GAME 1
 
South Alabama (0-0, 0-0 SBC) vs. North Texas (0-0, 0-0 AAC)
Date: Saturday, Aug. 31
Kickoff: 4 p.m. CT
Location: Mobile, Ala (Hancock Whitney Stadium)
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: Jags Radio Network
Social: @SouthAlabamaFB
Game Notes: South Alabama | North Texas
Tickets: USAJaguars.com/tickets/football
 

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NOTES
 
– South Alabama enters the 2024 campaign under new management with Major Applewhite beginning his tenure as the program's new head coach. Applewhite served as offensive coordinator at South for the last three seasons and helped the Jaguars to a record of 22-16 during that time, including two-straight winning seasons. Applewhite's first season as head coach of the Jags will mark his third-career year as a head coach after two seasons at Houston. Applewhite holds an all-time record of 15-11 entering 2024.
 
– South Alabama has won three-consecutive home openers. The Jaguars beat Southeastern Louisiana in 2023 while beating Nicholls in 2022 and Southern Miss in 2021.
 
– The Jaguars enter the 2024 season with 53 new players on the roster. 28 of those newcomers will play their freshman season at South Alabama while the Jags also brought in 25 transfers from other schools.
 

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QUOTES
 
"We talk to our guys about battling through adversity. Having consistent effort, toughness, execution, those types of things. I've seen our guys sustain their mental intensity better. We've challenged them a lot during the offseason."
 
-Head Coach Major Applewhite on how the team has improved during the offseason
 
"He's doing a good job leading the team. He manages the offense well in practice. He's doing a good job just getting the ball where it needs to be in the hands of the playmakers, almost like you're playing point guard."
 
-Offensive Coordinator Rob Ezell on what he has seen from quarterback Gio Lopez during camp
 
"Obviously they're well coached. Coach Morris does a great job. They're going to go fast, we're going to have to handle their tempo and then just be able to adjust to the wrinkles. Their offense is their offense, but they're obviously going to game plan us, and have some wrinkles. That's going to be a big part of the game, is the in-game adjustments and how we handle getting things coached up on the sideline."
 
-Defensive Coordinator Will Windham on the challenges the North Texas offense presents
 

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ABOUT NORTH TEXAS
 
North Texas enters the 2024 season having gone 5-7 in 2023. The Mean Green are entering their second season with head coach Eric Morris at the helm of the program. UNT leads all of college football with 77 newcomers on the team this season. TCU Chandler Morris is expected to quarterback the Mean Green in Saturday's season opener.
 

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SERIES HISTORY
 
The Jaguars and Mean Green have played once previously with North Texas taking the lone matchup between the two schools. South visited Denton in 2012 and jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, but could not hold on late as UNT came back to win, 24-14.
 

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LAST TIME OUT
 
South Alabama Football secured its first bowl championship in program history when it dismantled Eastern Michigan, 59-10, in the 68 Ventures Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium.
 
With the win, South Alabama finished the season with an overall record of 7-6. It marked the first time in program history the Jaguars recorded back-to-back winning seasons as a full Division I participant.
 
The Jags were dominant in all three phases of the game from start to finish. USA put up 627 yards of total offense while holding EMU to just 150 on the night. That total included a 417-27 advantage in the first half alone. The Jaguar defense also forced two turnovers while the punt unit collected another, and the offense scored on six of its first-eight drives. South's 59 points were the most in the program's Division I history.
 

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FOLLOW THE JAGS

For complete coverage of South Alabama football, follow the Jags on social media @SouthAlabamaFB (Twitter), /SouthAlabamaFB (Facebook), @SouthAlabamaFB (Instagram) or visit the official home of South Alabama athletics at usajaguars.com.