Jacksonville State’s 2023 season, its first in the FBS, was a substantial surprise for many.
The Gamecocks went 8-4 during the regular season, including a 6-2 mark in Conference USA play. The only CUSA opponents they lost to were Liberty and New Mexico State, which both played in the league championship. Jax State earned bowl-eligibility and defeated Louisiana in the New Orleans Bowl in a thrilling 34-31 overtime contest.
After making a successful transition from the FCS, can Jacksonville State continue to compete at a high level now that it can play in the Conference USA Championship?
Jacksonville State Football’s Conference USA Title Odds
Jacksonville State’s odds to win Conference USA are +525, via BetMGM. JSU has the third-best odds to win the league behind Liberty (-210) and Western Kentucky (+475).
Jacksonville State Football’s Betting Odds & Over/Under Win Total
Jacksonville State’s win total Over/Under is 7.5, with Under 7.5 at +105 and Over 7.5 at -125.
Jacksonville State Football’s 2024 Schedule
8/31 vs. Coastal Carolina
9/7 @ Louisville
9/14 @ Eastern Michigan
9/21 vs. Southern Miss
10/4 @ Kennesaw State
10/9 vs. New Mexico State
10/23 vs. Middle Tennessee
10/30 @ Liberty
11/9 @ Louisiana Tech
11/16 vs. FIU
11/23 vs. Sam Houston
11/30 @ Western Kentucky
Bold indicates Conference USA contests
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Key Jacksonville State Football Returners
2023 All-Conference USA 2nd Team
TE Sean Brown
OL Clay Webb
DB Derek Carter
Honorable Mention
OL Will O’Steen
DE J-Rock Swain
P Jack Dawson
Jacksonville State Football Will Be Tough Up Front
Jacksonville State lost some key contributors from last season, like quarterback Zion Webb and running back Malik Jackson. But the Gamecocks also have a number of proven players coming back, especially in the trenches.
Clay Webb, who played guard last year, is arguably one of the best players in the Group of Five. He will help anchor an offensive line that also features Will O’Steen, who made the All-Conference USA honorable mention list last season.
But who will be the quarterback JSU’s offensive line protects? Logan Smothers has the most experience for Jax State after completing 66 of 116 passes for 735 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions and rushing for 388 yards and seven scores in 2023.
JSU also added Zion Turner and Tyler Huff through the transfer portal. Turner redshirted last year but led UConn to a bowl game as a true freshman in 2022. Huff was the Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2023 while at Furman.
Whoever plays at quarterback will have a dependable pass catcher in Sean Brown. The JSU tight end was on the all-conference second team last year after hauling in 19 passes for 294 yards and a JSU-best five touchdowns.
Ron Wiggins, who was third on the team with 468 yards to go with six touchdowns on the ground, as well as Anwar Lewis, who added 452 yards and three touchdowns rushing, are among JSU’s returning running backs.
On defense, J-Rock Swain is back after tallying 5.5 tackles for loss and four sacks to go with 27 total tackles in 2023. Safety Fred Perry is Jacksonville State’s leading returning tackler after chalking up 75 tackles a season ago.
Cornerback Derek Carter, a second-team all-conference pick last year, led the Gamecocks with eight pass breakups while adding 44 tackles and two TFLs. He should also play an important role in JSU’s secondary.
Jacksonville State has the fifth-best ranked transfer class in CUSA, according to 247Sports. The team’s transfer class includes several defenders who were previously at Power Four schools.
The Gamecocks hope those additions will help them remain as one of the best defenses in the league. They were first in CUSA in points allowed per game with 21.2 and yards allowed per game with 352.8.
2024 Jacksonville State Football Season Prediction
I predict Jacksonville State won’t win the CUSA Championship but will go Over 7.5 wins.
The Gamecocks obviously bring back plenty of talent, but so do other teams in the league. They certainly have a chance of reaching the CUSA title game, and whether they do might be decided in the final week of the regular season when they face off at Western Kentucky, but Liberty is going to be too strong again for anyone else in CUSA to knock off the Flames in my mind.
But, with that said, Jacksonville State might reach nine wins in the regular season, which would obviously lead to another bowl appearance. For starters, Jax State might be capable of going 3-1 in non-league play with games against Coastal Carolina, Louisville, Eastern Michigan, and Southern Miss.
But even if the Gamecocks only beat the last two of those teams, I think they’re better than most of their CUSA competition. I don’t know if they’ll win on the road against Liberty or WKU, but I think they will take care of Kennesaw State, New Mexico State, Middle Tennessee, Louisiana Tech, FIU, and Sam Houston.
The two crucial games will be the season opener against Coastal Carolina and WKU. But even accounting for losses there, I believe Jacksonville State will be bowl-eligible again in 2024.
