Jacksonville State Gamecocks

Caden Creel is the engine of the Jacksonville State offense, and his dual-threat ability has been the difference in most games. He threw for 327 yards and five touchdowns against Eastern Kentucky, added 265 passing and 120 rushing at Ohio, and accounted for 360 total yards (241 passing, 119 rushing) in the Conference USA opener against Middle Tennessee. However, when North Dakota State contained him in the season opener, the offense managed only 170 total yards and converted 2 of 10 third downs. Creel's performance is the single biggest predictor of the Gamecocks' success.

The departure of Conference USA MVP Cam Cook left a void that the committee of Justus Savage, Andrew Paul, Khristian Lando, Jalen Likely, and Lucas Farrington has yet to fill consistently. There have been flashes: Likely broke a 45-yard touchdown run against Eastern Kentucky, and Farrington ran for 94 yards against Middle Tennessee. But against North Dakota State, the run game was nonexistent, and the Gamecocks have yet to establish a reliable chain-mover. The 276 rushing yards against Middle Tennessee (7.1 yards per carry) showed what the group is capable of, but it must prove it can do that against stronger defenses.

Jacksonville State lost its two sack leaders from 2025 and has struggled to stop the run all season. North Dakota State ran through the rebuilt line in the opener, Eastern Kentucky ripped off a 72-yard touchdown run, and Ohio controlled the clock with its rushing attack. The front seven of Khurtiss Perry, Gharin Stansbury, Jawaun Campbell, and Wisconsin transfer Angel Toombs showed progress against Middle Tennessee, holding the Blue Raiders to 13 points, but consistency is still lacking. If the front seven cannot hold gaps, the secondary gets exposed in run support and play-action.

The secondary, led by first-team All-CUSA safety Caleb Nix, cornerbacks Tre'Quon Fegans and Jaheim Jenkins, and Tristan Lyles, has been the strength of the defense. Nix returned an interception 43 yards for a touchdown against Eastern Kentucky and a punt 75 yards for a score against Georgia Southern, while Lyles sealed the Georgia Southern win with a red-zone interception. Special teams have been a mixed bag: kicker Garrison Rippa was 40-for-40 on extra points last season and has a 52-yard leg, but he missed a 38-yard field goal at the end of regulation against Ohio, and the coverage units allowed a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in that same game. Rippa did make a 33-yard game-winner against Kennesaw State, his fourth career game-winner inside the final two minutes.

After a brutal 33-7 loss at North Dakota State in Week 0, Jacksonville State has won three straight and sits at 4-2 overall and 2-0 in Conference USA. The Gamecocks have covered in four of six games and are coming off a 27-26 win at Kennesaw State in a rematch of the 2025 CUSA championship game. The offense has found its rhythm, scoring 49, 27, 31, and 23 points in the last four games, while the defense has shown improvement, holding Middle Tennessee to 13 points. The biggest question is whether the run defense can hold up against stronger opponents, and whether the running back committee can consistently support Creel. With a home game against Florida International next, Jacksonville State has a chance to extend its winning streak and solidify its position in the CUSA race.