We are just a few days into September and only entering Week 2 of the 2025 college football season, but the implications in Liberty’s game at Jacksonville State this Saturday are immense.
These two programs, still newbies in Conference USA with both entering their third year in the league, have immediately established themselves as titans in the conference. Liberty won the conference championship in 2023 before the Gamecocks took home the belt last season. The winner of the regular season meeting between these two each of the past two seasons have gone on to win the conference championship. This is only the second time in CUSA football history where both teams’ CUSA opener has featured the champions from each of the last two seasons. It last happened in 1999.
With CUSA expanding to 12 members this season with no divisions and an unbalanced league schedule, it makes it very difficult for teams to reach the conference championship if suffering multiple defeats. With Liberty and Jax State expected to once again be fully in the mix to reach that championship game, Saturday’s winner will be in prime position just two full weeks into the season.
“Every game is big, but this game is big, opening conference play,” said Jax State head coach Charles Kelly. “Our players are looking forward to being in front of their people, and we look forward to it being an exciting time.”
Liberty LB Aidan Vaughan says the team is taking a next game mentality.
“As a team, we feel that looking towards the next game, no matter who it is, you’ve always got to take the next game mindset. This is the most important game of the year – have that mindset every week. Keep stacking games, keep stacking days, and then you will look back and be happy with the season you had.”
Under first year and first-time head coach Charles Kelly, the Gamecocks nearly pulled off an upset of a Big 12 foe in Week 1, Playing Thursday night, Central Florida was able to outlast Jax State, 17-10, thanks to two fourth quarter touchdowns to come from behind and notch the victory.
For the Flames, it was a bit of a slow start in the season opening, 28-7, win over Maine. The game was tied at 7 entering the final period before Liberty flexed its muscles and scored 21-unanswered points to seize control of the game and pull away at the end.
For both, while playing teams at different levels of competition, it was a tune up for a pivotal early season conference game.
“They tackle very well,” said Liberty WR Reese Smith of the Gamecocks. “They’re a physical team like they were last year. They’ve got a lot of talented guys. They do a lot of stuff schematically that tries to confuse you. They try to disguise coverages. They’ve played one game with the (new) staff, so it’s kind of hard to tell what they’re going to do.”
While Rich Rodriguez is no longer the head coach at Jax State, the Gamecocks have plenty of talent. Coach Kelly and his staff reloaded through the transfer portal, bringing in several acquisitions at key positions. Both Liberty and JSU were among the nation’s leaders in rushing offense last year, something both teams hope to accomplish once again this season. The Gamecocks ranked third nationally with 251.2 rushing yards per game, while Liberty was fourth among all FBS teams with 250.7 rushing yards per game last season.
These teams have continued their rushing success into 2025, as Liberty ranks second (194.0) and Jax State third (165.0) in CUSA in rushing yards per game. Last year, the Gamecocks ran all over the Flames, racking up 363 yards on the ground. The rushing attack will likely play a huge role in the outcome of the game Saturday. The Flames are 22-2 under head coach Jamey Chadwell when outrushing their opponent.
“We got to stop the run,” said Vaughan. “Last year they ran the ball really well. This year, we got to make sure we stop the run, fit the run.”
It may only be Week 2, but for Jax State and Liberty, Saturday’s showdown could echo all the way to the CUSA Championship game. Saturday’s winner won’t hoist a trophy, but they’ll be one giant step closer to it.
