The Really Big Preview: Eastern Kentucky at Jacksonville State

Jacksonville State comes home Saturday after the worst loss of the Charles Kelly era — a 33-7 beating at North Dakota State in which the Gamecocks managed 170 total yards and went 2-for-10 on third down. The opponent at AmFirst Stadium is FCS Eastern Kentucky, a former OVC rival that lost its own opener 45-21 at Western Carolina. Kelly spent his Monday presser diagnosing what went wrong in Fargo and made clear what this week is about: fixing the details that put the offense behind the chains on seven of 10 possessions.

GAME DETAILS

Matchup: Eastern Kentucky (0-1) at Jacksonville State (0-1)

Date: Saturday, Sept. 5

Location: AmFirst Stadium, Jacksonville, Ala.

TV: ESPN+

Spread: Jacksonville State -20.5

Over/Under: 54.5

Series: Jacksonville State leads 8-6

THE STAKES

This is a get-right game for Jacksonville State, and everyone in the building knows it. The Gamecocks have won nine games in each of their three FBS seasons, made two straight CUSA Championship Games and beat Troy in the Salute to Veterans Bowl last December. None of that changes what happened in Fargo — NDSU controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides, held the ball for 36 minutes and exposed an offense that could not sustain a drive.

Before the schedule gets harder — at Ohio on Sept. 12, home against Georgia Southern on Sept. 19, the CUSA opener against Middle Tennessee on Sept. 26 — Kelly needs answers. Can the rebuilt offensive line create running lanes? Can Caden Creel find the rhythm that never materialized against the Bison? Can the offense stay ahead of the chains?

For Eastern Kentucky, this is a chance to compete against an FBS bowl team with nothing to lose. The Colonels are a near-total rebuild under seventh-year head coach Walt Wells — roughly 47 players departed through graduation and the portal. They lost at Western Carolina 45-21 but led 14-10 at halftime. They are not talentless. But they are playing an opponent with significantly more depth and speed at every position.

Jacksonville State and Eastern Kentucky are former OVC rivals who last met in 2022, a 42-17 Jax State win.

THE NUMBERS

170 — Total yards for Jax State at NDSU — the lowest offensive output of the Kelly era. The Gamecocks were outgained 373-170 and held the ball for just 23:53.

305 — Passing yards for EKU redshirt freshman Tyler Travers in his first collegiate start against Western Carolina. It was the first 300-yard passing game by a Colonel since Parker McKinney in 2023.

18 — Consecutive games with a takeaway for Jacksonville State. Jonavan Carr's diving interception at the NDSU 21 extended the streak, though a second interception was wiped out by a penalty.

65 — Rushing yards for Eastern Kentucky against Western Carolina on 29 attempts — 2.2 yards per carry. EKU's inability to run the ball turned a competitive first half into a blowout.

ABOUT EASTERN KENTUCKY (Visitor)

Walt Wells is in his seventh season at Eastern Kentucky and presiding over what amounts to a roster reconstruction. Between graduations and the portal, the Colonels lost roughly 47 players. "We have almost a brand new football team," Wells said at media day. EKU was picked fourth in the United Athletic Conference preseason coaches poll.

The opener at Western Carolina told two stories. In the first half, the Colonels led 14-10 behind Travers, who connected with Elijah Caldwell (6-102-1) and Jarvis Hayes in the passing game. In the second half, Western Carolina scored three unanswered third-quarter touchdowns and pulled away 45-21. Travers finished 22-of-34 for 305 yards and three touchdowns but threw an interception that swung momentum. The ground game produced 65 yards — a problem that will follow this team to Jacksonville.

Buck Buchanan Award candidate Kaden Smith anchors a defense that scored five touchdowns last season. Defensive back Derek Taylor had 10 tackles in the opener. But this is a defense that gave up 508 total yards and 45 points to an FCS opponent. The Colonels have fight. They do not yet have consistency.

ABOUT JACKSONVILLE STATE (Home)

The 33-7 loss at NDSU was the most lopsided defeat of Kelly's tenure. The Gamecocks managed 85 rushing yards and 85 passing yards, went 2-for-10 on third down and never established the offensive rhythm Kelly demands. Kelly said seven of 10 possessions reached second-and-11 or worse because of holding penalties, drops and backfield fumbles.

