The Jacksonville State Gamecocks and Kennesaw State Owls will meet in a crucial Conference USA matchup on Friday night. Jacksonville State enters the game with a 1-3 record, finally breaking through for a victory in their last game against Southern Miss, winning 44-7. Quarterback Tyler Huff has been a dual-threat force for the Gamecocks, throwing for 880 yards and 5 touchdowns, while adding 269 rushing yards and 2 more scores on the ground. Running back Tre Stewart has been effective as well, rushing for 96 yards and 2 touchdowns in their recent victory. The Owls, meanwhile, have had a disastrous start to the season. Kennesaw State is 0-4 and coming off a disappointing 24-13 loss to Tennessee-Martin. Quarterback Davis Bryson has struggled, throwing for just 540 yards, 1 touchdown, and 3 interceptions through four games.

The offense has been stagnant, and they rank near the bottom of the conference in every major offensive category. On defense, the Owls have been unable to stop the run, giving up 198.3 rushing yards per game, which could be a big issue against Jacksonville State’s potent ground attack. For Jacksonville State, the key will be to establish the run early and control the tempo. If Tyler Huff can avoid turnovers and connect with his top target Michael Pettway, the Gamecocks should be able to move the ball effectively against a struggling Kennesaw State defense. The Owls will need to generate more offense and improve their efficiency in the red zone if they want to have any chance of keeping this game close.