WHAT: Coastal Carolina at Jacksonville State

WHEN: 7 p.m., Thursday

WHERE: AmFirst Stadium, Jacksonville

SERIES: Tied 1-1

TV: CBS Sports Network

LINE: Jax State by 3

THIS GAME WILL DETERMINE: If Jax State can avenge one of its four losses from 2023, a 30-16 defeat in Conway, S.C.

THREE THINGS TO LOOK FOR

1. What will Jax State’s quarterback rotation look like?

Gamecocks coach Rich Rodriguez declined on Monday to name a starter between program veteran Logan Smothers and Furman transfer Tyler Huff, and it’s possible both will play on Thursday. Truth be told, Rodriguez’s offense functioned well last year and has in the past despite often playing multiple quarterbacks. It’s really more a feature than a bug at this point.

2. Can the Gamecocks’ defense be salty despite massive changes?

Jax State not only lost seven defensive starters off one of the better units in the Group of 5 to graduation or the transfer portal, but also lost coordinator Zac Alley to Oklahoma. Luke Olson takes over as DC after a year at TCU and more than a decade at Tulsa. Defensive end J-Rock Swain and linebackers Laletia Hale and Curley Young are among the top returnees, with safeties Pat Taylor (Georgia) and Antonio Carter (Notre Dame) and defensive end Gharin Stansbury (Arizona State) headline the newcomers.

3. Can the Chanticleers still be dangerous without Grayson McCall?

The face of the Coastal Carolina program in many ways, McCall moved on in the offseason, opting to play his final season of college football at North Carolina State. In his place is Ethan Vasko, a former Kansas transfer himself who started four games while McCall was injured last season. The Chanticleers improved offensively as coach Tim Beck’s debut season went along, so we’ll see if they can maintain that momentum in 2024.

KEY MATCHUP

Jax State offensive line vs. Coastal defensive line

Preseason All-American Clay Webb leads the Gamecocks’ front five, which likes to grind out yards on the ground. Will Whitson is the top player on the Chanticleers’ front seven, which will have to hold its own against JSU’s often relentless running game.

BY THE NUMBERS

181 — Career victories in 27 seasons for Jax State’s Rich Rodriguez, seventh among active coaches currently working in FBS.