MOBILE, Ala. | South Alabama football opens the 2022 campaign at home on Saturday afternoon against Nicholls inside Hancock Whitney Stadium with kick set for 4 pm on ESPN+.

It will be the second consecutive season the Jags have opened at home under head coach Kane Wommack, including a win over Southern Miss in last year's opener. The Jags are 8-5 all-time in season openers, including 5-3 in games played at home (with just one inside Hancock Whitney Stadium).

South Alabama (5-7 a season ago) will look to its defense against one of the better FCS offenses in the nation in 2021 in a Nicholls squad that finished fourth in total offense (493.2 yards per game). The Colonels also finished fifth in rushing offense (246.7 yards per game) and ninth in time of possession (33:00). However, they will be facing a Jags' defense that was 40th in the nation in total defense (354.7 yards per game) and was 31st in passing efficiency defense (123.98).

Offensively, the Jags must replace their leading receiver and quarterback from season ago and will turn to Jalen Wayne to lead the receiving corps after a year in which he caught 53 passes for 630 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while Carter Bradley (a transfer from Toledo) will take over under center for the season opener. The Jags averaged 24.9 points per game last season and were among the best in the country in passing offense (41st/256.0) and time of possession (13th/32:19) – which led the Sun Belt Conference.

GAME INFORMATION
Kick: 4 pm
Site: Hancock Whitney Stadium | Mobile, Ala.
Watch: ESPN+
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Live Stats

SERIES
All-time record: South Alabama leads all-time series, 3-0
Last meeting: South Alabama def. Nicholls, 41-40 (ot) (Sept. 24, 2016)
Streak: South Alabama, W3

GAME NOTES

• South Alabama was picked to finish second in the Sun Belt Conference West Division just behind four-time defending division champion Louisiana. They were also picked ahead of in-state foe Troy, who was picked to finish third. Darrell Luter, Jr., and Keith Gallmon were each picked first-team All-Sun Belt, while Jalen Wayne was named second team.
• Several Jags earned preseason honors, including Luter who named a preseason All-American and was named to three major award watch lists, including the Jim Thorpe Award, Bronko Nagurski, and Bednarik.
• Jack Brooks (Ray Guy), Travis Drosos (Mannelly Award), and Gallmon (Wuerffel) were also named to preseason award watch lists for the Jags.
• South Alabama has several players from the city of Mobile and the surrounding area on the roster this season, 23 to be exact.
• South Alabama and Nicholls have met three times in school history, with the Jags winning all three contests including an overtime thriller back in 2016 (41-40).

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