JACKSONVILLE – The Jax State football team opens the season contest against Coastal Carolina today at 7 p.m. at Burgess-Snow Field inside AmFirst Stadium. The Gamecocks seek to avenge one of just four losses from last season. 
 
Jax State (0-0, 0-0 CUSA) vs Coastal Carolina (0-0, 0-0 Sun Belt)
When: Thursday, August 29 | 7:00 PM CT
Where: Burgess-Snow Field at AmFirst Stadium | Jacksonville, Ala.
Live Stats: StatBroadcast 
Tickets: Click Here
TV: CBS Sports Network (Jordan Kent, Logan Ryan)
Radio: Listen to all the action on the Gamecock Sports Network as "The Voice" Mike Parris returns behind the mic for his 42nd season calling play-by-play action of Gamecock Football. He'll be alongside longtime analyst, Ray Hammett. Anchor stations for the Gamecock Sports Network include 91.9 WLJS (Jacksonville), WVOK 97.9 (Anniston/Oxford), WKXX 102.9 (Attalla), 95.5 WRBZ (Wetumpka) and 95.3 WCRL (Oneonta).
 
Jax State Notes | Coastal Carolina Notes | CUSA Notes
 
 
Series History
Jax State and Coastal Carolina have met just twice prior on the gridiron, with each team boasting one victory. Coastal Carolina won the most recent matchup between the schools 31-16 last season in Conway while Jax State took down the Chanticleers 27-26 in the first meeting between the schools in 2016. 
 
An Exclusive Club
Just one team has made and won a bowl game in its first FBS season, the Jax State Gamecocks. Five teams in NCAA history have made a bowl appearance in their first season at the FBS level, but none had taken home a trophy until last season. The Gamecocks rallied for a 34-31 overtime victory over Louisiana in the New Orleans Bowl, becoming just the first team in history to win a bowl game in year one at the FBS level.
 
Winning With the Best
Jacksonville State closed out its first season of FBS competition with a 9-4 record. The Gamecocks became just the fourth team since 1970 to win at least nine games in their first year at the FBS level, joining Georgia Southern (9-3, 2014), Marshall (10-3, 1997) and Ball State (9-2, 1975).
 
At the Top
Jax State head coach Rich Rodriguez enters the 2024 season in seventh place among active FBS head coaches in career wins. In his 27th season as a head coach, Rodriguez has a 181-125-2 career record. Rodriguez made head coaching stops at Salem, Glenville State, West Virginia, Michigan and Arizona prior to landing at Jax State ahead of the 2022 season. 
 
Smashmouth Football
Last season, Jacksonville State ranked third in the FBS in rushing yards per game with 236.6. The Gamecocks trailed just Liberty (293.3) and Air Force (281.5) on the way to 3,077 total yards on the ground. Jax State rushed for over 100 yards in all but one game, while surpassing the 200 yard mark eight times in 2023.
 
Jax State Boasts Nation's Fastest Offense
Jax State head coach Rich Rodriguez has said he wants to play faster than any other team in the nation, and in 2023 his Gamecocks did just that. Jax State ranked first in the nation in seconds per play last season, getting each offensive snap off in 20.6 seconds. Jax State was one of just two teams (South Florida, 20.9) to have an average of less than 21 seconds per play. 
 
Let it Rippa
In the New Orleans Bowl last season, Jax State kicker Garrison Rippa made his first two career collegiate field goal attempts, including the game winning 27-yarder in overtime to give Jax State its first bowl victory in program history. Rippa also went a perfect four-for-four on extra points in Jax State's 34-31 thriller win over the Ragin' Cajuns. 
 
The Century Mark
The Gamecocks have run for over 100 yards in 23 of the 24 games in the Rich Rodriguez Era, including 14 games of over 200 yards, four with over 300 rushing yards and one with over 500. Jax State has now rushed for 100 yards in 112 of its 124 games since 2013 and has run for at least 100 yards in 29 of its last 30 games.
 
Cardiac Gamecocks
Last season, the Gamecocks pulled off some improbable wins. According to ESPN's win probability, Jax State won four games in which they had an 83.5 percent chance or worse to lose the game. The Sam Houston game was the least probable, with ESPN saying the Bearkats had a 99.9 percent chance to win the game with 3:31 left in the third quarter. Jax State overcame an eight-point deficit in the final minute to win that game 35-28 in overtime. Most notably, Jax State closed out the season with a 34-31 overtime victory over Louisiana in which the Ragin' Cajuns boasted a 94.4 win probability with just 4:33 remaining in the contest.
 
Fresh Turnovers
Last season, Jax State ranked in both the top ten in the FBS in both forced fumbles (9th) with 15 and interceptions (5th) with 16. The Gamecocks tied for the ninth most turnovers gained last season, having recovered nine fumbles and benefited from 16 interceptions.