South Alabama had a chance to make some real noise down the stretch in the 2024, but instead is in danger of being on the outside looking in come the postseason after a 34-30 loss to Georgia Southern on Saturday night at Hancock Whitney Stadium.

The Jaguars (4-5 overall, 3-2 Sun Belt Conference) led 30-14 heading into the fourth quarter before letting the game get away by allowing 20 points in less than six minutes. South Alabama had the ball in the red zone late with a chance to take the lead, but couldn’t finish off the comeback.

South Alabama now enters its second bye week before a three-game stretch that will determine its postseason fate. Before that, here are three takeaways from the Jaguars’ stunning defeat to the Eagles:

1. This was South Alabama’s worst collapse in a long time

It had been close to a decade since the Jaguars let a game slip away in the fashion that they did on Saturday. South Alabama entered the fourth quarter up by 16, but a series of calamities contributed to that lead disappearing in less than six minutes. Perhaps only the 2015 game vs. Arkansas State at Ladd-Peebles Stadium — when the Jaguars lost 49-31 after leading 31-20 early in the fourth quarter — was more shocking and sudden than this one. There have been some other stunning meltdowns in this program’s history — Central Michigan last season and Tulane in 2020 come to mind — but rarely with so much at stake. Instead of entering its next game with a shot at first place in the Sun Belt West, Major Applewhite’s team now is left fighting for postseasons scraps. The loss also continues the bizarre trend that has characterized South Alabama football the last two seasons — the Jaguars have not had a three-game winning streak or a three-game losing streak in that time.

2. Penalties, special teams miscues spell doom for Jaguars

Penalties have been a season-long problem, and have now been major contributors to both of South Alabama’s Sun Belt losses — at Arkansas State on Oct. 5 and vs. Georgia Southern on Saturday. The Jaguars were flagged 13 times for 99 yards, with the infractions running the gamut — from false start to holding on offense to targeting and disconcerting signals on defense. South Alabama played with a lack of discipline, and it’s kept the Jaguars out of first place in the Sun Belt West Division. USA also committed two turnovers in one game for the first time all season, including a fumbled kickoff return that led directly to a Georgia Southern touchdown. Also in the kicking game, the bizarre decision (by someone, Applewhite wouldn’t say who in the post-game) to call for a sky kickoff late in the third quarter allowed for a long return and great field position for the Eagles. They scored two plays later, beginning their amazing comeback.

3. South Alabama faces an uphill climb for bowl eligibility

Not only are the Jaguars’ Sun Belt championship hopes just about gone, they need two wins in their final three games just to make a bowl for the third straight season. First up is a trip to Louisiana, which is 7-1 overall and is the only Sun Belt team without a conference loss this year. The Ragin’ Cajuns are essentially a more talented version of Georgia Southern on offense and will be playing at home. After this is a game at Southern Miss, which should be a South Alabama win, but would only get the Jaguars to five victories. Any postseason appearance for the Jaguars is more than likely going to come down to the Nov. 29 regular-season finale at home against Texas State, the preseason Sun Belt West favorite that hasn’t played up to its ability this year. Still, the Bobcats run a tempo offense and can throw the ball effectively, meaning they have an excellent shot to beat a South Alabama team that has wilted against such opponents this season.

NEXT UP: South Alabama has an open date before traveling to Louisiana on Nov. 16. Kickoff time and broadcast information for that game will be announced on Monday.