# 2024 Arkansas State Red Wolves football team

The 2024 Arkansas State Red Wolves football team represented Arkansas State University in the Sun Belt Conference's West Division during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Red Wolves were led by Butch Jones in his fourth year as the head coach. The Red Wolves played home games at Centennial Bank Stadium, located in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
This was the Red Wolves' first winning season and bowl win since 2019.

## Preseason
### Media poll

In the Sun Belt preseason coaches' poll, the Red Wolves were picked to finish fourth place in the West division.
Media poll (West division) :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Texas State | 92 (9) |
| 2 | Troy | 68 (4) |
| 3 | Louisiana | 66 (1) |
| 4 | Arkansas State | 65 |
| 5 | South Alabama | 54 |
| 6 | Southern Miss | 31 |
| 7 | Louisiana–Monroe | 16 |
Offensive linemen Jacob Bayer and Makilan Thomas were awarded to be in the preseason All-Sun Belt first team offense. Defensive lineman Nate Martey was named to the All-Sun Belt first team defense.
Quarterback Jaylen Raynor, running back Ja'Quez Cross, wide receivers Courtney Jackson and Corey Rucker, and linebacker Charles Willekes were named to the second team.

## Schedule

The football schedule was announced on March 1, 2024.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 31 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 11 (FCS) Central Arkansas* | Centennial Bank StadiumJonesboro, AR | ESPN+ | W 34–31 | 21,708 |
| September 7 | 6:00 p.m. | Tulsa* | Centennial Bank StadiumJonesboro, AR | ESPN+ | W 28–24 | 19,316 |
| September 14 | 11:00 a.m. | at No. 17 Michigan* | Michigan StadiumAnn Arbor, MI | BTN | L 18–28 | 110,250 |
| September 21 | 1:00 p.m. | at No. 20 Iowa State* | Jack Trice StadiumAmes, IA | ESPN+ | L 7–52 | 55,428 |
| October 5 | 6:00 p.m. | South Alabama | Centennial Bank StadiumJonesboro, AR | ESPN+ | W 18–16 | 21,427 |
| October 12 | 6:00 p.m. | at Texas State | UFCU StadiumSan Marcos, TX | ESPN+ | L 9–41 | 28,000 |
| October 19 | 6:00 p.m. | at Southern Miss | M. M. Roberts StadiumHattiesburg, MS | ESPN+ | W 44–28 | 24,542 |
| October 26 | 6:00 p.m. | Troy | Centennial Bank StadiumJonesboro, AR | ESPN+ | W 34–31 | 17,162 |
| November 9 | 4:00 p.m. | at Louisiana | Cajun FieldLafayette, LA | ESPN+ | L 19–55 | 16,451 |
| November 16 | 4:00 p.m. | at Georgia State | Center Parc StadiumAtlanta, GA | ESPN+ | W 27–20 | 14,047 |
| November 23 | 2:00 p.m. | Louisiana–Monroe | Centennial Bank StadiumJonesboro, AR | ESPN+ | W 28–21 | 14,029 |
| November 30 | 2:00 p.m. | Old Dominion | Centennial Bank StadiumJonesboro, AR | ESPN+ | L 32–40 | 13,584 |
| December 26 | 8:00 p.m. | vs. Bowling Green* | Hancock Whitney StadiumMobile, AL (68 Ventures Bowl) | ESPN | W 38–31 | 19,582 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings released prior to gameAll times are in Central time |||||||

## Game summaries
### vs. No. 11 (FCS) Central Arkansas

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 11 (FCS) Bears | 0 | 0 | 10 | 21 | 31 |
| Red Wolves | 6 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 34 |
at Centennial Bank Stadium • Jonesboro, AR
* Date: Saturday August 31, 2024
* Game time: 6:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 91 °F (33 °C) • Wind: N at 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h)
* Game attendance: 21,708
* Referee: Marshall Lewis
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Roger Twibell (play-by-play) and Darrell Greene (analyst)
| Statistics | UCA | ARST |
| First downs | 20 | 24 |
| Total yards | 432 | 457 |
| Rushing yards | 235 | 140 |
| Passing yards | 197 | 317 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 16–29–0 | 24–47–1 |
| Time of possession | 27:23 | 32:37 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Central Arkansas | Passing | Will McElvain | 15/28, 168 yards, TD |
| Central Arkansas | Rushing | ShunDerrick Powell | 15 carries, 176 yards, 2 TD |
| Central Arkansas | Receiving | Malachi Henry | 4 receptions, 61 yards |
| Arkansas State | Passing | Jaylen Raynor | 24/47, 317 yards, TD, INT |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Ja'Quez Cross | 13 carries, 50 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Corey Rucker | 9 receptions, 179 yards, TD |

