MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama opens Sun Belt Conference play Saturday night against three-time defending West Division champion Louisiana, with the university calling for its first “White Out” at Hancock Whitney Stadium.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2. The game will stream on ESPN+ and air on Sports Talk 99.5 FM, 96.1 FM The Rocket and the iHeartRadio app. Fans are asked to wear white.
Best Start of the FBS Era
South Alabama (3-0) is off to its best start as an FBS program under first-year head coach Kane Wommack. The Jaguars beat Southern Miss 31-7, then won closer games against Bowling Green (22-19) and Alcorn State (28-21). They are coming off an open week.
The defense has led the way. South Alabama ranks first nationally in third-down conversion defense and red zone defense, third in rushing yards allowed and first-down defense, tied for 12th in sacks, 18th in scoring defense and 24th in total defense. The Jaguars allow 15.7 points, 55.3 rushing yards and 235.3 passing yards per game, though the secondary gave up several explosive pass plays in the last two games. Against Alcorn State, the defense sealed the win with an interception in the end zone.
The offense averages 27 points, 355 yards and 5.1 yards per play but ranks 97th nationally in total offense, rushing yards and third-down conversions, 126th in first downs, 121st in fumbles lost and 108th in tackles for loss allowed. It ranks tied for 43rd in red zone offense and 48th in time of possession. The Jaguars have forced seven turnovers but lost five fumbles and threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown at Bowling Green, leaving them plus-1 in turnover margin. Running back Kareem Walker has been nursing an injury and may not play.
Louisiana Under Billy Napier
Louisiana (4-1) has won three straight West Division titles under head coach Billy Napier, including back-to-back 10-win seasons. Napier is 31-12 overall and 20-5 in conference play, all at Louisiana. He previously was recruiting coordinator, tight ends coach and quarterbacks coach at Clemson and an offensive analyst and receivers coach at Alabama.
The Ragin’ Cajuns opened with a loss at Texas and have won three straight, including their conference opener at Georgia Southern last Saturday, when they held on after the Eagles pulled within one score on a 76-yard touchdown run with 1:34 left. Louisiana forced two fumbles and an interception in that game. The Cajuns recently announced that three offensive linemen, including a starter, and their starting kicker are out for the season.
Louisiana averages 30.5 points and 423 total yards per game, with 271.7 passing and 151.3 rushing. Chris Smith (43 carries, 191 yards, two touchdowns) and Montrell Johnson (41 carries, 183 yards, four touchdowns) share the backfield, and Emani Bailey has 168 yards on 27 carries. Quarterback Levi Lewis has completed 85 of 130 passes for 1,047 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception, and has 61 net rushing yards. Dontae Fleming leads the receivers with 11 catches for 152 yards and a touchdown, Kyren Lacy has 10 for 110 yards and a touchdown, and Jalen Williams has nine for 109 yards.
The Cajun defense allows 413.3 yards per game, 235.3 passing and 178 rushing, and opponents have converted nearly half of their third downs. Georgia Southern ran for 278 yards against Louisiana.
Series History
Louisiana has won the last five meetings. South Alabama’s last win in the series was a seven-point victory in 2015. Six of the last seven games were decided by 10 points or fewer, the exception being last season’s 38-10 Louisiana win in Lafayette, when the Jaguars posted their season-low passing total and allowed their season-high rushing total.
Louisiana opened as a 10.5-point favorite, and the line has moved to 12.5 points.