Kelly pointed to the final 1:46 of the first half as the game's pivot. Trailing 10-7, Jax State had the ball at the NDSU 12 and went for it on fourth-and-1. Creel was stuffed. NDSU drove 88 yards in 1:24 for a touchdown, and the Gamecocks never recovered.

The offensive challenges this season are structural, not situational. Cam Cook — the FBS rushing leader — left for West Virginia. Three starting offensive linemen followed him to Power 4 programs. First-year coordinator Taylor Housewright, promoted from tight ends coach, is installing a system with significant personnel turnover. Creel is the constant, but his passing (12-of-23, 85 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT at NDSU) needs to take the step Kelly talked about all offseason.

Defensively, coordinator Brian Williams returns seven starters, but the entire starting defensive line is gone to the portal. Linebacker Mac Sanders — one of the conference's best — is out with no timeline. Walker O'Steen is expected back. The secondary, led by safety Caleb Nix and cornerback Tre'Quon Fegans, is the strength of the unit.

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

Caden Creel, QB, Jacksonville State (R-Jr., 6-0, 200) — Accounted for 2,589 total yards and 16 touchdowns last season (1,514 passing, 1,075 rushing). The NDSU game was his worst as a starter — 12-of-23, 85 yards, 3 sacks. Kelly said the pocket was clean at times but Creel "didn't have his best day." This is the game to reset.

Deondre Johnson, WR, Jacksonville State (Jr.) — Led all FBS receivers in yards per reception (24.1) last season with 30 catches for 724 yards and 6 touchdowns. Had just 2 catches for 26 yards at NDSU. The downfield passing game that exploded in the second half of 2025 has not yet shown up in 2026.

Tyler Travers, QB, Eastern Kentucky (So.) — Threw for 305 yards and 3 touchdowns in his first career start at Western Carolina, the most by an EKU quarterback since 2023. He also threw an interception and the Colonels collapsed in the second half. Has the arm to make plays but is starting his second career game against an FBS defense.

Kaden Smith, LB, Eastern Kentucky — Buck Buchanan Award candidate who anchors the Colonels' defense. Part of a unit that scored five defensive touchdowns last season. The best player on EKU's roster and the one most likely to make plays against an FBS offense.

INJURY REPORT / AVAILABILITY

Jacksonville State:

• Mac Sanders (LB) — OUT, no timeline. Kelly: "We don't know exactly how long he'll be out."
• Walker O'Steen (LB) — Expected to return this week per Kelly.

Eastern Kentucky:

• No specific injuries reported beyond the Western Carolina loss.

WHEN EASTERN KENTUCKY HAS THE BALL

Travers can throw. He proved that at Western Carolina — 22-of-34, 305 yards, the medium passing game that Kelly flagged in his scouting report. "They threw the ball for a little over 300 yards the other night," Kelly said. "They do a good job with the medium passing game and they've got some good stuff on third down." Caldwell (6-102-1 vs. WCU) is the primary target. Hayes added 5 catches for 47 yards.

The problem is the ground game. Sixty-five rushing yards on 29 attempts against an FCS opponent is a red flag. Latham, the preseason All-UAC pick who ran for 667 yards last season, managed 41 yards on 16 carries against Western Carolina. If EKU cannot run, Jax State's rebuilt defensive line can pin its ears back and rush the passer — exactly the kind of game the new front needs to build confidence.

Jax State's secondary is the defense's strength. Nix and Fegans are experienced and physical. Sophomore cornerback JQ Brooks handled his college debut at NDSU and had six tackles. Williams' scheme should be able to take away the medium routes that fuel EKU's passing game and force Travers into tighter windows than he saw at Western Carolina.

The Colonels' best chance on offense is to throw early and test the Gamecocks before the talent gap wears them down.

WHEN JACKSONVILLE STATE HAS THE BALL

This is the game where the offensive issues either start getting fixed or become a bigger concern. EKU gave up 508 total yards and 45 points to Western Carolina — an FCS opponent. If Jax State cannot establish the running game and sustain drives against this defense, the next three weeks (Ohio, Georgia Southern, Middle Tennessee) will be difficult.

