JACKSONVILLE STATE GAMECOCKS NOTES:
Quick Hits
• The Gamecocks are making their first bowl appearance at the FBS level, becoming just the fifth program to do so in its first season of FBS competition (Marshall in 1997, Nevada in 1992, Ohio and Miami (OH) in 1962). • Jax State’s R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl appearance comes despite the Gamecocks being in the final season of transition from FCS to FBS. They became eligible after only 79 eligible teams won at least six games, not enough to fill the 82 bowl spots. • The Gamecocks and Ragin’ Cajuns will meet on the gridiron for just the second time in the bowl and the first time since 2000. The Gamecocks won the first meeting in the series, 28-14 in Jacksonville on Nov. 11, 2000. • Jax State brings an 8-4 record into the New Orleans Bowl, one of just five teams since 1970 to win at least eight games in its first season against an FBS schedule. Only two (10 by Marshall in 1997 and nine by Ga. Southern in 2014) have won nine or more games. • Jax State averaged 20,033 fans at its six home games in 2023, the most of any team in CUSA this season and the second-highest average attendance in school history behind the 20,598 in 2015. The 120,199 total fans to come to Burgess-Snow Field in 2023 rank third in school history.
Gamecocks’ Bowl Bid A Rare Feat
Jax State’s appearance in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl is a rare feat for teams playing their first season of FBS competition after transitioning. The Gamecocks become just the fifth team since 1957 to appear in a bowl game in their first season and the first since 1997. They can make more history by winning the game and becoming the first team to win a bowl in its first season in FBS.
How Jax State Got Here
The Gamecocks’ road to the New Orleans Bowl wasn’t the traditional path that most teams take to bowl eligibility. While Jax State had to win at least six games like everyone else, they had to get some extra help due to the NCAA’s rules for teams in their transition from FCS to FBS. In their final year of transition, the Gamecocks had to have fewer than 82 eligible teams reach six wins to open up a spot for them and fellow transition mate James Madison. Headed into the final week of the regular season, there were 14 spots remaining and 24 5-win teams that had a chance to get eligible in their final game. When the Gamecocks’ flight home from NM State landed in Birmingham, they learned that not enough teams won that day and they were going bowling.
Gamecocks Among National Leaders in Run Defense
While the Jax State offense has been running past opposing defenses, the Gamecock defense has held its foes in check this season. The Gamecocks are currently limiting opponents to 113.2 rushing yards per game, second-best in CUSA and 23rd best among all FBS teams.
Solid Ground Game
In 2023, the Gamecocks have been able to run the football against their opponents, averaging 232.2 rushing yards per game. That ranks Jax State second in Conference USA and fifth in the FBS in rushing yards per game. The 232.2 yards per game in is the 10th-most by a Jax State team in school history.
Cardiac Gamecocks
The Gamecocks have been able to pull out some improbable wins so far in 2023. According to ESPN’s win probability, Jax State has won three games in which they had an 83.5 percent chance or worse to lose the game. The Sam Houston game was the least probable, with ESPN saying the Bearkats had a 99.9 percent chance to win the game with 3:31 left in the third quarter. Jax State overcame an eight-point deficit in the final minute to win that game 35-28 in overtime. At Middle Tennessee, the Blue Raiders had a 92.7% win probability with 14:45 left in third quarter, only to watch the Gamecocks storm back with 38 unanswered points and win 45-30. Against Western Kentucky, the Hilltoppers had an 83.5% win probability with 11:26 left in fourth quarter, but Jax State won that game 20-17 on a walk-off 40-yard field goal..
LOUISIANA RAGIN’ CAJUNS NOTES:
LOUISIANA TO PLAY IN SIXTH CONSECUTIVE BOWL GAME
• The Ragin’ Cajuns close out the 2023 season in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl as they take on Jacksonville State at 1:15 p.m. on ESPN. • Louisiana is making its school record sixth consecutive bowl game after defeating ULM in the regular season finale, 52-21. • The game marks the second time the two teams have squared off with Jacksonville State winning the first matchup in 2000. • Saturday’s game is the seventh appearance for Louisiana in the New Orleans Bowl as the Ragin’ Cajuns hold an official record of 3-1.
A LOOK AT THE RAGIN’ CAJUNS
• Louisiana’s defensive has been a force on opposing quarterbacks, as the Cajuns have recorded 32 sacks. The Ragin’ Cajuns are averaging 2.67 sacks per game, which ranks tied for 24th nationally. • Louisiana’s offense has been equally as impressive as the Ragin’ Cajuns average 32.2 points per game, which ranks third in the Sun Belt. • The Ragin’ Cajuns rushing attack ranks 31st in the country and second in the Sun Belt at 182.7 yards per game. • Jacob Kibodi, who was put on scholarship following the win at UAB, leads the team in rushing with 729 yards to go along with seven touchdowns. Kibodi is averaging 5.7 yards per carry. • Cameron Whitfield has made an impact defensively as he is the team’s leader in sacks with seven to go along with eight tackles for loss, which ranks third on the team. Whitfield was named the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week following his performance at South Alabama in which he had 3.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. • Chandler Fields, Louisiana’s third starting QB of the season, has thrown for 788 yards, seven touchdowns and completed 73.2% (71-of-97) of his passes in his three starts against Southern Miss, Troy and ULM. • Over the last three weeks of the regular season (excluding championship weekend), Fields completion percentage ranks fifth nationally while he also ranked in the top 20 in passing touchdowns (7; t-15th) and passer rating (163.2; 16th). • Kenneth Almendares has continued his stellar play from a year ago as he enters Saturday’s contest 13-for-14 on his field goal attempts and tied the school record for most consecutive field goals made at 18. • The Ragin’ Cajuns coaching staff is one of seven schools nationally to return all 10 assistant coaches from 2022.
LOOKING BACK AT ULM
• Chandler Fields set the school’s single-game completion record after completing his last 15 passes to finish 18-of-20 to go along with 246 yards and two touchdowns. • Louisiana’s 52 points were the most in a game at home against ULM and the 31-point margin of victory was the second largest in school history over the Warhawks. • Neal Johnson registered his first multi-touchdown game of his career as he registered a pair of touchdowns on three catches for 67 yards. • Elijah ‘Bill’ Davis ran for 109 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 14 carriers for his first career 100-yard performance. • Jordan Lawson recorded a team-high 3.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks as Jalen Clark tallied a team-high eight tackles and an interception.
AGAINST THE GAMECOCKS
• Saturday’s meeting is the second meeting all-time with Jacksonville State leading the series 1-0. • The two teams previously met on Nov. 11, 2000, with the Gamecocks winning, 28-14.
BOWL GAME HISTORY
• Louisiana is making its school record sixth consecutive bowl game and 13th all-time. • Saturday’s game will be the seventh time in program history the Ragin’ Cajuns have played in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. • Louisiana has an official bowl record of 6-4
