Not every part of App State’s 2023 season was spectacular. But the Mountaineers certainly played at a high level in crucial moments.
They went 9-5 last year, but they beat previously-unbeaten JMU in overtime, which helped them reach the Sun Belt Championship. There, they lost to Troy, but they concluded the season with a tough victory over Miami (Ohio) in the Cure Bowl.
Now head coach Shawn Clark, as well as several other contributors from last year like Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year Joey Aguilar, are back. The Mountaineers are the favorites to win the Sun Belt title in 2024 and could be the Group of Five team that makes it to the College Football Playoff.
App State Football’s Sun Belt Title Odds
App State has the best odds to win the Sun Belt at +275, via BetMGM.
App State Football’s Betting Odds & Over/Under Win Total
App State’s win total Over/Under is 8.5, with Under 8.5 at -135 and Over 8.5 at +115.
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App State Football’s 2024 Schedule
8/31 vs. ETSU
9/7 @ Clemson
9/14 @ East Carolina
9/19 vs. South Alabama
9/28 vs. Liberty
10/5 @ Marshall
10/12 @ Louisiana
10/26 vs. Georgia State
11/2 vs. Old Dominion
11/7 @ Coastal Carolina
11/23 vs. JMU
11/30 @ Georgia Southern
Bold indicates Sun Belt contests
Key App State Football Returners
2023 All-Sun Belt 2nd Team
QB Joey Aguilar
TE Eli Wilson
LB Nate Johnson
DB Ethan Johnson
K Michael Hughes
Honorable Mention
RB Kanye Roberts
WR Kaedin Robinson
DL Santana Hopper
DB Jordan Favors
App State Football Will Be Strong On Both Sides Of The Ball
App State deserves to be a favorite to win the Sun Belt considering all of the talent the Mountaineers bring back.
Aguilar is back at quarterback after a spectacular 2023 season that included second-team all-conference accolades. He completed 64% of his passes for 3,757 yards, 33 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions while rushing for 369 yards and three scores last year.
App State did lose Nate Noel, the program’s leading rusher from last season, but brings back Kanye Roberts. He ran for 696 yards and a team-best seven scores while averaging 5.7 yards per carry. Maquel Haywood (318 yards and two TDs) and Anderson Castle (283 yards and two TDs) are also back.
Kaedin Robinson is returning as well for App State. The all-conference honorable mention wide receiver led the Mountaineers with 905 yards and 10 touchdowns on 67 receptions. But that’s not all, as App State’s top four receivers from last year are back. Christan Horn (566 yards and six TDs on 36 catches), Makai Jackson (418 yards and two TDs on 27 catches), and Dalton Stroman (390 yards and three touchdowns on 20 catches) all return. Eli Wilson, a second-team all-conference tight end, is looking to build on his performance last year as well after catching 34 passes for 350 yards and five scores.
App State wasn’t just impressive on offense last year, though. While the Mountaineers were in the top three in the Sun Belt in scoring offense (33.2 points per game) and total offense (445.9 yards per game), they were also top five in the league in scoring defense (27 points per game allowed) and total defense (378.9 yards per game allowed).
All-conference linebacker Nate Johnson, who led the team with 8.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks to go with 43 tackles, is returning. Defensive back Ethan Johnson, who recorded 56 tackles and paced App State with 11 pass breakups to go with an interception, is also back.
Defensive lineman Santana Hopper is seeking to be even better in 2024 after making the all-conference honorable mention list, as he contributed 34 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, and 3.5 sacks in 2023. Defensive back Jordan Favors, who tied a team best with four interceptions and added 37 tackles and eight pass breakups, also made the all-conference honorable mention list and is returning.
2024 App State Football Season Prediction
I predict App State will not win the Sun Belt Championship but will go Over 8.5 wins.
This Mountaineers team has plenty of talent. But as of right now, I see Texas State having a slightly better shot of winning the conference title if these two teams were to face off at the end of the year.
Still, there’s little reason to doubt the Mountaineers will be one of the top teams in the Sun Belt, which is why I could see them getting to as many as nine wins.
In App State’s non-conference schedule, I’m predicting wins over ETSU and East Carolina. I imagine App State will lose to Clemson, and its matchup with Liberty is going to be very close in my mind.
But I think App State will be the better team in that matchup and will go at least 6-2 against Sun Belt teams. I think wins against South Alabama, Marshall, Georgia State, Old Dominion, and Georgia Southern should be expected, which is eight wins right there.
Games against Louisiana, Coastal Carolina, and JMU will probably be tough, especially considering two of those three games are on the road. But I think App State could win one and maybe even two of those matchups.
And that could put the Mountaineers in position to compete for a conference championship once again.
