Piedmont Football defeats Cherokee County with a last-minute touchdown by Ishmael Bethel
The Piedmont football team defeats Cherokee County with a last-minute touchdown by Ishmael Bethel in a 34-27 rivalry victory.
Jacksonville State football season is just around the corner and the Gamecocks have a tough schedule ahead of them.
The Gamecocks enter Rich Rodriguez’s third season and are now full members of Conference USA and FBS football, making them eligible for the postseason. That didn’t stop the 2023 Gamecocks, however, as they became the first team to win a bowl game in their first FBS season, with a walk-off victory over Louisiana in the New Orleans Bowl.
The Gamecocks will have two co-starters at quarterback to begin the season with Logan Smothers and Tyler Huff, and the battle could last all season.
Jacksonville State Predictions for the 2024 College Football Season
August 29: Jacksonville State vs. Coastal Carolina
Location: AmFirst Stadium, Jacksonville
About the game: The Gamecocks lost to Coastal Carolina last year, one of four losses, but it was a tough battle. Jax State brings a lot back into the year, but the quarterback position will be a question because both teams have not released a roster yet.
Forecast: Jax State 35, Coastal 27
September 7: Jax State at Louisville
Location: Louisville
About the game: The Gamecocks went to South Carolina and gave them a tough fight for four quarters, and they could easily do it again. Louisville has been on the rise in recent years, but the way the Gamecocks have risen, this could be another bitter battle.
Forecast: Louisville 35, Jax State 24
September 14: Jax State at Eastern Michigan
Location: Rynearson Stadium, Ypsilanti, Michigan
About the game: The Gamecocks quickly overtook the Eagles last year before fading in the second half. This could be close, as Eastern Michigan has played many close games over the past few seasons.
Forecast: Jax State 35, Eastern Michigan 21
September 21: Jax State vs. Southern Miss
Location: AmFirst Stadium, Jacksonville
About the game: Southern Miss has been one of the bottom teams in the Sun Belt for a while. They also haven’t been a strong road team in non-conference games, which also works in the Gamecocks’ favor. They have signed Tate Rodemaker Jr. from Florida State, which could make this an interesting matchup.
Forecast: Jax State 45, Southern Miss 17
October 4: Jax State at Kennesaw State
Location: Kennesaw, Georgia.
About the game: This rivalry is at the FBS level and in the CUSA for the first time. The road trip will pose problems, but the Gamecocks are coming off a week without play. The Gamecocks were 3-1 on the road in the conference last season. Kennesaw State has a lot of unknowns at the FCS level, so that could easily change in the next month.
Forecast: Jax State 35, Kennesaw State 14
October 9: Jax State vs. New Mexico State
Location: AmFirst Stadium, Jacksonville
About the game: One of the two teams that beat Jax State in conference play last year, a close road game where New Mexico State won the game on a last-second field goal. They have a new coach after Jerry Kill resigned and Diego Pavia is now at Vanderbilt.
Forecast: Jax State 28, New Mexico State 14
October 23: Jacksonville State vs. Middle Tennessee
Location: AmFirst Stadium, Jacksonville
About the game: Former Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason leads the Blue Raiders, who have a new coach for the first time in 18 years. The Gamecocks overcame a 16-point deficit to win a thrilling victory. Mason took Vanderbilt to two bowl games, but it may be too soon in his first year.
Forecast: Jax State 45, Middle Tennessee State 21
October 30: Jacksonville State vs. Liberty
Location: Lynchburg, Virginia.
About the game: Liberty is still the cream of the CUSA after winning the conference title in 2023. They return their best quarterback and running back, two of the best players in Group 5. The Gamecocks were competitive in the first half, but in the second half of last year, Liberty’s size took over. Now the Gamecocks are bigger, but Liberty is a tough task.
Forecast: Liberty 35, Jax State 28
November 9: Jax State at Louisiana Tech
Location: Ruston
About the game: The Gamecocks ran for 522 yards in this matchup last year, setting school and CUSA records. Louisiana Tech has been hit hard by injuries the last two years, so if they can stay healthy, this could be a different Bulldogs team in Sonny Cumbie’s third year. But the Gamecocks should still come out on top.
Forecast: Jax State 35, LA Tech 21
November 16: Jax State vs. FIU
Location: AmFirst Stadium, Jacksonville
About the game: The Panthers are coming off a week off, but the Gamecocks are coming off a home win. The Panthers have been a low-level CUSA team for the past few years, but have rebounded to post two straight four-win seasons.
Forecast: Jax State 35, FIU 10
November 23: Jax State vs. Sam Houston
Location: AmFirst Stadium, Jacksonville
About the game: The Gamecocks had to come back last year against the other newcomer in the FBS and CUSA. The Bearkats are still getting used to the FBS level, but so are the Gamecocks. The Bearkats are only coming off a week off, while this is the fifth game in a row for the Gamecocks.
Forecast: Jax State 35, Sam Houston 24
November 30: Jacksonville State vs. Western Kentucky
Location: Bowling Green
About the game: Western Kentucky and Jax State had a thrilling battle down to the wire last year, with the Gamecocks winning on a last-second field goal. These are two of the most talented teams in the conference, and it could be a game that determines who advances to the CUSA title game.
Forecast: Jax State 28, WKU 27
Final record prediction
Max’s selection: 10-2 (7-1 CUSA), the Gamecocks are the CUSA favorites for the 2024 season. I think the win total is somewhere between eight and 10 games, which sends them to a bowl game again. They should also compete for a spot in the CUSA title game.
