Jun 7, 20234 min read

Jaguars Ascending! 2023 Predictions

Updated: Jun 10, 2023

The South Alabama Jaguars have many reasons to believe that the results they

earned in 2022 will only improve in this coming season. Coach Wommack, who initially

served as Southern Alabama’s defensive coordinator and linebacker coach in 2016 &

17, took over as head coach. Since then, he’s built a solid core of staff and players to

make a legitimate run at winning the Sun Belt Conference.

Here’s how I believe 2023 will shape up for the Jaguars:

SOUTH ALABAMA 2022 RECAP

In 2022, Coach Kane Wommack led South Alabama to their first ten-win season

since joining the FBS in 2012. Their 10-3 record was marred only by an ugly 31-32 loss

to UCLA on the road, and a 6-10 home defeat to archnemesis Troy. South Alabama

then ended the season a brutal 44-23 loss to Western Kentucky in the New Orleans

Bowl. Coach Wommack’s Jaguars finished the season at second place in the Sunbelt

Conference.

2023 U.s.a SEASON PREDICTION

9/2/23 at Tulane

Tulane finished the 2022 season going 12-2 and ending the year with a HUGE win

over the vaunted USC Trojans. Throughout the year, however, the Green Wave showed

that they were very beatable. For example, they lost 24-17 to the Southern Miss Golden Eagles. After the 2022 season they lost much of their production, including Tyjae Spears and Dorian Williams to the NFL Draft, and Andre Sam (LSU) Jadon Canady (Ole Miss), Cameron Carroll (Florida) to the transfer portal.

PREDICTION: 34-24 W

9/9/23 vs Southeastern Louisiana

This is the early season FCS matchup to warm up for the trip to Stillwater Oklahoma

against the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The S.E. Louisiana Lions didn’t even finish in the

top half of the FCS last season.

PREDICTION: 52-13 W

9/16/23 at Oklahoma State

In 2022 the Cowboys started off strong, looking like a true competitor in the Big 12,

but they seemingly fell off towards mid-season. They started off 5-0 with impressive

wins against Baylor, Texas Tech, and Arizona State. Then, the Cowboys lost 43-40 in

overtime to the eventual national champion runners-up TCU Horned Frogs. Oklahoma

State got back on track the next week, though, beating Texas.

Sadly, the Cowboys lost five of the last six games of the season, including a loss to

Wisconsin in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. Since then, they’ve lost quarterback Spencer

Sanders to Ole Miss, running back Dominic Richardson to Baylor, Mason Cobb to USC,

and fifteen other players to the portal.

Prediction: UPSET ALERT!!!!! 28-17 W

9/23/23 vs Central Michigan

In 2022, South Alabama flew up to Mount Pleasant, Michigan and bested the

Chippewas 38-24. With Daniel Richardson transferring out to Florida Atlantic, Central

Michigan is starting redshirt sophomore Jase Bauer, who had one touchdown but five

interceptions playing behind Richardson. The South Alabama Swarm Defense will have

him questioning if he wants to play football again!

Prediction: 45-24 W

9/30/23 at James Madison

In 2022 James Madison actually won the Sunbelt East, but NCAA rules say you

cannot play in postseason games in your first season at the FBS level. James Madison

found themself in the top 25 for much of last season, so won’t be an easy game at all.

BOTH teams have so much to prove. The Jags return 18 (12 on defense) starters from

last season, and James Madison returns 9 (5 offensive linemen).

Prediction: 31-28 W

10/7/23 at University of Louisiana - Monroe

ULM finished their 2022 season 4-8, with their biggest win being against a Billy

Napier(less) Louisiana Ragin Cajuns. The Warhawks, however, did play well against

the Jaguars, only losing by a touchdown

Prediction: 44-24 W

10/17/23 (Tuesday game) vs Southern Miss (BATTLE OF BLOODY 98)

South Alabama is 3-0 all time against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles - and will be

4-0 after this game. Frank Gore Jr. is a monster for the Southern Miss offense, but he

alone isn’t enough to beat the south Alabama defense. South Alabama's La'Damian

Webb didn’t even play in last seasons game, and South Alabama still managed to pull

out a 27-20 victory on the road!

Prediction: 31-17 W

10/28/23 vs Louisiana Ragin Cajuns

The Cajuns went 6-7 in ’22, struggling early in the season with a losses to Rice,

ULM, and the beloved Jaguars. Coach Michael Desormeaux struggled trying to fill the

shoes of ex-Louisiana coach Billy Napier. Louisiana’s made some improvements using

the portal and recruiting, and is far from a bad team. The Jaguars will win this in a

squeaker.

Prediction: 23-21 W

11/2/23 at Troy (RIVALRY GAME)

The vaunted Trojans finished the 2022 season with an 11-game win streak, and won

the Sun Belt Conference championship , and topped off their impressive season as the

Cure Bowl winner over UTSA (C-USA champion). Troy ended being ranked 19

in the AP Top 25. That was coach Jon Sumrall’s first season as the Trojans head coach, and he led them to the best season Troy has ever had. It will take every ounce of the Jaguars’ strength to keep it close.

Prediction: 19-16 L

11/11/23 vs Arkansas State

The Red Wolves finished 2022 going 3-9. Their only conference win was against

ULM. Last year, South Alabama only gave up a field goal, beating Arkansas State 31-3.

Coach Butch Jones is once again showing why he has no business coaching at the FBS

level.

Prediction: 38-10 W

11/18/23 vs Marshall

The Thundering Herd finished last season 9-4, including a a MASSIVE upset in South Bend, beating the Fighting Irish 26-21. Coming off of that high, they ended up falling in overtime to Bowling Green, and Troy back-to-back. This will be the first ever game against the South Alabama football team. I believe an upset is in order!