who earned All-Southland Second Team last season. In his third year with the Colonels, Franklin ranked sixth in the conference with 636 yards and six touchdowns on 46 receptions. He had two 100-yard games, putting an end to his all-league campaign with a career-high 116 yards on five receptions in the River Bell Classic win at Southeastern. Al’Dontre Davis also returns after totaling 226 yards on 15 receptions. The former TCU wideout also had a big game at Southeastern, finishing with 93 yards on seven receptions to close out the season. David Robinson Jr. is the other returning letterman and has two career TD catches. Terry Matthews sat out last season after transferring from junior college and is expected to see time in the slot.

TIGHT ENDS
Lettermen Returning: 5
Starters Returning: 0
Although Lee Negrotto did not technically start last season, he earned All-Southland Second Team after finishing fourth on the team with 235 yards and a TD on 20 receptions. Negrotto’s production was spread out last season, catching at least one pass in nine different games. Also seeing time at tight end and special teams were Nathan Hebb, Ja’Cobey Lee, Logan Wilcox, and Brandon Hubicz. Jacob Parker moved onto the depth chart after making the switch from linebacker.

OFFENSIVE LINE
Lettermen Returning: 7
Starters Returning: 3
After another outstanding season up front, the Colonels return three starters on the offensive line. The unit is led by two-time All-Southland center Evan Roussel. Joining Roussel up front as returning starters are guard Baylee Trusty and preseason All-Southland honoree left tackle Mark Barthelemy. The line as welcomes back guards Mikhail Hill and Jeremiah James, each having started throughout their careers. Tackle Titus Jones also saw significant time last season and is set to take over at right tackle.

DEFENSIVE PREVIEW
DEFENSIVE LINE
Lettermen Returning: 7
Starters Returning: 3
The defensive front is anchored by First-Team selection Perry Ganci. In 2021, Ganci ranked fifth in the Southland with 9.5 tackles for loss and tied for fourth in sacks with 6.0. Zack Bernard also started up front, racking up 5.0 TFLs with 3.5 sacks. Senior Glen Thurmond has been a veteran for the defensive line, earning starts over the last three seasons. Juan Monjarres had 3.0 sacks last season for the Colonels, seeing time at defensive end. In the interior, the defense welcomes back tackles Jamiran James, Elinus Noel, III, and Dillion Davis. As a true freshman, Noel contributed with 18 tackles and 1.5 sacks last season while James and Davis also saw significant time.

LINEBACKERS
Lettermen Returning: 4
Starters Returning: 2
The linebacker group returns four letter-winners, including preseason All-SLC selection Hayden Shaheen. Shaheen ranked second on the team with 56 tackles (36 solo) and 6.5 for loss, which ranked 13th in the Southland. In the win against Northwestern State, he had two TFLs, a sack and an interception. Elijah Reames started at linebacker in the spring but missed most of the fall season with an injury. In his first season with the program, Quinton Sharkey racked up 21 tackles with 3.5 for loss and moves into the starter role.

SECONDARY
Lettermen Returning: 13
Starters Returning: 2
The secondary welcomes back plenty of experience, including starting cornerback James Tobin and safety Tyreke Boyd. Another veteran is Jordan Jackson, who garnered Preseason All-SLC Second Team. Boyd was third on the team in tackles and had two interceptions at the safety position. He had one of the defense’s two touchdowns, scoring on an interception return. Jackson recorded the other one, also taking a pick back for a TD against Southeastern. Tyler Morton saw most of his time on special teams but emerged as a candidate to start in the secondary this fall. Tobin started at corner and totaled six pass breakups, highlighted by four in the win over North Alabama. Malik Woodery and Maurquel Price also played at cornerback last season. Newcomers to the secondary are Jackson State transfer corner Markeyvrick Eddie and East Mississippi safety Brandon Lairy.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Lettermen Returning: 2
Starters Returning: 2
For the fourth season, Gavin Lasseigne will serve as the placekicker. Lasseigne earned All-Southland Second Team in 2021, booting a league-high 11 field goals to go along with 46 extra points. Redshirt freshman Patrick Vanderbrook also had a strong spring. Long snapper Dominic Brocato is set for his fourth year as the starting long snapper. True freshmen Kylan Dupre is expected to handle the punting duties. David Robinson Jr. was the primary kick returner last season, averaging 21.9 yards per return.

ULM Warhawks
Notes
FIRST-AND-10 –
• ULM opens the home schedule Saturday night facing in-state foe Nicholls at Malone Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:02 p.m. The Warhawks are coming off a 52-10 loss at RV/No. 18 Texas last week, while Nicholls opened the season with a 48-7 loss at South Alabama.

