The Really Big Preview: Southeastern Louisiana at South Alabama

After a 4-8 season that felt closer than the record, Major Applewhite overhauled his coaching staff, took back the offensive playcalling and brought in Todd Orlando to rebuild a defense that ranked last in the Sun Belt in sacks. Saturday night at Hancock Whitney Stadium is the first look at whether any of it works. The opponent — Southeastern Louisiana, a preseason top-20 FCS team coming off a six-point loss to HCU in which three turnovers were the difference — has more teeth than a typical FCS tune-up.

GAME DETAILS

Matchup: Southeastern Louisiana (0-1) at South Alabama (4-8 in 2025)

Date: Saturday, Sept. 5

Kickoff: 6 p.m. CT

Location: Hancock Whitney Stadium, Mobile, Ala. (25,450)

TV: ESPN+

Spread: South Alabama -12.5

Over/Under: 52.5

Series: South Alabama leads 1-0

THE STAKES

Southeastern Louisiana entered the season ranked No. 19/20 in FCS polls and lost its opener at home to HCU, 34-28. Three turnovers led to 17 HCU points. The Lions rallied from 34-14 to 34-28 in the fourth quarter but could not complete the comeback.

For South Alabama, this is really simple: Don't take the Lions lightly and get out of here with a 1-0 start. It would be a mistake to view Southeastern Louisiana's opening loss as a sign that this will be a cakewalk. Yes, South Alabama should win, perhaps handily, but Southeastern Louisiana has enough weapons on offense to make this interesting if the Jaguars are not ready to play.

THE NUMBERS

17 — Points scored by HCU off Southeastern Louisiana turnovers in its 34-28 opening win. SLU outgained HCU 398-361, dominated time of possession 35:32 to 24:28 and lost by six. No doubt the Lions feel they gave that opener away.

1.0 — Sacks per game for South Alabama's defense in 2025 — worst in the Sun Belt. Todd Orlando's USF defense averaged 2.5 sacks per game last season. The gap between those numbers is the reason Orlando is here.

248 — Rushing yards for Southeastern Louisiana against HCU, spread across five ball carriers. SLU can run the ball. South Alabama's defensive line lost six players to the portal and is the biggest question mark on the roster.

ABOUT SOUTH ALABAMA (Home)

South Alabama went 4-8 in 2025. That record deserves context. Three games were decided by a score or less — a two-point loss to College Football Playoff participant Tulane, an overtime defeat at archrival Troy and a heartbreaker to Arkansas State on a last-second field goal. This was a competitive team that could not close.

What Major Applewhite did about it defines the stakes for 2026. He overhauled the coaching staff — only four coaches remain in the same positions — brought in Todd Orlando to run the defense and made the most significant offensive decision of his tenure: he is calling the plays again. When Applewhite was the offensive coordinator from 2021-23, the offense was balanced (469 runs, 428 passes). Under Paul Petrino in 2025, it tilted to 531 runs and 310 passes, and the passing game ranked 11th in the Sun Belt at 181.2 yards per game.

The running game remains the identity. Keenan Phillips (607 yards, Preseason All-Sun Belt) takes over as the lead back after Kentrel Bullock's departure. Trae'von Dunbar, a West Virginia transfer, turned heads in spring. The offensive line has two anchors in center Kenton Jerido and right tackle Ethan Hubbard — both Preseason All-Sun Belt — and questions everywhere else. The wide receiver room lost its top two producers (Devin Voisin graduated, Jeremy Scott transferred to TCU) and is leaning on Anthony Eager, who missed the entire spring with a hand injury.

On defense, Orlando inherits a unit that allowed 30.4 points per game, had the worst red zone defense in the Sun Belt and generated one sack per game. Six defensive linemen left through the portal. The cornerback room lost All-Sun Belt selection Nehemiah Chandler to Florida State and has no proven starter. Caleb Dozier, a Georgia Tech transfer with all-conference potential, is rehabbing a foot injury. Orlando's scheme — multiple fronts, heavy blitzing, built on disruption — is a bet on coaching over talent.

