Jacksonville State Wins Twice Under New Coach Kelly in CUSA

Jacksonville State football, under new head coach Charles Kelly, has exceeded expectations early in the 2025 season by overcoming significant odds, including a roster with 51 new players. Despite being picked to finish third in the Conference USA preseason poll behind Liberty and Western Kentucky, the Gamecocks have already defeated favored teams, including a notable 34-24 victory over Liberty, the preseason favorite. Key contributors such as quarterbacks Gavin Wimsatt and running backs Andrew Paul and Cam Cook have powered the team's offensive success. Kelly emphasized building strong habits and consistency during training camp, focusing on long-term preparation rather than individual opponents. The season opener against Central Florida, led by Scott Frost, marked Kelly's debut, and despite a close loss, the team showed resilience. The Gamecocks aim to defend their 2024 Conference USA title, leveraging strong leadership and a new coaching philosophy focused on adaptability and talent evaluation in the transfer portal era.