### vs. Tulsa

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Golden Hurricane | 3 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
| Red Wolves | 7 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 28 |
at Centennial Bank Stadium • Jonesboro, Arkansas
* Date: Saturday September 7, 2024
* Game time: 6:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Clear • Temperature: 76 °F (24 °C) • Wind: NE at 15 miles per hour (24 km/h)
* Game attendance: 19,316
* Referee: Charles Lamertina
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Matt Stolz (play-by-play) and Darion Griswold (analyst)
| Statistics | TLSA | ARST |
| First downs | 19 | 14 |
| Total yards | 362 | 396 |
| Rushing yards | 163 | 141 |
| Passing yards | 199 | 255 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 16–29–1 | 21–32–1 |
| Time of possession | 25:37 | 34:23 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Tulsa | Passing | Kirk Francis | 16/28, 199 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Tulsa | Rushing | Lloyd Avant | 14 carries, 61 yards |
| Tulsa | Receiving | Kamdyn Benjamin | 6 receptions, 131 yards, 1 TD |
| Arkansas State | Passing | Jaylen Raynor | 21/32, 255 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Zak Wallace | 16 carries, 78 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Reagan Ealy | 6 receptions, 68 yards |

### at No. 17 Michigan

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Red Wolves | 0 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 18 |
| No. 17 Wolverines | 7 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 28 |
at Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI
* Date: September 14, 2024
* Game time: 11:00 a.m.
* Game weather: 78 °F (26 °C), sunny, NE 7 miles per hour (11 km/h)
* Game attendance: 110,250
* Referee: Jerry McGinn
* TV announcers (BTN): Jeff Levering (play-by-play), Jake Butt (analyst), and Brooke Fletcher (sideline reporter)
| Statistics | ARST | MICH |
| First downs | 17 | 20 |
| Total yards | 280 | 435 |
| Rushing yards | 58 | 301 |
| Passing yards | 222 | 134 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 26–44–1 | 13–18–3 |
| Time of possession | 25:36 | 34:24 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Arkansas State | Passing | Jaylen Raynor | 19/33, 140 yards, INT |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Devin Spencer | 7 carries, 28 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Reginald Harden Jr. | 3 receptions, 52 yards, 2 TD |
| Michigan | Passing | Davis Warren | 11/14, 122 yards, 3 INT |
| Michigan | Rushing | Kalel Mullings | 15 carries, 153 yards, 2 TD |
| Michigan | Receiving | Marlin Klein | 3 receptions, 43 yards |

### at No. 20 Iowa State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Red Wolves | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| No. 20 Cyclones | 14 | 17 | 7 | 14 | 52 |
at Jack Trice Stadium • Ames, IA
* Date: September 21, 2024
* Game time: 1:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 88 °F (31 °C) • Wind: SW at 15 miles per hour (24 km/h)
* Game attendance: 55,428
* Referee: Ted Pitts
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Richard Cross (play-by-play), Taylor McHargue (analyst), and Tori Petry (sideline reporter)
| Statistics | ARST | ISU |
| First downs | 12 | 25 |
| Total yards | 182 | 490 |
| Rushing yards | 64 | 237 |
| Passing yards | 118 | 253 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 9–23–2 | 16–25–2 |
| Time of possession | 25:16 | 34:44 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Arkansas State | Passing | Jaylen Raynor | 5/16, 68 yards, 2 INT |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Devin Spencer | 9 carries, 52 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Hunter Summers | 2 receptions, 37 yards, TD |
| Iowa State | Passing | Rocco Becht | 11/18, 204 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Iowa State | Rushing | Carson Hansen | 9 carries, 58 yards, 2 TD |
| Iowa State | Receiving | Benjamin Brahmer | 3 receptions, 73 yards |

### vs. South Alabama

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Jaguars | 0 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 16 |
| Red Wolves | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 18 |
at Centennial Bank Stadium, Jonesboro, AR
* Date: October 5, 2024
* Game time: 6:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 84 °F (29 °C) • Wind: SE 4 mph
* Game attendance: 21,427
* Referee: Jeremy Parker
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Roger Twibell (play-by-play), Pete Cordelli (analyst) and Darrell Greene (sideline)
| Statistics | USA | ARST |
| First downs | 24 | 24 |
| Total yards | 453 | 411 |
| Rushing yards | 161 | 66 |
| Passing yards | 292 | 345 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 21–36–1 | 30–39–0 |
| Time of possession | 30:57 | 29:03 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| South Alabama | Passing | Gio Lopez | 21/35, 292 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| South Alabama | Rushing | Kentrel Bullock | 13 carries, 66 yards |
| South Alabama | Receiving | Jamaal Pritchett | 7 receptions, 137 yards, 2 TD |
| Arkansas State | Passing | Jaylen Raynor | 30/39, 345 yards, TD |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Zak Wallace | 11 carries, 30 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Corey Rucker | 8 receptions, 172 yards |

