Jax State wins C-USA title, secures bid to Cure Bowl in Orlando
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For the first time since moving to the FBS level, the Jacksonville State Gamecocks are conference champions.
Jax State avenged its lone conference loss during the regular season by defeating Western Kentucky, 52-12, during the Conference USA Championship Game at AmFirst Stadium. It’s the program’s third conference title in the last three seasons, all of them in a different league.
Less than 24 hours after winning that game, the Gamecocks learned their next postseason destination: Orlando, Florida.
Keep reading to learn more about Jax State’s bowl bid + get a quick recap of their big win over the Hilltoppers.
Cure Bowl
Jacksonville State is headed to a bowl game for the second straight season, a year after winning the New Orleans Bowl for the program’s first ever FBS bowl win.
This year, the Gamecocks will get two weeks to prepare for another trip down south, this time to play in the Cure Bowl. Here’s what you need to know:
- Who: Jacksonville State Gamecocks (9-4) vs. Ohio Bobcats (10-3)
- When: 11AM | Friday, Dec. 20
- Where: Camping World Stadium | 1 Citrus Bowl Place, Orlando, FL 32805
- Watch: ESPN
- Tickets | More info
“I’m proud of our players and coaches for earning a spot in a great bowl game in a great venue. We’re very excited about the opportunity to showcase Jax State football in front of a national audience at the Cure Bowl.”
~ Rich Rodriguez, Jacksonville State coach
Ohio won the Mid-American Conference Championship Game, defeating Miami (OH) 38-3 on Saturday. The Bobcats have won their last five bowl appearances including winning one in each of the last two seasons.
C-USA Championship
On the day of the conference championship, rumors of coach Rich Rodriguez interviewing for a new job began swirling around the country. But that did not seem to distract the coach or his players.
Jacksonville State trailed 3-0 early but scored four unanswered touchdowns in the first half to open up a big lead in front of the Gamecock fans at home. Three second half touchdowns helped the team stretch out the lead and finish off a 52-12 victory.
Quarterback Tyler Huff accounted for three touchdowns and Tre Stewart added three more touchdowns on the ground, giving him 23 on the year. The Gamecocks racked up 562 yards of offense in the win.
“Last year was incredible to get to a bowl game in the first year as an (FBS) school, and this year to win a league championship and to another great bowl game, it’s just phenomenal. These seniors, especially, should be very proud that they can look back for many, many years and say ‘we were the ones that elevated Jax State to this level.”
~ Rich Rodriguez
The win puts Jax State at a 9-4 record this year, marking the third consecutive season with at least nine wins. The Gamecocks can reach the double-digit win mark for the first time under Rodriguez with a win in the Cure Bowl.
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