Kelly wants to get running back Jalen Likely more involved after he carried 11 times for 48 yards at NDSU. Cedric Kouemi showed flashes on his first college carry. The offensive line — the biggest question mark on the roster — gets its softest test of the season. If the rebuilt unit cannot open lanes against an FCS front, September gets uncomfortable.

Creel's passing is the other storyline. Kelly said the pocket was clean at times against NDSU but Creel did not have his best day. The connection with Johnson — the deep threat who averaged 24.1 yards per catch last season — needs to show signs of life. Housewright's offense is built to run to win and throw to score, but right now the Gamecocks have not done either consistently.

EKU's defense gave up 188 rushing yards and 320 passing yards to Western Carolina. Jax State should be able to attack both on the ground and through the air. The question is not whether the Gamecocks have the talent advantage. The question is whether they play with the rhythm and detail that were absent in Fargo.

JAX STATE WINS IF

• The offensive line opens running lanes against an FCS front and the ground game establishes itself in the first half — something it could not do against NDSU's defensive front
• Creel stays ahead of the chains. No holding penalties, no backfield fumbles, no second-and-11 holes. Kelly diagnosed the problem. This is the game to prove it is fixed
• Johnson and the downfield passing game show signs of the explosiveness that produced 24.1 yards per catch last season
• The rebuilt defensive line generates pressure on Travers without Sanders in the lineup
• Special teams are clean. Rippa missed a 52-yarder at NDSU and the kicking game needs confidence

EASTERN KENTUCKY WINS IF

• Travers replicates the 305-yard passing performance from Western Carolina and the medium passing game keeps Jax State's defense off-balance through the first three quarters
• The run game finds traction it never had against Western Carolina — 65 yards will not keep drives alive against an FBS defense
• EKU's defense forces turnovers. Jax State had four fumbles at NDSU and lost one. The Gamecocks' ball security was a problem in Fargo
• Smith and the defensive front slow Creel's running game and force the Gamecocks to win through the air, where they are less comfortable
• The Colonels keep the game competitive into the fourth quarter. The talent gap will widen as the game goes on

X FACTOR

Jax State's offensive rhythm. Kelly's diagnosis of the NDSU loss was specific: the Gamecocks could never sustain drives because they kept putting themselves in second-and-long. Seven of 10 possessions started behind the chains. If the offense can string together first downs, establish a tempo and let Creel operate within the flow of the game against an FCS defense, it validates a week of corrections and sets a foundation for the three tougher games ahead. If the same penalties and negative plays show up against Eastern Kentucky, the NDSU loss becomes a pattern rather than a bad night.

COACH SPEAK

Charles Kelly, Jacksonville State:

"Seven out of 10 possessions, we were in second-and-11 or more. You're not going to develop any consistency when you do that. You can't play from behind the chains." — Week 1 press conference

Charles Kelly on Eastern Kentucky:

"They played a good Western Carolina team. I've known Walt Wells, their head coach, for a long time. He's a very good football coach. They're very sound on both sides of the ball. They threw the ball for a little over 300 yards the other night." — Week 1 press conference

THE PREDICTIONS

Line: Jacksonville State -20.5, O/U 54.5

ESPN FPI: Jacksonville State 85.9% win probability

Yahoo Sports (Maxwell Donaldson): Jacksonville State 49, Eastern Kentucky 7

NCAAF Nation: Jacksonville State 45, Eastern Kentucky 10

YouWager.lv: Jacksonville State 34, Eastern Kentucky 10

FanSided: Jacksonville State (straight-up and ATS)

DIEHARD BOTTOM LINE

The NDSU loss was humbling, but this is a different game entirely. Eastern Kentucky gave up 508 yards and 45 points to an FCS opponent and could not run the ball. Jax State has the talent to control this game on both sides. Creel has a better day, the offensive line settles in against an FCS front and the Gamecocks build a comfortable lead by the third quarter.

• Straight-up pick: Jacksonville State
• Against the spread (Jacksonville State -20.5): Jacksonville State
• Prediction: Jacksonville State 40, Eastern Kentucky 13
• Season record: Straight-up 0-1, ATS 0-1