A surging Jacksonville State squad will face its toughest conference test and highest stakes of the season.

The Gamecocks are set to play their fourth straight Conference USA game on Wednesday as they travel to square off against defending conference champ Liberty. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m., with the game to be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.

Jax State won its fourth straight game and moved to 3-0 in Conference USA with a 42-20 victory over Middle Tennessee State, while Liberty fell to winless Kennesaw State to snap a 17-game winning streak.

Jax State fell at home to Liberty last year in a 31-13 loss.

“It’ll be a big challenge, and our guys know how important it is,” Jax State coach Rich Rodriguez said. “Looked at Liberty against Kennesaw; Kennesaw, I’m just now watching the film, they played great. They executed really well, got some momentum going and got a great win for them. But, Liberty won 17 in a row for a reason, and we’re playing at their place.

“Our guys have a lot of respect for their program and know what a challenge it’ll be.”

Rodriguez has his group peaking at the right time, with last week’s victory over MTSU putting Jax State at 203 points in its previous four games. That mark is the most points in a four-game stretch for a Jax State team since 2015’s FCS national runner-up squad.

Jax State leads Conference USA in almost every offensive category, including points per game (39.7), touchdowns (36), yards per game (465.9) and average yards per play (7).

Running back Tre Stewart leads CUSA in rushing yards (682) and touchdowns (11), with the Limestone transfer being the first 200-yard rusher for Jax State since 2015 in last week’s victory; quarterback Tyler Huff leads the conference in total offense (2,060 yards) behind the Gamecocks’ offensive line.

Rodriguez said the victory over MTSU featured some of the most consistent play from the offensive line he’s seen this season, despite the loss of starting center Brock Robey for the season after the Kennesaw State game.

“Anytime you can rush for whatever we did for, they’re doing something pretty good up front,” Rodriguez said. “You add in your quarterback to the run game, which is always part of what we do. He’s running really well, and Tre has been phenomenal; he gets better and better each week. He’s in his first year in the system and he’s comfortable with what we’re doing now, but I think every game we play, he gets even more comfortable.

“I’ve said it before, you’re not going to be able to run for that many yards without really good perimeter blocking. Our tight ends take a lot of pride along with our wide receivers, so it’s definitely a group effort.”

Liberty’s offense is keyed by veteran quarterback Kaidon Salter, who was named CUSA’s MVP for the regular season and in the championship game; he’s thrown for 1,280 yards with 10 touchdowns and two interceptions this season, also running for 278 yards and two scores.

Veteran running back and reigning CUSA newcomer of the year Quinton Cooley ranks second among CUSA running backs in almost every rushing stat, including rushing yards (582), yards per game (97) and rushing touchdowns (six); Jax State’s Stewart leads the conference in all three of those categories.

The veteran defense is highlighted by TJ Bush, Jr., who leads Conference USA in sacks (five) to go along with 30 tackles, six tackles for loss and three passes defended.

“They’re very athletic, same as we’ve seen last year and really across the board,” Rodriguez said. “Obviously, on offense, they’ve got a lot of athletes, but their athleticism on defense last year when we played them stood out, and they’re just as athletic this year as well.”

Last season saw Liberty win 13 straight and beat New Mexico State in the Conference USA title game and make a New Year’s Six bowl as the Group of Five representative; the Flames fell in a 45-6 loss to Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl.

Rodriguez has talked with his group about the stakes at hand, with a victory keeping Jax State tied atop Conference USA with Western Kentucky ahead of the final four-game stretch for the team.

“They’re the defending conference champions, they were in the BCS bowl last year, that’s still the same team,” Rodriguez said. “We’re going to get their best version, I’m sure, and our guys have got a lot of respect for their program. We’ve got to play better, and our guys know that.

“You don’t want to look too far ahead, but it’s for first place in the league, right? Right now, we’re still in a position where every game we’re playing for is playing for first place in the league.”