The Jacksonville State football team has posted three-straight nine-win seasons, won a Conference USA championship in 2024 and played for another one last season since joining the ranks of the FBS in 2023.
Even after Rich Rodriguez jumped ship for West Virginia, first-time head coach Charles Kelly led the 2025 Gamecocks to a 9-5 record, an appearance in the conference title game and their second bowl win in three seasons.
There are some prominent pieces that have to be replaced, including last year’s Conference USA Player of the Year, but Jacksonville State may be poised for another run at the title.
Jacksonville State Football Season Preview
The Gamecocks have to find a new workhorse running back and fill a couple of spots on the offensive and defensive lines, but there’s a slew of starters back on both sides of the ball.
The Train Keeps Rolling
Jacksonville State rushed for more than 3,500 yards in 2024 and almost that much last season. The running game should continue clicking this year, despite the loss of running back Cam Cook, who was named Conference USA Player of the Year after racking up 1,659 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns last fall. He left to join Rodriguez at West Virginia.
The Gamecocks will turn to a rotation of backs to replace Cook. Khristian Lando and Andrew Paul saw heavy action last season and should carry the load, while Justus Savage and Jalen Likely should step into larger roles after seeing a few carries last year.
But Jacksonville State’s running game begins with quarterback Caden Creel. The 6-foot, 200-pound senior put up 1,076 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground last year. He also threw for 1,514 yards and nine touchdowns.
Can Anyone Cover Deondre Johnson?
Deondre Johnson towers over most defensive backs. He measures in at 6-8 and 220 pounds, and he was a force in the passing game last season. The senior led the team with 724 receiving yards, and he caught six of the Gamecocks’ 13 touchdown passes.
Johnson averaged 24.1 yards per catch in an offense that emphasizes the run. With Cook and last season’s receptions leader, Brock Rechsteiner, gone, he’s set to play an even bigger role this season, especially in the red zone. That’s good news for a team that scored on 50 of its 59 trips to the red zone last season.
The Sanders’ Show On Defense .
Sophomore linebacker Mac Sanders is back after leading the Gamecocks with 85 tackles and 11.5 tackles for loss. He’ll be the field general on defense again, and he has a chance to be one of the best linebackers in Conference USA.
Jacksonville State returns three of its top four tacklers from last season. Linebacker Walker O’Steen finished just behind Sanders with 84 stops a year ago. He also intercepted three passes. Safety Caleb Nix is back after leading the team with four picks and ranking No. 4 with 63 tackles last season.
Tre’Quon Fegans should be one of the team’s top cornerbacks after he played in all 12 games last year, while Clemson transfer Rob Billings IV should make an early impact somewhere in the secondary.
Fifth-year senior Khurtiss Perry should anchor a rebuilt defensive line.
Jacksonville State’s Breakout Candidate
WR Ronnel Johnson – The 6-foot senior caught 40 passes for 527 yards at Missouri State last season. He was also a two-time All-Pioneer League pick at Stetson, where he was named the league’s rookie of the year in 2023. He should see plenty of favorable matchups this year if Deondre Johnson has another big season.
Jacksonville State Conference USA Championship Betting Odds
Jacksonville State’s college football betting odds to win the Conference USA championship is +450, according to BetMGM. Liberty is the favorite at +260, followed by Western Kentucky at +300.
Jacksonville State Betting Odds & Over/Under Win Total
- Jacksonville State’s Over/Under win total is 7.5 games
- The Over is at +105
- The Under is at -135
2026 Jacksonville State Schedule
Aug. 29 at North Dakota State
Sept. 5 vs. Eastern Kentucky
Sept. 12 at Ohio
Sept. 19 vs. Georgia Southern
Sept. 26 vs. Middle Tennessee
Oct. 7 at Kennesaw State
Oct. 13 vs. FIU
Oct. 28 at New Mexico State
Nov. 7 vs. Sam Houston
Nov. 14 at Western Kentucky
Nov. 21 vs. Missouri State
Nov. 28 at Delaware
Bold indicates Conference USA games
Jackson State Season Prediction
I predict Jacksonville State will not win the Conference USA championship, but the Gamecocks will win more than 7.5 games, especially if they can open the season with a win in Fargo, North Dakota.
Liberty is going to be hard to beat in Conference USA, but Jacksonville State doesn’t have to play the Flames in the regular season.
The Gamecocks have their quarterback and a lot of experience back on defense. Creel seems poised for a special year, and he may even use his arm a bit more. The whole offense will be in for a special year if one of several returning running backs steps up.
