No. 10 Stephen F. Austin vs. Jacksonville State

When: 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala., in the FCS Kickoff Classic

Broadcast: ESPN

The Matchup: Every year, the prognosticators try to determine who will be the breakout team to make a deep run in the FCS playoffs. This year’s “dark horse” is Stephen F. Austin, which begins the season ranked No. 10 in most polls. 

The Lumberjacks have an opportunity to make a statement to the country on Saturday with the eyes of the nation watching. But rest assured, Jacksonville State has been reading the ‘Jacks headlines and will be ready to extinguish the hype. JSU is beginning its final season at the FCS level before joining FBS Conference USA.

The Gamecocks have a new head coach with a familiar name to FBS fans. Rich Rodriguez was hired in late November after previous head coaching stops at Arizona, Michigan, and West Virginia.

Rodriguez is not one to shy away from controversy and accused SFA of spying on the Gamecocks' spring game and recent football practices. Rodriguez was possibly trying to divert attention away from his punter, Jack Dawson, who was arrested on an assault charge committed while Dawson was enrolled at Troy.

However, JSU and Rodriguez are facing heat from the fan base, with Dawson remaining on the team and expected to start on Saturday. Whatever the reason, Rodriguez provided another layer of intrigue to this game.

JSU’s defense has performed well during fall camp but will be challenged by a ‘Jacks offense that returns a plethora of starters led by QB Trae Self and WR Xavier Gipson. Self and Gipson are on the Walter Payton Award watch list, which is the FCS equivalent to the Heisman Trophy.

SFA’s defense is expected to be dominant this year, led by Buck Buchanan Award watch list member DL BJ Thompson. In addition, SFA coach Colby Carthel’s teams typically excel on special teams and have two preseason All-Americans in P Max Quick and PK Chris Campos.

X-Factors: For JSU to have a chance at the upset, they need to slow down Gipson. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Gipson was the best FCS wide receiver and fifth among FBS and FCS last season. Gipson played in the slot 94 percent of the time last year, and SFA will likely keep him in the slot, which will limit the defense’s coverage options.

JSU LB Stevonte Tullis is a guy to watch on the Gamecocks' defense. The redshirt senior is the top returning pass rusher after posting a 71.6 pass rush grade from PFF last season. Tullis must apply pressure early and often on Self to contain the SFA passing attack.

Prediction: JSU has undergone changes on offense and defense due to the coaching change. Combined, the new systems and losing most of their production on both sides of the ball spells doom for the Gamecocks. SFA will make a statement on national television.

SFA by  7

Best of the Rest:

Thursday, Aug. 25

Trinity Valley at No. 5 Snow College, 8 p.m., ESPN+

Saturday, Aug. 27

Arkansas State Queretaro (Mexico) at Texas Wesleyan, 7 p.m.

Other Small College Games:

Saturday, Aug. 27

NJCAA

No. 13 Navarro at No. 3 Hutchinson, 1 p.m., KJCCCSports.net/hutchcc/

Gordon’s Fine Arts and Sports Academy at Cisco, 6 p.m.

Louisiana Community College at Blinn, 7 p.m., Blinn College Athletics YouTube Channel

RPA College at Tyler, 7 p.m., TJCApacheAthletics YouTube Channel