The Jacksonville State Gamecocks will host the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers at 8 p.m. EST on Aug. 29. The game will be played in the newly named AmFirst Stadium in Jacksonville, Ala. The Gamecocks are entering their first official season in the FBS after the mandatory two-year transition period from the FCS.
After a 9-4 season in 2023, JSU expects to compete for a Conference USA title. Coastal is coming off an 8-5 season under first-year head coach Tim Beck. Even in the post-star quarterback Grayson McCall era, who transferred to North Carolina State in 2024 after being named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year three consecutive times, the Chanticleers aim to be a major competitor in the Sun Belt Conference. Coastal is coming off an 8-5 season.
The Stakes
This will be the third time these two teams have met. Coastal won the previous meeting 30-16 in 2023. Jacksonville State won the first-ever meeting 27-26 in 2016.
Rich Rodriguez enters his third season as head coach of the Gamecocks. JSU finished third in the conference and won the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl despite initially not being eligible for championships or bowl games due to part of the transition period restrictions. The Gamecocks return several upperclassmen on the offense and defense and fully expect to be in the mix for a CUSA title in 2024.
Beck is entering his second year as the Chanticleers' head coach. Coastal finished 5-3 in the Sun Belt and finished the season with a 24-14 victory over San Jose State in the EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl.
Both teams are riding a lot of momentum after strong 2023 showings. A win over a talented nonconference team in Week 1 would go a long way in continuing to build that momentum. While a loss could derail either team's high expectations.
Key Player: Gamecocks
Logan Smothers, Tyler Huff, Quarterback
Rodriguez said that Smothers and Huff would be co-starters at the QB position. Smothers led the team in rushing touchdowns in 2023 (7) and rushed for 322 yards. He added 735 yards passing and 6 touchdowns. Huff transferred in from Furman where he passed for 1,869 yards and 10 touchdowns, and also rushed for 591 yards and 6 touchdowns. Rodriguez said he expected to see Zion Turner take snaps, as well.
Clay Webb, Guard
Webb is one of the more highly touted players in the Group of 5 this year, with many accolades being thrown his way, including being named to the 2024 Lombardi Award Watch List. Webb is the leader of an offensive line that was the anchor in one of the nation's best run offenses in 2023, and many experts predict Webb's name could be called in the first round of the NFL Draft.
J-Rock Swain, Defensive End
Swain has played a lot of football for the Gamecocks, and his 28.5 tackles for loss is tied fourth all-time for JSU. After 4 sacks, and 6.5 TFL in 2023, Swain is expected to be a major contributor on a defense that expects growth in 2024.
Key Players: Chanticleers
Ethan Vasko, Quarterback
Vasko is expected to be the one tasked with taking over for McCall. He played in eight games in 2023 and started four. He threw 7 touchdowns and 1 interception last season and rushed for 368 yards and 2 touchdowns. While Vasko's skill set really fit better with former head coach Jamey Chadwell's system, he has shown flashes of being able to operate well in Beck's pass-happy offense. If Vasko can find consistency, look for big numbers from the Chants QB.
Zac Elam/Entire Offensive Line
Speaking of Beck's pass-happy scheme, the only way that offense goes is if the quarterback is protected. Elam leads a group that led the Sun Belt Conference in sacks allowed per game in 2023, averaging 1.31 sacks a game. Keeping Vasko upright will be key for the Chants in 2024.
Tobias Fletcher, Safety
The Chanticleers forced 23 turnovers in 2023, but lost interception leader Clayton Isbell to the NFL. Fletcher had 36 tackles, 2 interceptions and 4 pass breakups last season, and will be a major player in a stout solid secondary that hopes to continue the ball hawking ways of the 2023 group.
What to Expect
Coastal Carolina will attempt to throw the ball around early to get the offense in rhythm, while Swain and the Gamecock pass rush will look to keep Vasko on his heels. Look for JSU to lean heavily on a stable of talented running backs and their sturdy offensive line as they take the air out of the ball and keep Vasko and the Chanticleers' offense on the sideline. The Gamecocks finished second in the FBS in rush attempts per game in 2023 with 49.8. That trend should continue, as JSU expects to boast one of the better rush offenses in the nation in 2024.
Broadcast Information
Date: Aug. 29
Time: 8 p.m. EST
Place: Burgess-Snow Field, at AmFirst Stadium in Jacksonville, Ala.
TV: CBS Sports Network
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