WHAT: North Texas (0-0) at South Alabama (0-0)

WHEN: 4 p.m., Saturday

WHERE: Hancock Whitney Stadium, Mobile

SERIES: North Texas leads 1-0

TV: None (ESPN+)

LINE: South Alabama by 5.5

THIS GAME WILL DETERMINE IF: South Alabama can make a winner of Major Applewhite in his Jaguars head-coaching debut.

THREE THINGS TO LOOK FOR

1. How much will the offense, defense change under Applewhite?

Applewhite was offensive coordinator under the departed Kane Wommack, so the Jaguars kept the same terminology and schemes they ran the last three years. Same goes for defense, where Wommack and defensive coordinator Corey Batoon left in January and former linebackers coach Will Windham was re-hired to be coordinator. There will probably be some tweaks by Windham and new OC Rob Ezell, but Jaguar football will likely look largely the same as it has the last three years.

2. Will Gio Lopez blossom as the unquestioned QB1?

Lopez got some quality playing time as a true freshman last year — starting vs. Troy and playing most of the bowl game vs. Eastern Michigan. With veterans Carter Bradley and Desmond Trotter now gone, Lopez is the unquestioned QB1 for the Jaguars. He’s exponentially more mobile than Bradley, though not nearly as polished as a passer. Expect the Jaguars to work with his strength, which is extending plays and making defenses respect the run.

3. Can South Alabama’s young defense learn on the fly?

The Jaguars lost seven starters to graduation or the transfer portal, though there are some veteran pieces on the defensive line and in the secondary. However, the linebackers are almost entirely new, and there will be a number of first-time starters at key positions. North Texas was an explosive offense a year ago, so South Alabama will look to limit the big plays in what might be a high-scoring game.

KEY MATCHUP

North Texas quarterback Chandler Morris vs. South Alabama secondary

Morris started about half the season last year at TCU to before transferring to North Texas, and is an efficient passer with an excellent pedigree (he’s the son of long-time college football coach Chad Morris). South Alabama’s defensive backs have been known to gamble in the past, but might have to play it more conservatively this week.

BY THE NUMBERS

74 — Scholarship newcomers on North Texas’ roster this season, the most of any FBS program. South Alabama has “only” 53 newcomers — 28 high school signees and 25 four-year or junior-college transfers.