After ending its FCS era with an ASUN championship, Jacksonville State is now moving up to the FBS in 2023.
The Gamecocks undoubtedly were one of the top FCS programs, making a run to the national title game in 2015. But will they sustain that level of success in Conference USA, or will they need more time to acclimate to their new situation?
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Can Jacksonville State Win Conference USA This Season?
Jacksonville State has no odds to win the Conference USA Championship because it cannot win the CUSA title. The Gamecocks are ineligible after moving up to the FBS this year.
Jacksonville State Football’s Over/Under Win Total
Jacksonville State’s win total Over/Under is 4.5, with Under 4.5 at -135 and Over 4.5 at +115.
Jacksonville State Football’s Schedule
8/26 vs UTEP
9/2 vs East Tennessee State
9/9 at Coastal Carolina
9/23 vs Eastern Michigan
9/28 at Sam Houston
10/4 at Middle Tennessee
10/10 vs Liberty
10/17 vs Western Kentucky
10/25 at FIU
11/4 at South Carolina
11/18 vs Louisiana Tech
11/25 at New Mexico State
Bold indicates CUSA contests.
Key Jacksonville State Football Returners
2022 All-ASUN
TE Sean Brown
OL Treylen Brown
DL Jaylen “J-Rock” Swain
Zion Webb, Anwar Lewis Give Jacksonville State’s Offense A Formidable Duo
Though it wasn’t always a certainty, quarterback Zion Webb is back for Jacksonville State this season and gives the team some needed experience behind center.
Webb, who will be playing in his seventh season of college football, threw for 1,737 yards, 10 touchdowns, and nine interceptions while completing 55% of his throws. He also ran for 647 yards and 13 touchdowns while averaging 5.6 yards per attempt.
Anwar Lewis, one of the best running backs in Conference USA this year, will also give JSU some explosiveness on offense. Last year, his first season at JSU, he rushed for 818 yards and eight touchdowns on a 7.1 yards-per-carry average while chipping in 127 yards and a touchdown on 13 receptions.
Sterling Galban was Jacksonville State’s leading receiver last year after catching 28 passes for 433 yards and three touchdowns, and he’s back. All-ASUN tight end Sean Brown, who was second on the team with 331 yards on 18 catches to go with a touchdown in 2022, also returns.
Four of Jacksonville State’s five primary starters on the offensive line are also back, including All-ASUN center Treylen Brown. Left tackle Will O’Steen, right guard Clay Webb, and left guard Brock Robey all started several games and helped the Gamecocks tally 36.2 points and 251 rushing yards per game. JSU also gave up just 16 sacks last year.
JSU also added former ULM running back Malik Jackson and former Arizona wide receiver Jamarye Joiner in the transfer portal to give the team some extra playmaking ability.
Jaylen “J-Rock” Swain, Chris Hardie To Help Jacksonville State’s Defense Pressure Quarterbacks
Consistently pressuring opposing passers is crucial for almost any successful defense. Jacksonville State is bringing back some veteran pass rushers.
Jaylen “J-Rock” Swain was an All-ASUN defensive lineman as a sophomore last year. He tallied five sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss, 36 total tackles, and five quarterback hurries in 2022.
Chris Hardie was another highly productive defensive lineman for JSU last year. He led the team with 5.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss to go with four quarterback hurries and 40 total tackles.
The Gamecocks were solid defensively last season. They allowed just 22.9 points per game, which would’ve been the fewest in CUSA last year, and gave up 389.7 yards per game, which would’ve been in the top five.
However, Jacksonville State only returns six of its top 11 tacklers from last season. The team will need to replace some of that production.
JSU did add former Maine safety Austin Ambush via the transfer portal and will expect others to step up as well.
Jacksonville State Football Season Prediction
JSU won’t be at the top of the CUSA standings and won’t get to four wins.
It’s not unreasonable to believe the Gamecocks – or any program for that matter – will need a few years to bring in FBS-level talent. Though Conference USA isn’t the strongest league in the FBS, it is still another level Jacksonville State will need time to adjust to.
The Gamecocks’ schedule isn’t extremely tough, but a few games they could conceivably win are on the road. That includes contests against Sam Houston, which is also new to the FBS, and FIU, which has the lowest odds to win the league.
Even if JSU wins both of those and its matchup with East Tennessee State, that’s still just three victories. The Gamecocks have challenging non-conference clashes vs. Eastern Michigan and at Coastal Carolina, which are both among the favorites in their Group of Five conferences. JSU also has to play at South Carolina late in the season.
The Gamecocks play Liberty and Western Kentucky, the two favorites to win CUSA, at home. They also play at Middle Tennessee, which is third in CUSA odds.
The only way I foresee Jacksonville State winning more than four games is if it closes the season with victories over Louisiana Tech at home and at New Mexico State. While that’s not impossible after a bye week, I just don’t expect JSU to play at a high level consistently like that.
Jacksonville State might be on track for winning seasons down the road, but I don’t think the Gamecocks will be above .500 in 2023.
