Perspective
- Updated: September 1, 2026
Jax State suffered anotther early season stumble, but Gamecocks were close to better footing in loss at Fargo. Recent history suggests they’re right on schedule. (Includes video of Jax State’s game-week news conference)
Perspective
JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville State stands one game into its fourth FBS season, and the feeling is becoming that old familiar feeling.
The Gamecocks stumbled out of the gate, this time with a 33-7 loss in North Dakota State’s FBS debut. Preseason hopes take a hit and quickly pivot.
There’s always Conference USA play.
At least Jax State fans know that another nine-win season and shot at the CUSA championship game remains in reach.
If any fan base has learned to shake off a non-conference disappointment, it’s Jax State’s fan base.
Whether it’s a thud at North Dakota State, an 0-3 start in 2024 or just plain going Coastal Carolina, Gamecock watchers know all about the late-August/early September blues.
They also know things can look a whole lot different in November, if for no other reason than Jax State’s CUSA competition often plays “not exactly” after the Gamecocks feel the non-conference Hertz.
With that in mind, here’s the early season analysis that acknowledges things looked bad while pointing out that things are rarely as good or bad as they looked.
For starters, there appears to be a reason for Jax State’s biggest Fargo disaster, that third-quarter snap mishap that led to Blake Schlitz’s fumble recovery in the end zone and a 27-7 Bison lead.
Jax State coach Charles Kelly walked the fine line during his Tuesday news conference while acknowledging that NDSU’s defense might’ve simulated Jax State’s snap count. No wonder quarterback Caden Creel didn’t appear to expect the snap.
“I questioned that in the game, and I brought that up to the officials,” he said. “… The issue we did have was when we were backed up (close to the noisy end zone stands).
“I’ll go back to this, though. If we hadn’t had a 15-yard penalty to back us up, we wouldn’t have been in that situation. That’s on us:”
Jax State’s Amarii Atchison drew a conduct penalty that backed the Gamecocks up to their 14-yard line just ahead of the snap mishap.
That was a theme, Kelly said. Untimely penalties and negative plays kept Jax State from potentially much better standing in the game, especially at halftime.
With Jax State down 10-7, Jonovan Carr’s interception gave the Gamecocks possession at NDSU’s 21-yard line. Creel suffered a sack on first down, backing Jax State up two yards on a possession that ended with a failed attempt to go for it on fourth down and one at the Bison 12.
Kelly defended the decision to go for it on fourth and one rather than try a field goal.
“I was trying to win the game,” he said.
The drive’s bad start and Creel being stopped for no gain on fourth down was a microcosm of Jax State’s issues on seven of 10 possessions.
“The main thing was, we never got in any rhythm,” Kelly said. “There were a lot of reasons for that. …
“We had the ball 10 times in that game, 10 possessions, offensively. Seven out of the 10 possessions, we were in second (down) and 11 or more. You’re not going to develop any consistency when you do that. You can’t play behind the chains.”
Jax State’s defense suffered key injuries at Fargo, with Mac Sanders and Walker O’Steen leaving the action.
O’Steen should play in Saturday’s home opener against eastern Kentucky, Kelly said, but not Sanders.
“Mac will be out this week,” Kelly said. “We don’t know exactly how long he’ll be out. … We don’t know a timeline yet, exactly when he’ll be (back).”
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