# 2023 Jacksonville State Gamecocks football team

The 2023 Jacksonville State Gamecocks football team represented Jacksonville State University as a member of Conference USA (C-USA) during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Gamecocks were led by second-year head coach Rich Rodriguez and played home games at the Burgess–Snow Field at JSU Stadium in Jacksonville, Alabama as first-year members of Conference USA. The Jacksonville State Gamecocks football team drew an average home attendance of 20,033 in 2023.
Due to the lack of bowl-eligible teams, and despite a two-year transition period to FBS with a ban from postseason play, the Gamecocks received a bid to the New Orleans Bowl, where they defeated Louisiana 34–31 in overtime.

## Offseason
### Transfers
#### Outgoing

| Player | Position | Destination |
| DJ Coleman | DL | Unknown |
| Amon Scarbrough | S | Alabama State |
| Brevyn Jones | OT | West Georgia |
| Osiris Smith | LB | Grambling State |
| TJ Lockley | WR | Unknown |
| Aaron McLaughlin | QB | Unknown |
| Kraeton Muenchau | IOL | Unknown |
| Patrick Jackson | RB | Unknown |
| Charles Padgett | OT | Unknown |
| Ahmad Edwards | WR | Ball State |

#### Incoming

| Player | Position | Previous school |
| Logan Smothers | QB | Nebraska |
| Travis Collier | CB | Western Kentucky |
| Dallan Wright | WR | Virginia Tech |
| Quae Drake | EDGE | ULM |
| Austin Ambush | S | Maine |
| Jamarye Joiner | WR | Arizona |
| J'Wan Evans | RB | San Manteo |
| Malik Jackson | RB | ULM |

## Preseason
### Conference USA media poll

Conference USA media poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Western Kentucky | (18) |
| 2 | Liberty | (4) |
| 3 | Middle Tennessee | |
| 4 | Louisiana Tech | |
| 5 | New Mexico State | |
| 6 | UTEP | |
| 7 | Jacksonville State | |
| T8 | FIU | |
| T8 | Sam Houston | |
    Source:

## Schedule

Jacksonville State and Conference USA announced the 2023 football schedule on January 10, 2023.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 26 | 4:30 p.m. | UTEP | Burgess–Snow Field at JSU StadiumJacksonville, AL | CBSSN | W 17–14 | 17,982 |
| September 2 | 1:00 p.m. | East Tennessee State* | Burgess–Snow Field at JSU StadiumJacksonville, AL | ESPN+ | W 49–3 | 21,276 |
| September 9 | 6:00 p.m. | at Coastal Carolina* | Brooks StadiumConway, SC | ESPN+ | L 16–30 | 16,006 |
| September 23 | 4:00 p.m. | Eastern Michigan* | Burgess–Snow Field at JSU StadiumJacksonville, AL | ESPN+ | W 21–0 | 20,966 |
| September 28 | 7:00 p.m. | at Sam Houston | Bowers StadiumHuntsville, TX | ESPNU | W 35–28 $^{OT}$ | 14,566 |
| October 4 | 7:00 p.m. | at Middle Tennessee | Johnny "Red" Floyd StadiumMurfreesboro, TN | ESPNU | W 45–30 | 13,066 |
| October 10 | 7:30 p.m. | Liberty | Burgess–Snow Field at JSU StadiumJacksonville, AL | ESPNU | L 13–31 | 21,745 |
| October 17 | 6:30 p.m. | Western Kentucky | Burgess–Snow Field at JSU StadiumJacksonville, AL | ESPNU | W 20–17 | 17,977 |
| October 25 | 6:00 p.m. | at FIU | Riccardo Silva StadiumWestchester, FL | CBSSN | W 41–16 | 14,074 |
| November 4 | 11:00 a.m. | at South Carolina* | Williams–Brice StadiumColumbia, SC | ESPNU | L 28–38 | 75,348 |
| November 18 | 1:00 p.m. | Louisiana Tech | Burgess–Snow Field at JSU StadiumJacksonville, AL | ESPN+ | W 56–17 | 20,252 |
| November 25 | 3:00 p.m. | at New Mexico State | Aggie Memorial StadiumLas Cruces, NM | ESPN+ | L 17–20 | 15,702 |
| December 16 | 1:15 p.m. | vs. Louisiana* | Caesars SuperdomeNew Orleans, LA (New Orleans Bowl) | ESPN | W 34–31 $^{OT}$ | 14,485 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingAll times are in Central time |||||||

