Gamecock buzz: Jax State set to host Southern Miss for final nonconference game

WHAT: Southern Mississippi (1-2) at Jacksonville State (0-3).

WHEN:

WHERE: Burgess-Snow Field at AmFirst Stadium, Jacksonville.

SERIES: Southern Miss leads 2-0.

TV: None (ESPN+).

LINE: Jacksonville State by 6.5.

If Jacksonville State can earn its first win of the season and avoid its first 0-4 start since 1996.

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Rich Rodriguez said the second half of last week's overtime was solid, and it's hard to disagree. The defense allowed just 11 points in the second half and 3 both overtime periods, with the team allowing at least 20 points in every other half of football this season. The defense will look to improve allowing opponents to convert on third down (opponents are 24-for-45) and find its stride in the red zone; opponents have successfully scored in 13 of 14 attempts against Jax State's defense.

Against Louisville and Eastern Michigan combined, Huff is 41-for-61 passing with 471 yards, three touchdowns and one interception; he's also run for 181 yards and a touchdown on 32 carries in that span. For the season, he ranked second in Conference USA with 836 yards of total offense and boasts one of five 100-yard rushing games in the conference. After providing Jax State its first 300-yard passing game since 2021 against Eastern Michigan, will the Furman transfer continue to excel at signal caller in his third start?

Heading into this matchup, the Gamecocks' offense has the second-worst success converting on third down in the country, converting on just six of its 34 attempts for a .176 success percentage; Kent State has the worst in the country. Last week, Jax State completed just three of its 12 third-down attempts. Against a Southern Miss team that has the 117th-ranked defense on third down, the offense should be able to move the needle in a positive direction and stay on the field longer.

KEY MATCHUPSouthern Miss' receiving corps vs. Jax State's secondary The Golden Eagles have found an immediate impact from a pair of Ole Miss transfers in receiver Larry Simmons, who leads the team with 190 yards on nine catches, and tight end Kyirin Heath, who has 118 receiving yards and a team-high two receiving touchdowns. The duo was teamed up with Bay Minette native Tiaquelin "Ti" Mims, who has totaled 10 catches for 142 yards this season and started all 12 games last season.

BY THE NUMBERS