ABOUT SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA (Visitor)

Southeastern Louisiana entered 2026 ranked No. 19/20 in FCS polls and opened with a 34-28 home loss to HCU that told two stories. The first: three turnovers — two fumbles lost and an interception — generated 17 HCU points and turned a game the Lions controlled in time of possession and total yards into a 20-point deficit. The second: SLU rallied from 34-14 to 34-28 in the fourth quarter, scoring two touchdowns in the final nine minutes to make it a one-possession game. They have fight. They also have a turnover problem.

Quarterback Kyle Lowe is the engine. He completed 17 of 27 passes for 150 yards and 2 touchdowns against HCU while adding a 55-yard rushing touchdown — scrambling up the middle untouched on a third-and-long. Lawson Dixon caught both of Lowe's touchdown passes in the fourth-quarter rally. The ground game produced 248 yards across five ball carriers — Kyree Paul (70 yards), Chad Elzy (55), Lowe (54), Deantre Jackson (46) and Calvin Smith Jr. (24 yards, 1 TD). This is a run-first FCS team that plays physical and controls the clock.

Head coach Frank Scelfo's team will be looking to prove the HCU loss was about execution, not talent. The Lions had 398 total yards to HCU's 361, held the ball for 35:32 and went 4-for-5 on fourth down. They did not lose because they were outplayed. They lost because they gave the ball away.

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

Bishop Davenport, QB, South Alabama (6-2, 210, 5th Yr.) — Started all 12 games in 2025: 200-of-294, 2,072 yards, 12 TD, 6 INT passing; 116 carries, 326 rushing yards, 9 rushing TD. Accurate enough to manage the offense, dangerous with his legs, but his arm has a ceiling. Applewhite is calling the plays now with the stated goal of pushing the ball downfield more. This is the first test.

Keenan Phillips, RB, South Alabama (5-10, 185, Jr.) — Preseason All-Sun Belt. Led the Jaguars with 607 rushing yards in 2025 at 4.8 yards per carry. Takes over as the primary back after Bullock's departure. Also returns kicks. The running game averaged 199.7 yards per game last year and is this offense's foundation.

Kyle Lowe, QB, Southeastern Louisiana (#6) — Dual-threat who threw for 150 yards and 2 touchdowns and ran for a 55-yard score in the Week 1 loss to HCU. The interception and the team's two fumbles cost SLU the game. If he protects the ball, the Lions can hang around.

Mase Lewis, DL, South Alabama (6-3, 275, 5th Yr.) — McNeese transfer who posted 4.5 sacks in 12 games in 2025 and was a spring standout. In a defense that generated one sack per game a year ago, Lewis is the most likely new face to make an immediate impact in Orlando's blitz-heavy scheme.

INJURY REPORT / AVAILABILITY

South Alabama:

• Caleb Dozier (LB, Georgia Tech transfer) — Foot injury. Rehabbing. May not be 100% at start of season.
• Anthony Eager (WR) — Missed entire spring with hand injury. Fall camp status unconfirmed.
• PJ Martin (RB) — Limited in spring with back injury that "may end up being a chronic thing."

Southeastern Louisiana:

• No specific injuries reported beyond the Week 1 loss.

WHEN SOUTH ALABAMA HAS THE BALL

The Jaguars will run the football. That is who they are. Phillips, Dunbar and Martin (if healthy) behind Jerido and Hubbard gives Applewhite the horses to control the tempo and set up play-action — the same formula that produced 199.7 rushing yards per game and 30 rushing touchdowns in 2025.

The question is whether Applewhite uses this game to stretch the field. He said at Sun Belt Media Days that the offense needs to be "more aggressive from a passing game standpoint, to be more explosive." He hired Tim Rattay — a record-setting quarterback at Louisiana Tech and longtime NFL player — as wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator specifically to add dimension. SLU allowed 200 passing yards to HCU. If Eager is available and Davenport can push the ball downfield, this is the game to establish it.