## Game summaries
### vs UTEP

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Miners | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| • Gamecocks | 3 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
| Statistics | UTEP | Jacksonville State |
| First downs | 22 | 15 |
| Plays–yards | 72–364 | 62–277 |
| Rushes–yards | 156 | 210 |
| Passing yards | 208 | 67 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 17–29–2 | 10–20–0 |
| Time of possession | 34:38 | 25:22 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UTEP | Passing | Gavin Hardison | 17/29, 208 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT |
| UTEP | Rushing | Torrance Burgess Jr. | 12 carries, 58 yards |
| UTEP | Receiving | Kelly Akharaiyi | 4 receptions, 102 yards, 1 TD |
| Jacksonville State | Passing | Zion Webb | 10/20, 67 yards |
| Jacksonville State | Rushing | Malik Jackson | 13 carries, 76 yards, 1 TD |
| Jacksonville State | Receiving | Ron Wiggins | 2 receptions, 24 yards |

### vs East Tennessee State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Buccaneers (FCS) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| • Gamecocks | 14 | 7 | 21 | 7 | 49 |
* Statistics
* First downs
* Plays–yards
* Rushes–yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: comp–att–int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| East Tennessee State | Passing |
| East Tennessee State | Rushing |
| East Tennessee State | Receiving |
| Jacksonville State | Passing |
| Jacksonville State | Rushing |
| Jacksonville State | Receiving |

### at Coastal Carolina

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Gamecocks | 6 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 16 |
| • Chanticleers | 7 | 3 | 13 | 7 | 30 |
* Statistics
* First downs
* Plays–yards
* Rushes–yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: comp–att–int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Jacksonville State | Passing |
| Jacksonville State | Rushing |
| Jacksonville State | Receiving |
| Coastal Carolina | Passing |
| Coastal Carolina | Rushing |
| Coastal Carolina | Receiving |

### vs Eastern Michigan

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| • Gamecocks | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
* Statistics
* First downs
* Plays–yards
* Rushes–yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: comp–att–int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Eastern Michigan | Passing |
| Eastern Michigan | Rushing |
| Eastern Michigan | Receiving |
| Jacksonville State | Passing |
| Jacksonville State | Rushing |
| Jacksonville State | Receiving |

### at Sam Houston

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Gamecocks | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 28 |
| Bearkats | 14 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 28 |
| Statistics | Jacksonville State | Sam Houston State |
| First downs | 20 | 25 |
| Plays–yards | 393 | 435 |
| Rushes–yards | 196 | 136 |
| Passing yards | 197 | 299 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 16–33–1 | 23–39–1 |
| Time of possession | 17:36 | 42:24 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Jacksonville State | Passing | Logan Smothers | 16/28, 197 yards, 3 TD |
| Jacksonville State | Rushing | Malik Jackson | 13 rushes, 129 yards, TD |
| Jacksonville State | Receiving | Michael Pettway | 3 receptions, 74 yards, TD |
| Sam Houston State | Passing | Keegan Shoemaker | 22/38, 285 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| Sam Houston State | Rushing | John Gentry | 30 rushes, 97 yards |
| Sam Houston State | Receiving | Noah Smith | 10 receptions, 97 yards, TD |

### at Middle Tennessee

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Gamecocks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Blue Raiders | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
* Statistics
* First downs
* Plays–yards
* Rushes–yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: comp–att–int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Jacksonville State | Passing |
| Jacksonville State | Rushing |
| Jacksonville State | Receiving |
| Middle Tennessee | Passing |
| Middle Tennessee | Rushing |
| Middle Tennessee | Receiving |

### vs Liberty

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Flames | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gamecocks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
* Statistics
* First downs
* Plays–yards
* Rushes–yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: comp–att–int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Liberty | Passing |
| Liberty | Rushing |
| Liberty | Receiving |
| Jacksonville State | Passing |
| Jacksonville State | Rushing |
| Jacksonville State | Receiving |

### vs Western Kentucky

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Western Kentucky | 10 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Jacksonville State | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 20 |
at Burgess-Snow Field at JSU Stadium • Jacksonville, Alabama
* Date: Tuesday, October 17, 2023
* Game time: 6:30 p.m. CST
* Game weather: Clear, 56 °F (13 °C)
* Game attendance: 17,977
* Referee: -
* TV announcers (ESPNU): Dave Neal (play-by-play) and Derek Mason (analyst)
| Statistics | WKU | JVST |
| First downs | 16 | 27 |
| Total yards | 72–339 | 95–484 |
| Rushing yards | 24–89 | 55–262 |
| Passing yards | 250 | 222 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 24–48–1 | 23–40–1 |
| Time of possession | 26:56 | 33:04 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Austin Reed | 24/48, 250 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Western Kentucky | Rushing | Elijah Young | 10 carries, 39 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Receiving | K.D. Hutchinson | 4 receptions, 52 yards |
| Jacksonville State | Passing | Zion Webb | 22/39, 218 yards, INT |
| Jacksonville State | Rushing | Zion Webb | 28 carries, 146 yards, TD |
| Jacksonville State | Receiving | P.J. Wells | 5 receptions, 53 yards |

