Middle Tennessee visits Jacksonville State in CUSA matchup

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Middle Tennessee (2-1) at Jacksonville State (2-2), Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. EDT.

Opening Line: Jacksonville State by 9.5. Against the spread: Jacksonville State 2-2, Middle Tennessee 3-0.

How to watch: ESPN+

Key stats

Jacksonville State Offense

Overall: 361.3 yards per game (97th in FBS)

Passing: 229.3 yards per game (70th)

Rushing: 132 yards per game (105th)

Scoring: 28.5 points per game (87th)

Jacksonville State Defense

Overall: 322.3 yards per game (64th in FBS)

Passing: 134.5 yards per game (13th)

Rushing: 187.8 yards per game (122nd)

Scoring: 24 points per game (81st)

Middle Tennessee Offense

Overall: 359.3 yards per game (99th in FBS)

Passing: 205.3 yards per game (91st)

Rushing: 154 yards per game (85th)

Scoring: 30.3 points per game (76th)

Middle Tennessee Defense

Overall: 293.3 yards per game (46th in FBS)

Passing: 170.3 yards per game (36th)

Rushing: 123 yards per game (64th)

Scoring: 20.7 points per game (62nd)

Jacksonville State is 121st in defensive third down percentage, allowing opponents to convert on 45.8% of third downs.

Jacksonville State ranks 66th in the FBS with an even turnover margin, compared to Middle Tennessee's 11th-ranked +4 margin.

Jacksonville State is 134th in the FBS with an average time of possession of 25:37, compared to Middle Tennessee's 58th-ranked average of 30:59.

Team leaders

Jacksonville State

Passing: Caden Creel, 871 yards, 8 TDs, 2 INTs, 68.7 completion percentage

Rushing: Creel, 256 yards on 64 carries, 2 TDs

Receiving: Jamill Williams, 188 yards on 14 catches, 4 TDs

Middle Tennessee

Passing: Roman Gagliano, 616 yards, 6 TDs, 1 INT, 59.8 completion percentage

Rushing: Antonio Martin, 239 yards on 47 carries, 1 TD

Receiving: Cam'ron Lacy, 222 yards on 23 catches, 3 TDs

Last game

Jacksonville State beat Georgia Southern 31-27 on Sept. 19. Creel threw for 194 yards on 17-of-24 attempts (70.8%) with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also carried the ball 10 times for 38 yards. Lucas Farrington had 44 rushing yards on four carries and one touchdown. Deondre Johnson put up 61 yards on three catches with one touchdown.

Middle Tennessee won 27-20 over Nevada on Sept. 19. Gagliano led Middle Tennessee with 173 yards on 16-of-29 passing (55.2%) for two touchdowns and no interceptions. Martin had 104 rushing yards on 23 carries and one touchdown, adding one reception for nine yards. Markus Allen put up 65 yards on three catches.

Next game

Jacksonville State plays at Kennesaw State on Oct. 7. Middle Tennessee plays at Kansas on Oct. 3.