WHAT: South Alabama (6-5, 4-3 Sun Belt) at Texas State (6-5, 3-4)

WHEN: 6 p.m., Saturday

WHERE: Bobcat Stadium, San Marcos, Texas

SERIES: Tied 4-4

TV: NFL Network

LINE: South Alabama by 5.5

THIS GAME WILL DETERMINE: If the Jaguars can win at least seven regular-season games for the second straight year and just the second time in program history.

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THREE THINGS TO LOOK FOR

1. Can South Alabama get off to 2-2-2-2-2-2 treadmill?

In its last 12 games dating to the 2022 New Orleans Bowl, South Alabama has lost two games, won two, lost two, won two, lost two and won two. In other words, the Jaguars have not had a three-game winning streak all season. They’ll try to do that on Saturday at Texas State, in whose home stadium they have never won. Should the Jaguars emerge victorious over the Bobcats, they’d also clinch a winning season with seven victories, regardless of any bowl game outcome.

2. Can the Jaguars force TJ Finley into killer mistakes?

Finley, who once played at Auburn and LSU before transferring to Texas State prior to this season, had played mostly clean football in his first year with the Bobcats. However, in last week’s 77-31 loss to Arkansas State, he threw two interceptions and fumbled after a sack — all three of which were returned for touchdowns. Finley is massive at 6-foot-7, 255 pounds, so it will be a major undertaking for South Alabama’s undersized defensive line to get him on the ground consistently.

3. Will the Jaguars’ defense continue its late-season surge?

South Alabama has played arguably its two best defensive games of the season the last two weeks — a 21-14 victory over Arkansas State and a 28-0 win over Marshall. The Jaguars held the Red Wolves to just 3-for-16 on third and fourth down, while they never allowed the Thundering Herd to get into the red zone in posting their first-ever shutout of an FBS opponent. South Alabama has been doing an excellent job of stopping the run, and also getting to the quarterback consistently on passing plays.

KEY MATCHUP

South Alabama RB La’Damian Webb vs. Texas State run defense — Webb is tied for second nationally with 16 rushing touchdowns, and has gotten into the end zone via the run or the pass in 10 consecutive games. The Bobcats have been mostly solid vs. the run this year, but caved in vs. Arkansas State, allowing 291 yards and seven touchdowns rushing.

BY THE NUMBERS

0-4 — South Alabama’s all-time record at Texas State’s Bobcat Stadium, which remains the only road venue in the Sun Belt West in which it has never won. The Jaguars lost in San Marcos in 2013 (33-31), 2015 (36-18), 2019 (30-28) and 2021 (33-31).