### at FIU

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Gamecocks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Panthers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
* Statistics
* First downs
* Plays–yards
* Rushes–yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: comp–att–int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Jacksonville State | Passing |
| Jacksonville State | Rushing |
| Jacksonville State | Receiving |
| Florida International | Passing |
| Florida International | Rushing |
| Florida International | Receiving |

### at South Carolina

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Jacksonville State | 7 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 28 |
| South Carolina | 14 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 38 |
at Williams-Brice Stadium • Columbia, South Carolina
* Date: Saturday, November 4, 2023
* Game time: 11:00 a.m. CST
* Game weather: Clear • 61 °F (16 °C) • Wind: N 3.6 MPH
* Game attendance: 75,348
* Referee: Jason Autrey
* TV announcers (ESPNU): Brian Custer (play-by-play), Rod Gilmore (analyst), Lauren Sisler (sideline)
| Statistics | JVST | SC |
| First downs | 23 | 20 |
| Total yards | 84–421 | 77–488 |
| Rushing yards | 57–225 | 38–89 |
| Passing yards | 196 | 399 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 13–27–2 | 27–39–1 |
| Time of possession | 27:07 | 32:53 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Jacksonville State | Passing | Zion Webb | 12/23, 183 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Jacksonville State | Rushing | Ron Wiggins | 17 carries, 88 yards |
| Jacksonville State | Receiving | Perry Carter | 5 receptions, 106 yards, TD |
| South Carolina | Passing | Spencer Rattler | 27/38, 399 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| South Carolina | Rushing | Mario Anderson | 16 carries, 75 yards |
| South Carolina | Receiving | Xavier Legette | 9 receptions, 217 yards, 2 TD |

### vs Louisiana Tech

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bulldogs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gamecocks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
* Statistics
* First downs
* Plays–yards
* Rushes–yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: comp–att–int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Louisiana Tech | Passing |
| Louisiana Tech | Rushing |
| Louisiana Tech | Receiving |
| Jacksonville State | Passing |
| Jacksonville State | Rushing |
| Jacksonville State | Receiving |

### at New Mexico State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Gamecocks | 0 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 17 |
| • Aggies | 14 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 20 |
| Statistics | Jacksonville State | New Mexico State |
| First downs | 17 | 27 |
| Plays–yards | 58–333 | 82–455 |
| Rushes–yards | 28–85 | 48–186 |
| Passing yards | 248 | 269 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 17–30–2 | 23–34–2 |
| Time of possession | 20:18 | 39:42 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Jacksonville State | Passing | Zion Webb | 17/30, 248 yards, 2 INT |
| Jacksonville State | Rushing | Malik Jackson | 8 carries, 43 yards, TD |
| Jacksonville State | Receiving | Perry Carter | 7 receptions, 134 yards |
| New Mexico State | Passing | Diego Pavia | 23/34, 269 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| New Mexico State | Rushing | Diego Pavia | 19 carries, 68 yards |
| New Mexico State | Receiving | Trent Hudson | 5 receptions, 70 yards, TD |

### vs. Louisiana (New Orleans Bowl)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| • Gamecocks | 7 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 34 |
| Ragin' Cajuns | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 31 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| JVST –3.5 | 59 |
| Statistics | Jacksonville State | Louisiana |
| First downs | 31 | 14 |
| Total yards | 526 | 247 |
| Rushing yards | 290 | 92 |
| Passing yards | 236 | 155 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 33:00 | 27:00 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Jacksonville State | Passing | Zion Webb | 14/26, 156 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs |
| Jacksonville State | Rushing | Ron Wiggins | 27 carries, 126 yards, 1 TD |
| Jacksonville State | Receiving | Quinton Lane | 7 receptions, 86 yards |
| Louisiana | Passing | Chandler Fields | 13/26, 155 yards |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Dre'lyn Washington | 16 carries, 73 yards |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Pearse Migl | 2 receptions, 34 yards |