### at Texas State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Red Wolves | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Bobcats | 14 | 3 | 14 | 10 | 41 |
at Bobcat Stadium, San Marcos, Texas
* Date: October 12, 2024
* Game time: 6:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 28,000
* Referee: Tim Barker
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Brant Freeman (play-by-play), Keith Moreland (analyst) and Koral Allemand (sideline)
| Statistics | ARST | TXST |
| First downs | 20 | 28 |
| Total yards | 384 | 591 |
| Rushing yards | 171 | 271 |
| Passing yards | 213 | 320 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 24:56 | 35:04 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Arkansas State | Passing | Jaylen Raynor | 24/38, 207 yards, INT |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Ja'Quez Cross | 9 carries, 117 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Ja'Quez Cross | 6 receptions, 48 yards |
| Texas State | Passing | Jordan McCloud | 24/29, 320 yards, 4 TD |
| Texas State | Rushing | Ismail Mahdi | 17 carries, 164 yards |
| Texas State | Receiving | Joey Hobert | 10 receptions, 101 yards, 2 TD |

### at Southern Miss

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Red Wolves | 21 | 7 | 13 | 3 | 44 |
| Golden Eagles | 7 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 28 |
at M. M. Roberts Stadium, Hattiesburg, Mississippi
* Date: October 19, 2024
* Game time: 6:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 75 °F (24 °C) • Wind: NE 4 miles per hour (6.4 km/h)
* Game attendance: 24,542
* Referee: Marshall Lewis
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Jason Baker (play-by-play) and Austin Davis (analyst)
| Statistics | ARST | USM |
| First downs | 23 | 24 |
| Total yards | 467 | 367 |
| Rushing yards | 281 | 180 |
| Passing yards | 186 | 187 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 31:13 | 28:47 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Arkansas State | Passing | Jaylen Raynor | 20/31, 186 yards, 3 TD |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Ja'Quez Cross | 18 carries, 127 yards, TD |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Courtney Jackson | 3 receptions, 55 yards |
| Southern Miss | Passing | Ethan Crawford | 15/23, 187 yards, INT |
| Southern Miss | Rushing | Ethan Crawford | 26 carries, 87 yards, 2 TD |
| Southern Miss | Receiving | Reed Jesiolowski | 4 receptions, 51 yards |

### vs. Troy

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Trojans | 0 | 3 | 21 | 7 | 31 |
| Red Wolves | 13 | 10 | 3 | 8 | 34 |
at Centennial Bank Stadium, Jonesboro, AR
* Date: Saturday October 26, 2024
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 70 °F (21 °C) • Wind: NE 8 miles per hour (13 km/h)
* Game attendance: 17,162
* Referee: Scott Broadway
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Darrell Greene (play-by-play) and Pete Cordelli (analyst)
| Statistics | TROY | ARST |
| First downs | 23 | 26 |
| Total yards | 466 | 534 |
| Rushing yards | 162 | 185 |
| Passing yards | 304 | 349 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 22–33–3 | 25–40–0 |
| Time of possession | 30:47 | 29:13 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Troy | Passing | Matthew Caldwell | 22/33, 304 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT |
| Troy | Rushing | Gerald Green | 20 carries, 113 yards, TD |
| Troy | Receiving | Devonte Ross | 11 receptions, 126 yards |
| Arkansas State | Passing | Jaylen Raynor | 25/40, 349 yards |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Jaylen Raynor | 12 carries, 71 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Corey Rucker | 12 receptions, 193 yards |

### at Louisiana

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Red Wolves | 0 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 19 |
| Ragin' Cajuns | 10 | 21 | 17 | 7 | 55 |
at Cajun Field, Lafayette, LA
* Date: Saturday November 9, 2024
* Game time: 4:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 80 °F (27 °C) • Wind: W 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h)
* Game attendance: 16,451
* Referee: Trennis Livingston
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Dan McDonald (play-by-play) and Eric Mouton (analyst)
| Statistics | ARST | LA |
| First downs | 27 | 27 |
| Total yards | 401 | 579 |
| Rushing yards | 209 | 278 |
| Passing yards | 192 | 301 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 25–37–2 | 22–33–0 |
| Time of possession | 29:23 | 30:37 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Arkansas State | Passing | Jaylen Raynor | 23/35, 167 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Ja'Quez Cross | 14 carries, 81 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Corey Rucker | 6 receptions, 73 yards |
| Louisiana | Passing | Ben Wooldridge | 17/26, 264 yards, TD |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Dre'lyn Washington | 8 carries, 123 yards, 2 TD |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Lance LeGendre | 4 receptions, 58 yards |

