While Conference USA will join the Big 12 Conference in eliminating its preseason poll, one in-state program ranked highly in the newly introduced replacement.

Jacksonville State finished third in Conference USA’s new “bowl confidence index,” which will replace the 12-team league’s preseason rankings.

The index is determined by a panel of 24 media members, who vote on whether they believe each team will surpass six wins and be bowl-eligible, providing a confidence score for each team.

Percentages for each team reflect the number of voters who placed each team on their ballot.

Delaware and Missouri State transitioned from the FCS ranks this offseason and are not fully bowl-eligible this season, but would be able to play in a postseason game if there are not enough bowl-eligible teams to fill designated spots.

Jax State was not fully bowl-eligible in 2023, but played in the New Orleans Bowl after not enough bowl-eligible teams finished with six wins; the Gamecocks beat Louisiana 34-31 in overtime.

The Blue Hens appeared on 29.17% of ballots in their first appearance in Conference USA to rank eighth, while Missouri State finished last with 12.5%.

Jax State, which won the Conference USA championship last season, finished third after appearing on 91.67% of ballots; Liberty and Western Kentucky both finished on 100% of ballots.

Under first-year head coach Charles Kelly, the Gamecocks will look to make their third straight bowl game after an appearance in the StaffDNA Cure Bowl last season; Jax State fell to Ohio, 30-27.

The Gamecocks will open the season at UCF on Thursday, Aug. 28, in Orlando before its home opener on Saturday, Sept. 6, against CUSA foe Liberty.