Amidst an eight-game winning streak and with the Conference USA regular-season title already in hand, Rich Rodriguez and his Jacksonville State group don’t have much left to prove regarding their place among the top teams in the Group of Five.

Regardless of the previous accolades, his group looks to close out the regular season still on a roll.

Jax State (8-3, 7-0 CUSA) will play Western Kentucky (7-4, 5-2 CUSA) to close out the regular season on Saturday in Bowling Green. Kickoff at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium is set for 3 p.m.

The victory would give Jax State an undefeated run in CUSA play this season, looking to go undefeated in league play for the second time in three seasons; the Gamecocks went 6-0 in ASUN Conference play in 2022 before transitioning to the FBS level.

“We’re trying to prove ourselves on a national level, like, hey we belong here, trying to get respect that way,” Rodriguez said. “I think they’re favored, I don’t know, somebody told me that anyway, but our guys understand that we’ve got to get better.

“We played pretty well in the last game, but there were a lot of moments in the last game where we didn’t play well on offense or defense. I have no problem with today’s practice and tomorrow’s practice of getting them to the mindset that we’ve got to get better if we want to win this game so we finished undefeated in the league, and then get ready for next week.”

The Gamecocks already locked up the regular season CUSA title last week, but the results of this game and the Liberty-Sam Houston matchup will change which team they’ll play.

If Jax State beats Western Kentucky, the winner of the Liberty-Sam Houston matchup will advance to the title game and play the Gamecocks; should Western Kentucky win on Saturday, it would put the Hilltoppers in the title game and give the two teams two matchups against each other in six days.

Rodriguez said the opportunity to play and host a conference title game in Jacksonville in the program’s first season of being eligible to so is “a big deal.”

“I think our guys have been able to stay focused,” he added. “When we were 0-3 and it looked like no hope or whatsoever, we didn’t tell our guys, ‘Hey, we’ve got to throw everything out and start everything new.’ This is the way we do things, and this is the way we do stuff around here all the time. That, to me, has to be the consistent part of our program every year. That’s harder nowadays when you have 60 new players in roster turnover, but as our coaches and our players will tell you, we’re not changing the way we do stuff.”

Western Kentucky’s offense is keyed by quarterback Caden Veltkamp, who has thrown for 2,364 this season, totaling 21 touchdowns and 10 interceptions; he’s also run for 196 yards and seven scores. Ramsay High alum and former Alabama State receiver Kisean Johnson has been the Hilltoppers’ leading receiver in the pass-heavy offense, hauling in 57 catches for 779 yards and six touchdowns.

Another player with Alabama roots has been a leader on defense, with Central-Phenix City alum Devonte Mathews leading the team with 68 tackles, four fumble recoveries, and two interceptions.

“They’re a very athletic team on both sides, one of the fastest teams in our league,” Rodriguez said. “They’ve got an experienced quarterback that played really good football for them, they understand the system.

“Defensively, they do a lot of stuff; I mean, do a lot of different blitzes, do things coverage-wise, personnel-wise. Defensively and offensively, they’ll spread you out and throw it around a little bit. It’s a little different challenge than what we’ve seen because we’re seeing so many different things defensively, scheme wise and offensively.”

With the CUSA championship game set for Dec. 6 in Jacksonville, the group will have a quick turnaround after departing from Kentucky.

Rodriguez said despite the quick turnaround, he feels confident about the general health status of his group heading into the final stretch of the season.

“I think we’ve got a couple of guys that are hobbled a little bit and have been banged up,” Rodriguez said. “You’d like to have a couple more days, it is a quick turnaround. You play on the road, you get home late at night and then you’re playing another game in five days. But, the excitement for playing in a championship game should override any of that stuff.

“I’ve got to be smart, schedule or practice wise that we’re going to have one less practice and cut things down a little bit so they’re at their best when we get to that game.”