Creel’s 241 yards passing, 119 rushing yards give Jacksonville State 23-13 win over Middle Tennessee

Jacksonville State's Caden Creel delivered a dominant performance, tossing for 241 yards and rushing for an additional 119 yards, leading his team to a 23-13 victory over Middle Tennessee in their Conference USA opener. The win marked Jacksonville State's 11th consecutive conference home victory and their seventh straight win in a conference opener.

Middle Tennessee, on the other hand, struggled with their defense, allowing Jacksonville State to accumulate 517 total yards, with 276 of them gained on the ground. Garrison Rippa chipped in with three successful field goals from distances of 27, 29, and 31 yards. Jacksonville State's defensive efforts were supported by Roman Gagliano, who chipped in with 216 passing yards and two touchdowns on 18-of-28 passing attempts, along with a reception from Cam'Ron Lacy for 88 yards and a score.