10 things you didn't know about Saturday's MTSU-Jax State game

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly listed Marc Woods as a transfer from Middle Tennessee. The actual game note states that he entered the lineup at Middle Tennessee.

Every week before a game, the sports information staffs at both schools put together game notes — thick packets full of stats, rosters, history and stories about their players.

The Jax State and Middle Tennessee SID staffs produced a combined 101 pages of game notes for Saturday's game. They're detailed, they're fascinating and almost nobody outside of the press box ever sees them.

We went through every page of both sets of notes to find the most interesting things about the most interesting people on both sidelines. Here are 10 things you might not have known about Saturday night's game.

1. Jax State's offensive line put on 1,100 pounds in a single year.

The Sunday before the 2025 season opener, the Jax State offensive line weighed a combined 4,600 pounds. The Sunday before the 2026 opener, that number was 5,700 pounds. The defensive line added 675 pounds. The inside linebackers added 225. Charles Kelly wanted bigger, and he got it.

2. One of the best punters in America played Gaelic football in Ireland.

Jax State sophomore Conor Donaghy is a native of Ireland who played Gaelic football before coming to America. He is the top-ranked punter in the country according to Pro Football Focus with an 81.4 grade. His 47.4-yard average is a 7.8-yard improvement over last season. His 4.12-second average hang time ranks 26th nationally. He earned CUSA Special Teams Player of the Week on Aug. 31.

3. It had been 3,647 days since a Gamecock returned a punt for a touchdown.

That's how long it had been between Josh Barge's 75-yard punt return touchdown against Liberty in 2016 and Caleb Nix's 75-yard game-winning punt return touchdown last week against Georgia Southern. Nix became the 13th FBS player with a punt return touchdown this season.

4. Caleb Nix graduated from Clemson with honors in three years. His dad coached with Charles Kelly.

Nix is a first-team All-CUSA safety and PFF's fourth-ranked cover safety among players with at least 66 coverage snaps this season, carrying an 84.7 rating. On 11 targets, he has allowed five catches for 48 yards with an interception and a pass breakup. His father Patrick coached with Kelly at Jax State.

5. The McCollough family has Gamecocks in its blood — and an NFL roster.

Linebacker Jameson McCollough's father Eriles played at Jax State from 1997 to 2001. His brother Jaylen currently plays for the Los Angeles Rams.

6. Garrison Rippa hit three game-winning field goals in the final two minutes last year — two on the final play.

The first-team All-CUSA kicker was the closer on a Jax State team that made a habit of last-second wins. At Sam Houston in 2025, the Gamecocks had a 99.9 percent chance of losing with 15 seconds left in the fourth quarter before Rippa's 52-yard field goal gave Jax State a 29-27 win.

7. Jax State safety Marc Woods appears in the ESPN College Football 2026 Anthem.

Woods, a junior from Madison, Ala., started rotating in at safety during the game at Middle Tennessee last season and has recorded a tackle in every game since. He was selected to appear in the ESPN College Football 2026 Anthem, per the JSU game notes.

8. Two brothers on Middle Tennessee's roster are nephews of CeCe Winans.

Cornerback Jackson Lowe and linebacker Jayson Lowe, both from Brentwood, Tenn., are the nephews of CeCe Winans — the gospel singer with 18 Grammy Awards. Jackson registered MTSU's first sack of the season against Nevada and forced his first career fumble on the play. His goal outside of football: learn to do a backflip.

9. Cam Lacy doesn't eat vegetables.

The Middle Tennessee wide receiver from Toccoa, Ga., is the only Blue Raider receiver with a career 100-yard receiving game — he has three of them. He set a career high with nine catches against Marshall this season. He has caught at least one pass in 11 straight games. His favorite pregame snack is purple Skittles. And according to his official player profile, he does not eat vegetables.

10. A Blue Raider alum was on the Super Bowl champion roster six straight years — until this February.

The streak: Charvarius Ward and Darius Harris with the 2020 Kansas City Chiefs. Inside linebackers coach Mike Caldwell with the 2021 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Chandler Brewer with the 2022 Los Angeles Rams. Darius Harris with the 2023 Kansas City Chiefs. Richie James, Darius Harris and Izaiah Gathings with the 2024 Kansas City Chiefs. Reed Blankenship with the 2025 Philadelphia Eagles. When the Patriots lost to the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX, it ended the run. Last season, they had to settle for a runner-up finish as former MTSU star Darius Harris was on the New England roster.