JACKSONVILLE - Jax State Football will conclude its spring practice schedule next Thursday, April 16th with its annual J-Day Spring Game presented by ALFA Insurance at 7 p.m.

Fans are invited to AmFirst Stadium to get their first look at the 2026 Gamecock football team under the direction of second-year head coach Charles Kelly, who led the team back to the Conference USA Championship Game last season and won the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl over rival Troy in Montgomery.  
 
The Gamecocks return eight players who earned Conference USA postseason honors last year, highlighted by first-team all-conference selections Caleb Nix at safety and kicker Garrison Rippa.

The 2026 season kicks off in Fargo, N.D. on August 29th when the Gamecocks visit the newest FBS member, North Dakota State, 10 years after the two schools met in the FCS National Championship in Frisco, Texas. The 2026 home schedule begins the following week when Jax State hosts host Eastern Kentucky on September 5th.
 
The J-Day Game presented by ALFA Insurance is free and open to the public and provides a great opportunity to preview where fans may want to sit during the regular season. 2026 football season tickets go on sale Monday, April 13, at 10 a.m.
 
Immediately prior to the game, join Jax State alumni and fans at the 20th annual shrimp boil held at the Main Ticket Plaza of AmFirst Stadium from 4:30-6:30 p.m.