Jacksonville State will step back into Saturday matchups to end the season after three matchups of Weekday CUSA.
The Gamecocks will take its undefeated Conference USA mark to El Paso, Texas, as it faces off against UTEP. Jax State (5-3, 4-0 CUSA) beat Middle Tennessee 24-21 last week, while the Miners (2-6, 1-3 CUSA) lost to Kennesaw State 33-20 on Tuesday.
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Here’s everything you need to know about Saturday’s game, including a key matchup, storylines and a score prediction.
Key matchup
Jax State quarterback Caden Creel vs. UTEP defensive back Neil Campbell
In a deep UTEP secondary, Neil Campbell has been among the best for the Miners. The graduate student who spent the last five seasons at NAIA Indiana Wesleyan is UTEP’s highest-graded defender (82.9), according to Pro Football Focus. He also has a run defense grade of 91.0 with six tackles for loss and two sacks.
The do-it-all player for UTEP will provide a challenge for quarterback Caden Creel, who relies heavily on running the ball; he ranks sixth in Conference USA with 469 rushing yards. The defender will be key to watch for a Jax State team that found some shades of passing success last week against Middle Tennessee.
Jacksonville State running back Cam Cook (left) celebrates a play with Andrew Paul (right) against UCF.Madison Giltner, Jacksonville State Athletics
Storylines
Nation’s top rusher returns home
It’ll be another return to his home state for Jax State running back Cam Cook, a Texas native who was the No. 61 overall prospect in Texas for the 2023 class and signed with TCU out of high school. The former 4-star prospect leads the nation in rushing yards (1,052) and has 11 rushing touchdowns on the season.
He ran for a career-high 218 yards and two touchdowns against Sam Houston, the last time he was in Texas. UTEP football coach Scotty Walden also believes Cook is Jax State’s best receiver, adding that it will be important to “gain tackle” and know where he is on the field at all times.
“He’s special,” the coach said. “From what I see on tape, I think he’s an NFL back; I think he’s that special. He’s got great contact balance, a rare combination of size and speed, and he’s a Texas native, which speaks to the Texas high school coaches and great players in this state. He’s a heck of a football player.”
Nearing bowl eligibility
A victory on Saturday would make Jax State bowl eligible for the third season in a row; every season it’s been an FBS program since its jump from FCS in 2023. Kennesaw State and Western Kentucky have already surpassed the six-win mark in Conference USA, while newcomer Missouri State also sits at five wins ahead of Saturday’s slate.
Troy (6-3) and Alabama (7-1) have already clinched bowl eligibility in the state of Alabama. The schedule at the end of the season will be the toughest for Jax State, hosting the bowl-bound Owls and Hilltoppers, along with a road game at FIU.
Prediction
Jacksonville State 30, UTEP 17
The Gamecocks haven’t been the same team on the road as opposed to at home, but this is a Miners team that has only beaten winless Sam Houston in FBS play this season. Cam Cook should have another big game for Jax State, but UTEP’s defense still has some pieces that will be a challenge for the offense.
Ahead of a tough end to the season in Conference USA play, leaving El Paso with a will be incredibly important in the hunt for a second straight league title.
Game info
Who: Jacksonville State (5-3) at UTEP (2-6)
Where: Sun Bowl Stadium, El Paso, Texas
When: Saturday, Nov. 8 – 2 p.m. CT
Watch: ESPN+
On the call: Andy Morgan, Ed Stansbury (TV); Mike Parris, Ray Hammett, Tommy Wood (radio)
Listen: WLJS 91.9
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