Aug 196 min read

Predicting the Outcomes of Coastal Carolina Games in 2024

Coastal Carolina starts a new era in 2024. While their head coach is the same, with Tim Beck starting his second season at the helm of the Chanticleers, their star quarterback, Grayson McCall, has moved on to North Carolina State through the Transfer Portal. While a big blow to the offense, Beck is confident Ethan Vasko can step into the big hole left by McCall's departure.

While an unfortunate situation last season, the fact that Vasko had to step in last season due to McCall's injury makes the transition easier. The offense also lost some key pieces in the receiving game. Sam Pinckney, who broke the record for most consecutive games with a reception in NCAA history, declared for the NFL Draft and signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent. Jared Brown is now a South Carolina Gamecock, moving to Columbia after entering the Transfer Portal. Losing these pieces will further impact the redshirt sophomore Vasko heading into his first full season as the helm of the Chanticleers offense.

Week 1: at Jacksonville State Gamecocks

This will be the third time the Chanticleers will face Jacksonville State, with the first matchup taking place in 2016 and the last matchup taking place last season. They are 1-1 against the Gamecocks. In the game last season the Chants won at home by a score of 30-16.

While the Chants were able to pull away from the Gamecocks in the second half last season, Jax State kept it close in the first half, going into the locker room with the Chants only up by one. The struggles last season, along with the pieces the Chants have lost from last year's team, leads to concern going into the season opener. That, along with the fact that this game is on the road, doesn't look good for Coastal. The Chants lose their season opener in a closely fought contest.

Record: 0-1

Week 2: William & Mary Tribe

The Chants face the Tribe for the first time in program history. This is a matchup between a middle of the back FCS team and an FBS team. No disrespect to William & Mary, but this should be an easy first win for Coastal. If it's not, there's a problem.

Record: 1-1

William & Mary — © Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports

Week 3: at Temple Owls

This will also be the first time Coastal will face the Owls in program history. While not quite as easy as an FCS opponent, not to mention this one being on the road, the Owls are expected to be last in the American Athletic Conference. Due to that this should be a winnable game for Coastal.

Record: 2-1

Week 4: Virginia Cavaliers

This will be another first-time-ever matchup for Coastal this season. The two programs were supposed to play in 2022, but the game was canceled following the shooting of three football players on the Virginia campus.

This will be the biggest test of the season for the Chanticleers. While the Cavaliers were voted to finish second-to-last in the Atlantic Coast Conference media poll, they are still a Power Four school. This is arguably the largest team in terms of prestige to come to Conway, S.C., in program history (one could make the argument for BYU in 2020, but that's a debate for another day). This will be the test to see how much cohesion this team has been able to build over the past three weeks. If the Chants can show improvement and create some confidence coming into this one they could pull off the upset. Even though the possibility is there, the likelihood it happens is slim. This will be a tough fought loss.

Record: 2-2

Week 5: Old Dominion Monarchs

This will be the fourth time the Chants and the Monarchs face in program history. Coastal did not start the matchup well, losing the first two games a decade apart from one another, losing the first matchup in 2012 and the second in 2022 before getting their first win over Old Dominion last season on the road by a score of 28-24.

This year the Chants will host Old Dominion. Between home-field advantage, the win last season and the overall projections for this season, with the Monarchs projected to finish second-to-last in the Sun Belt Conference East, this should be another win for Coastal to tie the overall matchup record between the two programs.

Record: 3-2

Week 6: at James Madison Dukes

This will be the fifth time the Chants and Dukes meet on the gridiron. Coastal has yet to beat James Madison since they joined the Sun Belt, losing in each of the last two seasons. Overall, Coastal has only beaten JMU once, in 2005.

Unfortunately for Coastal fans, this season should be no different, especially with this game being on the road. James Madison is predicted to finish second in the East, with two coaches predicting them to win the East. This will be another season that the Chants are not able to get passed the Dukes.

Record: 3-3

Week 7: Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns

This will be the first time the Chants and the Ragin' Cajuns will face off since 2020. In that game Coastal won 30-27 on the road. Overall the Chants lead the series 2-1, but the one loss is their one game at Brooks Stadium.

This year, in spite of the Ragin' Cajuns getting one first-place vote in the Sun Belt preseason poll, the Chants should have enough to get the win at home.

Record: 4-3

Week 8: at Troy Trojans

The Chants and Trojans face off for the seventh time in history. They are currently tied at 3-3, with Coastal losing the last matchup in 2022 by a score of 45-26. Prior to that, however, the Chanticleers won three straight from 2019 to 2021.

In spite of being defending two-time Sun Belt Champion, Troy is predicted to finished second in the West this season behind Texas State. Even without being expected to three-peat, the Trojans will be a tough matchup for Coastal, especially on the road. This will be a loss for Coastal.

Record: 4-4

Week 9: Appalachian State Mountaineers

The rivalry continues for the 11th time in history, with the Chants looking to continue their rise in the record book. Overall the Mountaineers lead the series 3-7, but the Chanticleers have won the last two matchups. They pulled off a big upset last season in McCall's first game back from injury, beating App State 27-24 in Boone, N.C.

This year the intensity will be no different, with both teams vying for the Sun Belt East. App State was voted as the projected favorite to win the division by the coaches, receiving 12 of the 14 first-place votes. With this being a rivalry game it will be tight, and both teams could easily come out with the win if they are hot coming into the game. In spite of that, the odds are stacked against Coastal. This will be a very hard fought loss.

Record: 4-5

Week 10: Marshall Thundering Herd

This will be the third time the Chanticleers and Thundering Herd will face off. Coastal is 2-0 all-time against Marshall, beating them each of the last two seasons since Marshall joined the Sun Belt. Last season Coastal won 34-6 at Brooks Stadium.

This season should be no different. While this won't be the same Coastal team as it has been the last two years, they are still expected to be strong in the Sun Belt. Marshall, while improving, are still not there quite yet.

Record: 5-5

Week 11: Georgia Southern Eagles

This will be the 11th time the Chants and Eagles will face. Georgia Southern currently lead the series 6-4. The Chants have played the Eagles better at home, getting three of their four wins at Brooks Stadium. Prior to last season's 38-28 loss, Coastal had won three straight over Georgia Southern.

This season the Chants will continue their recent dominance over the Eagles at Brooks Stadium. Expect a close game, but another Coastal Carolina win over Georgia Southern.

Record: 6-5

Week 12: at Georgia State Panthers

The Chants look to once even up the series with the Panthers this season, currently down 3-4 overall against Georgia State. It's been back-and-forth every season since the series started in 2017 when the Chanticleers joined FBS and the Sun Belt. What makes the back-and-forth even crazier is the fact that the road team has won every game. Last season Coastal lost by a score of 30-17.

The back-and-forth of the road team being victorious will continue this season. Georgia State is projected to finish last in the Sun Belt East, so the Chanticleers should have no trouble getting by the Panthers to finish the season off on a high note.

Record: 7-5

Coastal Carolina Overview

Even with this season being a transitional one, losing so many pieces from the powerhouse teams the Chants have had over the last few years and Beck still growing in Conway, Coastal Carolina still look primed for a relatively strong season in 2024.

Going over .500 after losing most of your playmakers on offense would be considered a strong season for the Chanticleers. Get the ball bouncing your way and there could be one or two extra wins that would make the season even sweeter. With all of the upgrades happening across campus the future looks bright for Coastal Carolina. As Beck said at Sun Belt Media Days, it's just an unbelievable time to be at Coastal Carolina.