South Alabama's season-opening opponent takes the field this week

South Alabama fans won't have to wait long to get a glimpse of the team that will open the Jaguars' season. Before South Alabama and Southeastern Louisiana meet on September 5th, the Lions take the field this Thursday, August 27th, at 6 p.m. CT against Houston Christian, airing on ESPN+. It's a rare chance for Jaguar fans to scout their Week 1 opponent in live action before kickoff.

And scouting them closely will be worth it. Southeastern Louisiana looks like a formidable season-opening test.

The Lions enter the year with real momentum. They finished 9-4 last season, made the FCS playoffs and closed the year ranked #19 nationally. That trip to the postseason was their fourth in the past seven years, and they've finished in the Top 25 in five of those seven seasons — a level of sustained success that speaks to a well-built program.

Statistically, last year's team was balanced and stout. Southeastern Louisiana ranked third in the Southland in scoring offense, averaging 31 points and 378 yards per game, while their defense was the class of the league, allowing just 18 points and 295.2 yards per contest. The Lions also got after the quarterback, averaging better than three sacks per game. Their two losses against FBS competition were lopsided (a 24-0 defeat to Louisiana Tech, the Sun Belt's newest member, and a 56-10 loss to LSU) but they went on to have an excellent season in the FCS ranks.

This year, Southeastern Louisiana enters the preseason ranked #19 in the Stats Perform poll and #20 in the AFCA Coaches Poll, and was picked to finish second in the Southland in the coaches' poll, just two points behind the top spot and pulling in three of a possible ten first-place votes.

The engine behind that optimism returns largely intact. Quarterback Kyle Lowe, who split time under center last season, completed 65.8% of his passes for 864 yards and 8 touchdowns against 4 interceptions, while also rushing for 452 yards and 5 scores — good enough to be the team's second-leading rusher. Running back Deantre Jackson, a preseason first-team All-Southland selection, piled up 586 rushing yards on just 90 carries (6.5 yards per carry) with 7 rushing touchdowns and 3 receiving scores. On defense, Freshman All-American edge rusher Evan Aubrey racked up 27 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and a forced fumble.

The Lions also added a difference-maker through the transfer portal in linebacker Jake Dalmado, who arrives from Nicholls with 142 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, and 12.5 sacks over the past two seasons, numbers that make him arguably the best defensive player in the conference.

Phil Steele's preseason honors reflect that depth of talent, naming Dalmado to his second-team All-America squad and tabbing him, along with Jackson, Aubrey, tight end Adyn Wilkinson, and offensive lineman Corin Boudreaux, to his first-team all-conference squad. Lowe, offensive lineman Logan Potter, linebacker Jirrea Johnson Jr., and punt returner Dkhai Joseph earned second-team recognition.

South Alabama will need to be ready.