The offensive line is the concern. Beyond Jerido and Hubbard, every position is being sorted out. Jamal Siler gets the first shot at left guard. Reese Osei-Wusu gets the first shot at left tackle. SLU's defensive front is an FCS unit — this is the softest test South Alabama's line will face all season. If the run game does not establish itself behind this group against Southeastern Louisiana, September gets long in a hurry.

WHEN SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA HAS THE BALL

SLU ran for 248 yards against HCU with five different ball carriers. Lowe is a genuine dual threat who can beat you with his legs on broken plays — the 55-yard rushing touchdown came on a third-and-long scramble when nothing else was there. Paul, Elzy, Jackson and Smith Jr. all contributed. This is a physical, run-first FCS team that grinds the clock and keeps the ball away from your offense.

That is exactly the kind of attack that will be a good test for the Jaguars' improvement up front. Orlando's defensive line is rebuilt from transfers and young players. Stephen Johnson at nose tackle and Emmanuel Waller at end are the most experienced pieces, but depth is thin.

The key for South Alabama is forcing turnovers. SLU has shown it can cough up the ball.

SOUTH ALABAMA WINS IF

• The offensive line — still sorting out three starting spots — opens enough lanes for Phillips and Dunbar to establish the running game early and build confidence for the tougher tests ahead
• Davenport pushes the ball downfield and South Alabama shows signs of the more aggressive passing attack Applewhite promised. Eager's availability matters here
• Orlando's defense forces turnovers. SLU gave the ball away three times against HCU. If the Jaguars can take it away early, this game gets out of hand
• The defensive line holds up against SLU's run-first attack and does not get pushed around — the specific concern Stevenson flagged about this unit
• Special teams are clean. Kicking was a problem in 2025 (7-of-10 on field goals). This game should not come down to a missed kick.

SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA WINS IF

• Lowe protects the ball. The three turnovers against HCU were the difference in a game SLU otherwise controlled. Zero turnovers changes everything
• The running game grinds clock the way it did against HCU — 35:32 time of possession, 248 rushing yards, five contributing backs. Keep South Alabama's offense on the sideline
• SLU's defense forces Davenport into mistakes. He threw 6 interceptions in 2025.

X FACTOR

South Alabama's defensive line depth. Six players left through the portal. This is the fourth defensive line coach in four years. If the rebuilt group can generate the kind of negative plays this defense has not produced (one sack per game in 2025), it validates the coaching overhaul and sets the tone for conference play. If SLU's FCS offensive line pushes South Alabama around, September could get uncomfortable fast.

COACH SPEAK

Major Applewhite, South Alabama:

"We came in there thinking they were very, very deep at running back. We knew what type of player he was. So, it all showed up, and the game was just turnovers hurt him. Had a chance to win and everything that could go wrong kind of went wrong for him. Block kick, fourth down stop, ball on the ground. Still had a chance in the last series to win the ball game. So, super talented, explosive just like we thought." — Week 1 press conference

"You make great strides usually between games one and two."

Frank Scelfo, Southeastern Louisiana:

"Not much went well for us today, but I can't fault the effort. We played hard, but the execution wasn't where it needed to be." — After 34-28 loss to HCU

THE PREDICTIONS

Line: South Alabama -12.5, O/U 52.5

Bleacher Report: South Alabama 34, Southeastern Louisiana 20 (covers)

YouWager.lv: South Alabama 35, Southeastern Louisiana 24 (SLU covers)

JagsJungle.com — Doug Konkel: South Alabama by 10 (SLU covers)

JagsJungle.com — Caleb Seaver: South Alabama 45-21 (covers)

JagsJungle.com — Tres Harrison: South Alabama by 17 (covers)

Consensus: All five picks take South Alabama. Three of five cover the spread.

DIEHARD BOTTOM LINE

Coming off 4-8, you may feel nervous about a solid FCS opponent with some quality skill players. But this should be a workmanlike performance and a comfortable win for South Alabama. The offensive line takes control of the game, the Jags run the ball effectively and Davenport makes a couple of big plays.

• Straight-up pick: South Alabama
• Against the spread (South Alabama -12.5): South Alabama -12.5
• Prediction: South Alabama 36, Southeastern Louisiana 14
• Season record: Week 1 — no prior record