Western Kentucky (8-4, 6-2 Conference USA) will face Jacksonville State (8-4, 7-1) on Friday at 7 p.m. EST, broadcasted on CBS Sports Network.
The current betting odds from BetMGM give Jacksonville State a slight edge by 3.5 points.
In the historical context of their rivalry, Western Kentucky leads the series 5-2.
This matchup has significant implications for both teams.
Western Kentucky aims to secure its third Conference USA championship and its first since a dynamic two-year streak in 2015 and 2016.
On the other hand, Jacksonville State, under the leadership of former Michigan and West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez, seeks to win a title in only its second season participating at the FBS level.
Both teams are also in contention for a favorable positioning within the league bowl selection.
This is a rematch from their recent encounter where Western Kentucky narrowly secured a victory, winning 19-17 with a dramatic 50-yard field goal from Lucas Carneiro just seconds before the final whistle.
A key focus in this game will be the clash between Jacksonville State’s formidable running offense and Western Kentucky’s struggling run defense.
The Gamecocks feature the nation’s third-best rushing offense, averaging 257.4 yards per game and gathering an impressive 43 rushing touchdowns, which ranks third in Conference USA history.
Conversely, Western Kentucky has been vulnerable against the run, allowing 208.3 yards per game.
Jacksonville State’s Tre Stewart stands out as a critical player, leading the league with 1,403 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns.
On the Western Kentucky side, quarterback Caden Veltkamp has been a standout performer in away Conference USA games, completing 70.8% of his passes, averaging 296.8 yards, and throwing 12 touchdowns against five interceptions over four games. His completion percentage of 67.2 ranks him 17th nationally, while his passing efficiency places him 19th.
For Jacksonville State, the quarterback situation is uncertain due to injury; Tyler Huff’s status is still a game-time decision after he sustained an ankle injury last week.
Huff has made history as the second player in Conference USA to surpass both 2,000 passing yards and 1,100 rushing yards in a single season, while Logan Smothers, his potential replacement, brings experience from his prior stint at Nebraska.
Several interesting facts enhance the narrative of this game.
This title contest marks the fourth consecutive year that a regular-season rematch will determine the championship.
Historically, the team that has won the initial matchup has emerged victorious in all three of the preceding championship rematches as well.
Additionally, Jacksonville State could become the first team to reach bowl games in both of its inaugural FBS seasons since Marshall accomplished this feat in 1997 and 1998.
Notably, Jacksonville State’s season began with three losses before they rebounded strongly, winning eight consecutive games since.
Tre Stewart’s performance has been particularly impressive, as he leads all FBS running backs this season with a total of 16 rushing touchdowns in conference play.
Western Kentucky has maintained a streak of throwing for at least one touchdown pass in 18 straight road conference matches, currently tied with Texas for the fifth-longest such streak in the nation.