### at Georgia State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Red Wolves | 7 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 27 |
| Panthers | 7 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 20 |
at Center Parc Stadium • Atlanta, GA
* Date: Saturday November 16, 2024
* Game time: 4:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 14,047
* Referee: Jeremy Parker
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Matt Stewart (play-by-play) and Sam Crenshaw (analyst)
| Statistics | ARST | GAST |
| First downs | 20 | 23 |
| Total yards | 358 | 411 |
| Rushing yards | 261 | 65 |
| Passing yards | 97 | 346 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 10–17–0 | 26–49–2 |
| Time of possession | 30:20 | 29:40 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Arkansas State | Passing | Jaylen Raynor | 10/17, 97 yards |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Jaylen Raynor | 16 carries, 114 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Courtney Jackson | 3 receptions, 40 yards |
| Georgia State | Passing | Christian Veilleux | 17/35, 245 yards, TD, INT |
| Georgia State | Rushing | Michel Dukes | 6 carries, 32 yards |
| Georgia State | Receiving | Ted Hurst | 9 receptions, 173 yards, TD |

### vs. Louisiana–Monroe

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Warhawks | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| Red Wolves | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
at Centennial Bank Stadium • Jonesboro, AR
* Date: Saturday November 23, 2024
* Game time: 2:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 55 °F (13 °C) • Wind: S 7 miles per hour (11 km/h)
* Game attendance: 14,029
* Referee: Steven Robinson
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Roger Twibell (play-by-play), Pete Cordelli (analyst) and Darrell Greene (sideline)
| Statistics | ULM | ARST |
| First downs | 19 | 21 |
| Total yards | 393 | 357 |
| Rushing yards | 256 | 187 |
| Passing yards | 137 | 170 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 11–22–1 | 18–26–0 |
| Time of possession | 31:19 | 28:41 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Passing | Aidan Armenta | 11/22, 137 yards, TD, INT |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Rushing | Ahmad Hardy | 30 carries, 204 yards, 2 TD |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Receiving | Jake Godfrey | 5 receptions, 58 yards, TD |
| Arkansas State | Passing | Jaylen Raynor | 18/26, 170 yards, 3 TD |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Zak Wallace | 18 carries, 130 yards, TD |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Courtney Jackson | 6 receptions, 69 yards, TD |

### vs. Old Dominion

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Monarchs | 14 | 7 | 19 | 0 | 40 |
| Red Wolves | 7 | 7 | 15 | 3 | 32 |
at Centennial Bank Stadium • Jonesboro, AR
* Date: Saturday November 30, 2024
* Game time: 2:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Light rain • Temperature: 49 °F (9 °C) • Wind: SSW 14 miles per hour (23 km/h)
* Game attendance: 13,584
* Referee: Tim Barker
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Roger Twibell (play-by-play), Pete Cordelli (analyst) and Darrell Greene (sideline)
| Statistics | ODU | ARST |
| First downs | 23 | 26 |
| Total yards | 549 | 410 |
| Rushing yards | 406 | 149 |
| Passing yards | 143 | 261 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 9–12–0 | 22–36–1 |
| Time of possession | 30:26 | 29:34 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Old Dominion | Passing | Quinn Henicle | 9/12, 143 yards, 2 TD |
| Old Dominion | Rushing | Quinn Henicle | 19 carries, 206 yards, 2 TD |
| Old Dominion | Receiving | Pat Conroy | 4 receptions, 90 yards, 2 TD |
| Arkansas State | Passing | Jaylen Raynor | 22/36, 261 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Zak Wallace | 15 carries, 89 yards, TD |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Corey Rucker | 8 receptions, 115 yards, TD |

### Bowling Green (68 Ventures Bowl)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Red Wolves | 17 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 38 |
| Falcons | 7 | 14 | 3 | 7 | 31 |
at Hancock Whitney Stadium • Mobile, Alabama
* Date: Thursday, December 26, 2024
* Game time: 8:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Overcast • Temperature: 59 °F (15 °C) • Wind: E at 9 miles per hour (14 km/h)
* Game attendance: 19,582
* Referee: Garrett Dickerson
* TV announcers (ESPN): Clay Matvick (play-by-play), Roddy Jones (analyst), and Ashley Stroehlein (sideline)
* Statistics
* First downs
* Plays–yards
* Rushes–yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Arkansas State | Passing |
| Arkansas State | Rushing |
| Arkansas State | Receiving |
| Bowling Green | Passing |
| Bowling Green | Rushing |
| Bowling Green | Receiving |