Troy University

TROY, Ala. – After playing just twice in the last 23 days, Troy football returns to the starting lineup for Saturday's Sun Belt West Division showdown against Arkansas State at Centennial Bank Stadium in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

The game pits the two winningest programs in Sun Belt history against each other, with Troy leading the way with 98 wins while Arkansas State and Louisiana are tied for second with 95 (both programs entered the league three years before Troy). a). Troy also leads all Sun Belt programs with eight league titles, followed by six at Arkansas State.

For the first time in nearly a month, Troy (1-6, 0-3 SBC) will have some certainty at the quarterback position after announcing he is the starter earlier this week Goose Crowder will miss the rest of the season due to injury. Junior Matthew Caldwell and in the second year Tucker Kilcrease have played splits in Crowder's absence, as Troy's Game One starter has played just 11 quarters this season.

Troy will look for his running game, led by Damien Taylor And Gerald Greento help fill the void in Crowder's absence. The Trojans have rushed for 189 yards or more in three games this season, with Taylor ranking 11th^Th nationally in yards after contact (4.65 per carry).

Caldwell and Kilcrease have weapons on the outside, led by Junior Devonte Rosswho ranks fifth nationally with eight touchdown receptions and also leads the Sun Belt in all-purpose yards, receiving yards, touchdown receptions and total touchdowns.

Outside of the Texas State game, in which Troy was missing three starters and several key backups on defense, the Trojans played solid defensive football, holding the other six opponents to either fewer than 60 rushing yards or 180 passing yards and 5 of – 7 opponents have fewer than 400 yards of offense this year, three of which have 350 yards or less.

The Trojans held South Alabama to just 318 yards in their last game, the Jaguars' fewest this season (including at LSU), and recorded 15 tackles for loss in the game, the fourth-most in Troy FBS history. Linebackers Brendan Jackson finished half TFL under the single game record, posting a score of 4.5 in the game.

Troy, which ranks eighth nationally in tackles for loss since 2017, has five or more in five games this year and 38 in the last five games.

Arkansas State (4-3, 2-1) has won two of its last three games, with wins over Southern Miss and South Alabama corresponding to a loss to Texas State. The Red Wolves' offense features sophomore quarterback Jaylen Raynor, who has already thrown for more than 4,000 yards in his young career, and receiver Corey Rucker, who ranks third in program history in touchdown receptions and fourth in receiving yards proven.

Remarkable

• Troy has forced 195 turnovers since the start of the 2016 season, second-most in the country.

• Troy has used five different offensive line units in seven games this season, fourth-most in the country (FSU, UTSA, Middle Tennessee – 6).

• Troy's games total in 2024 was just 120.0 games, third fewest in the country (Kentucky, 114.57).

• Paddy McAteerwho only kicked an American football in April, is the No. 23 KOS player in the country and 12th with an average of 70.1 yards per attempt, according to PFF.

• Troy's defense has launched attacks on their side of the field 10 times this season (13 percent of possessions); Of those drives, Troy's defense only allows an average of 4.1 points per drive,

• Damien Taylor ranks 21st nationally among running backs per PFF with a rush grade of 83.7 (min. 65 rushes) and is 11th with an average of 4.65 yards after contact.

• Big plays were key to Troy's success on offense. The Trojans scored on just 6.8 percent of their drives (3 of 44) without a major play (any pass of more than 15 yards or a rush of more than 12 yards). Troy scored on 66.7 percent of big-play drives (20 of 30).

• Starting QB Goose Crowder will miss the remainder of the 2024 season due to injury; He played in just 11 quarters in four games.

• Troy has allowed opponents to score on just three drives this season, although it hasn't allowed a big play (12-plus-yard run, 15-plus-yard pass) that resulted in points (3). of 35); In contrast, Troy allowed points on 30 of 42 drives when he allowed a big play.

• 26 Trojans (offense/defense) made their first FBS career start this season, the most in the country. The number rises to 30 if you count special teams and 34 if you count Troy's first-time starters.

• Troy's drives with at least three first downs this season resulted in a touchdown 16 of 17 times; For the one who didn't, Troy knelt down to pass the time.