• Saturday’s game marks the 27th all-time meeting between ULM and Nicholls, with the Warhawks leading the series, 23-3. ULM has won the last nine meetings with the Colonels, dating back to a 38-10 win in the 1992 season. The two teams met in 17 consecutive seasons from 1977-93, and then again for six consecutive seasons from 1995-2000. Both schools were members of the Southland Conference in football from 1990-93. The only meeting since 2000 was the last meeting, on Sept. 12, 2015, a 47-0 ULM victory at Malone Stadium. Nicholls last defeated ULM, 15-10, in Monroe on Sept. 7, 1991.

• ULM was a football-playing member of the Southland Conference for 12 seasons from 1982-93. The Warhawks won four conference championships during the era, with two won by head coach Pat Collins and two more by head coach Dave Roberts. The era also includes Northeast Louisiana’s NCAA I-AA National Championship season in 1987, in which the Indians went 13-2 overall, with a 6-0 mark in the SLC.

• ULM has compiled a 74-97-3 record against current football-playing members of the Southland Conference (9-6-1 vs. Lamar, 9-33-1 vs. McNeese, 23-3 vs. Nicholls, 19-28-1 vs. Northwestern State, 12-25 vs. Southeastern and 2-2 vs. Texas A&M-Commerce).

• ULM’s 2022 roster features 37 players from the state of Louisiana, including two projected starters on offense and four on defense: Cat backer Keydrain Calligan (New Iberia/Westgate), left tackle Victor Cutler (West Monroe), wide receiver Will Derrick (Shreveport/Calvary Baptist), Star backer Jabari Johnson (Monroe/Ouachita), cornerback Lu Tillery (New Orleans/St. Augustine) and free safety Tavier Williams (Many).

• Sophomore running back Zack Martin made his ULM debut on Saturday, rushing for a team-high 39 yards on four carries (9.8 yards per carry) with a 23-yard touchdown run at Texas. Martin joined the ULM roster in 2019 but redshirted the season. The Woodville, Texas, native missed the 2020 season with a knee injury and the 2021 season with a quad injury before making his playing debut Saturday in the 2022 season opener, marking his first game-action since his senior year of high school in 2018.

• Fifth-year senior wide receiver Jevin Frett matched his career high with four receptions on Saturday at Texas. He led the Warhawks with 61 receiving yards, and his 46-yard reception from junior quarterback Garrett Hable set up ULM’s lone touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter. The Manchester, Connecticut, native has played in 21 games at ULM with 33 receptions for 563 yards (17.1 yards per catch) and two touchdowns.

• Sophomore Chandler Rogers made his eighth starting appearance of his career on Saturday at Texas. He completed 14-of-19 passes for 108 yards and an interception. He was sacked three times. He hit eight different receivers with his 14 completions. Rogers won the starting quarterback job in fall camp after a battle with Jiya Wright. He appeared in all 12 games in 2021, including six consecutive starts in the middle of the season. He played 476 offensive snaps and accounted for 1,678 yards total offense and 10 touchdowns. He completed 112-of-179 throws for 1,311 yards, nine TDs and three interceptions. He ranked among the Sun Belt Conference leaders in completion percentage (third at .626) and passing efficiency rating (sixth at 137.3). His .626 completion percentage set the ULM single-season record while his 137.3 passing efficiency rating ranks third on the school’s single-season chart.

• Super senior placekicker Calum Sutherland opened his 2022 season by hitting his only field-goal attempt of the night, a 25-yard attempt, in the first quarter to cut the deficit to 7-3 at Texas. He also connected on his only PAT attempt, which came in the fourth quarter. A Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Second-Team selection, Sutherland led ULM in scoring with 75 points in 2021 – tied for the ninth-highest single-season total in program history. The Keller, Texas, product ranked third in the Sun Belt and 42nd in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision with 1.33 field goals made per game. He also finished eighth in the league in scoring, averaging 6.25 points per game. Sutherland hit 16-of-21 field-goal attempts (.762) and 27-of-28 extra-point tries in 2021. His 16 field goals made tied the third-best single-season total in ULM history. He made 8-of-12 field-goal attempts from 40 or more yards, including 2-of-4 from 50 plus. Sutherland connected on the two longest field goals (53 and 52 yards) in the Sun Belt during the 2021 season.

