Blue Hens try to knock off defending league champs in game aired nationally on ESPN
Mid-week college football means exposure and Delaware will certainly get that in its Oct. 15 Conference USA game at Jacksonville State.
The telecast was promoted from ESPN2 to ESPN after the WNBA playoffs concluded, with kickoff at 7 p.m. at AmFirst Stadium in Alabama.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to go out and show our skill set as a team and as a defense and just show the world what we're made of,” cornerback Kshawn Cox. Jr. said.
The Gamecocks (3-3 overall, 2-0 CUSA) are defending league champ.
Delaware (3-2, 1-1) is coming off a narrow loss to Western Kentucky that indicated the Blue Hens can compete with the league’s best.
They expect to be worth seeing for that national audience.
“Most importantly, it's about what we do with it, right?” Delaware coach Ryan Carty said of being the ESPN game. “Can you take advantage of something, then it'll be an advantage.
“Being on ESPN is, it'll be the only thing on ESPN that night. It'll be one of the only two games in college football on national TV that night. What do we look like when we're out there? That's what's important, we can say we want our brand out there if our brand is something that's exactly what we want it to be, what we want to portray.”
How to follow
Delawareonline.com will provide live reports on the game beginning three hours before kickoff with frequent updates through to the game’s conclusion and with postgame reaction.
How to attend
Fans traveling to Alabama may purchase tickets at https://jaxstatesports.evenue.net/event/FB25/FB03 with costs starting at $20.
How to listen
Scott Klatzkin will be calling the game on WDSD 94.7 FM with Fritz Steuber providing analysis and Nick Alessandrini reporting from sidelines. They come on the air at 6 p.m.
How to watch
The game is being aired nationally on ESPN with Clay Matvick on play-by-play and Chase Daniel as analyst.
Where to gather
A watch party is being held at Buffalo Wild Wings on 100 S. Main St. in Newark.
What’s the point spread?
Delaware is favored by 2½, according to ESPN.
How do the teams rate nationally?
Jacksonville State is 105th and Delaware is 109th in the ESPN College Football Power Index of the 136 teams in FBS. The Athletic’s 136, however, ranks Delaware 85th and Jacksonville State 107th.
What’s the weather forecast?
Clear skies and temperatures in the 60s.
Why is this game important for Delaware?
Delaware won its CUSA opener at Florida International then lost in excruciating fashion to Western Kentucky in their CUSA home debut. A win at Jax State would cement Delaware’s status as being an instant hit in its move to FBS.
Why is this game important for Jax State?
The defending champion Gamecocks are trying to re-establish their supremacy with a new coaching staff.
What’s the series record?
Delaware won 20-14 at Jacksonville State in an FCS Tournament quarterfinal game during the 2021 spring season and beat the Gamecocks in a 1978 Division II quarterfinal 42-27 at Delaware Stadium.
What will be interesting to see for Delaware?
Can Delaware’s spread offense give the Jax State defense headaches while hitting some explosive plays.
What will be interesting to see for Jax State?
Can Jacksonville State continue to be effective with a running attack that’s No. 3 in FBS averaging 279.5 yards per game while also hitting key timely passes.
Who is a player to watch for Delaware?
Linebacker Gavin Moul leads the Hens with 41 tackles and will need to get a bunch of those in Delaware’s quest to thwart that run game.
Who is a player to watch for Jax State?
TCU transfer Cam Cook is a hard-to-bring-down running back who leads the nation with both 832 rushing yards and 138.7 per game.
What does Delaware coach Ryan Carty say?
“They've done a solid job at getting to the quarterback. We got our work cut out for us on both sides of the ball. It's going to be one of those games that it's really about flow of the game, turnovers. It's going to be a tight fight and hopefully we can continue to play really clean and have a chance to win it late.”
What does Jax State coach Charles Kelly say?
“We have a lot of respect for them, their program, their coaches. I think Conference USA hit a home run when they got Delaware to be in this conference.”
Contact Kevin Tresolini at [email protected] and follow on Twitter @kevintresolini. Support local journalism by subscribing to delawareonline.com and our DE Game Day newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware visits Jacksonville State in mid-week CUSA football clash
Category: General Sports
