Rest in peace Louisville basketbal Head coach has been dead 
However, after the season, head coach Scott Walden left to accept the job at UTEP, and Austin Peay brought in UCLA tight ends coach Jeff Faris to lead the charge. Because of the change, most of the Governors’ top playmakers – such as FCS All-American running back Jevon Jackson and First-Team All-UAC cornerback Jevon McIver Jr. – entered the portal. Several impact players that didn’t transfer simply exhausted their eligibility.
I won’t give an extensive breakdown here. Under the old guard, Austin Peay had potential to be a team that gives Louisville some first half headaches. Now, I fully expect the Cardinals to run away with this one, especially since it’s a season-opener at home.
Summary: Making the jump from the ASUN, Jacksonville State had a successful first season in Conference USA last year. Led by former West Virginia and Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez – who was recently extended by JSU to 2030 – the Gamecocks went 9-4, including a 34-31 win over Louisiana in the New Orleans Bowl.
It’s no secret what Jacksonville State likes to do on offense: run the ball, run the ball, and run the ball some more. Last season, their 236.7 rushing yards per game ranked third in all of the FBS, behind only Liberty and Air Force. However, they lose their top three rushers from last season, including starting quarterback Zion Webb. Logan Smothers looks to take over at QB after being a 1-2 punch with Webb last season, and Anwar Lewis is primed to get the starting running back job, but it’s an offense that loses a lot of production. Especially when you add in that they also graduated their top two receivers on a passing offense that already ranked 116th nationally.
The Gamecocks’ defense wasn’t too shabby either, coming in at No. 43 with 352.8 yards allowed per game. It was anchored by a stout run defense, giving up just 111.5 rushing yards per game, good for 15th in the FBS. But like on offense, they lose a lot of impact players. Their top five tackle for loss leaders are gone, such as All-C-USA lineman Chris Hardie, as are six of their top eight tacklers. They do bring back safety Fred Perry and All-C-USA corner Derek Carter, but it’s a defense that has a lot of holes to fill.