• Super senior linebacker Zack Woodard recorded three tackles (one solo, two assists) in the season-opening loss at Texas. Woodard, who led the Warhawks in tackles for loss (8.5 for 27 yards) and finished second in sacks (3.5 for 18 yards) in 2021, was selected Team MVP and Defensive MVP by the coaching staff following last season. The Thomasville, Alabama, native ranked second on the team with 89 tackles (42 solos, 47 assists) and ranked fifth in the Sun Belt in tackles, averaging 7.4 per game. He produced double-figure tackles in four games, including 11 stops (8 solos, 3 assists) at LSU. Woodard set career highs in tackles (15: 7 solos, 8 assists) and tackles for loss (3.5 for 6 yards), including a 2-yard sack, vs. Arkansas State. He collected 13 tackles, including a half tackle for loss, to help lead ULM to a 41-31 victory over South Alabama.

THE LAST MEETING –
ULM 47, Nicholls 0 (Sept. 12, 2015 in Monroe, Louisiana): Garrett Smith accounted for 416 yards total offense and four scores to lead ULM to a 47-0 victory over Nicholls before a crowd of 20,397 at Malone Stadium. Smith completed 26-of-33 throws for a career-high 370 yards and three touchdowns, including scoring strikes of 13 and 47 yards to Ajalen Holley and 17 yards to Harley Scioneaux, and added a 10-yard TD run. The loss spoiled the debut of first-year Nicholls head coach Tim Rebowe.

The Warhawks scored on six of their seven first-half possessions and rolled to a 40-0 halftime lead, with 30 of those points coming in the second quarter. Early in the fourth quarter, Ben Luckett capped off a nine-play, 51-yard drive with a 12-yard TD run to close out the scoring.

Holley finished with eight receptions for 155 yards and two TDs. ULM outgained Nicholls in total yards, 593-260, with the Warhawks’ ground game accounting for 202 yards while the passing attack amassed 391 yards. The ULM defense forced two fumbles that the offense converted into 14 points.

THE LAST TIME OUT –
RV/No. 18 Texas 52, ULM 10 (Sept. 3, 2022 in Austin, Texas): ULM didn’t put its best foot forward in a season-opening 52-10 loss to Texas Saturday night at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. The Warhawks (0-1) surrendered touchdowns on a blocked punt and an interception return, committed seven penalties for 73 yards, and were outgained, 383-259 total yards, in a lopsided affair. Opening-day starting quarterback Chandler Rogers completed 14-of-19 passes for 108 yards with one interception and three sacks. Unable to run the ball effectively, ULM rushed for 92 yards on 41 attempts, averaging 2.2 yards per carry.

Third-team quarterback Garrett Hable hit a 46-yard pass to Jevin Frett and Zack Martin ran for a 23-yard score with 3:39 remaining to highlight ULM’s lone touchdown drive. In his collegiate debut, Martin ran four times for 39 yards to lead ULM on the ground. The Warhawks found trouble early.

After a stalled first offensive series, D’Shawn Jamison surged up the middle for Texas to block Devyn McCormick’s punt. Keilan Robinson scooped and scored from 12 yards out and the Long- horns led 7-0 with 13:12 showing in the first quarter. ULM linebacker Tristan Driggers interrupted Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers’ debut with an interception with 9:35 to go in the opening period. Linebacker Quae Drake provided pressure to force the errant throw.

ULM turned the takeaway into points after starting at the Texas 42. The Warhawks moved 34 yards in 10 plays and Calum Sutherland kicked a 25-yard field goal to cut the score to 7-3. Ewers threw his first career touchdown on the ensuing drive, finding Ja’Tavion Sanders for a 19-yard score to extend the Texas lead to 14-3. The Longhorns covered 64 yards in seven plays. A 43-yard pass from Ewers to Casey Cain set up a third Texas touchdown. One play later, Roschon Johnson rushed up the middle for a 16-yard score for a 21-3 Longhorns lead with 10:50 left in the half. Texas needed just 1:49 to cover 73 yards in five plays. Bert Auburn’s 41-yard field goal with 3:14 left before the half put Texas ahead 24-3. The Longhorns moved 25 yards in seven plays to collect the points. The 21-point margin held until halftime, as Auburn missed a 38-yard field goal as time expired. Texas outgained ULM. 215-102 in total yards, in the first half while averaging 7.9 yards per play. The Warhawks were limited to 3.0 yards per play in the half and flagged five times for 43 yards.

WARHAWKS TOUGH IN HOME OPENERS –
In its 71-year football history (as a four-year college), ULM is 48-21-2 (.690) in home openers, including an impressive 34-10 record (.773) since taking up residency in Malone Stadium in 1978. The Warhawks won 13-consecutive home openers from 1978-90 and produced wins in 22 of their first 23 home openers in Malone Stadium (1978-2000). Saturday’s game with Nicholls marks the second time ULM has hosted Nicholls in a home opener in the last 10 years, with the Warhawks defeating the Colonels, 47-0, on Sept. 12, 2015. ULM is 7-3 in its last 10 home openers.