Troy University Athletics
Saturday, September 16
Troy, Ala.
6 p.m.
Troy University
vs
James Madison
Troy Hosts JMU in Battle of SBC Favorites
9/14/2023 11:40:00 AM | Football
TROY, Ala. – The Sun Belt schedule makers knew exactly what they were doing when they put Troy and James Madison on the week three slate in the league opener for both clubs. The game pits the Sun Belt's East and West Division favorites against each other at 6 p.m. Saturday in The Vet.
Televised by NFL Network, the matchup is what would have been the Sun Belt Conference Championship Game showdown last season had James Madison (2-0) not been in its FBS transitional process. While the names across the jerseys remain Troy and James Madison, the players on the field vary greatly from what would have transpired last December.
Troy (1-1) overhauled a majority of its roster following the graduation of almost half its defense, three starters on its offensive line and top two receivers. The Trojans returned just 57 players from last year's Sun Belt Championship squad, the fourth fewest in the country.
The Dukes, who are coming off a victory at Virginia, are replacing their leading rusher, starting quarterback and three of their top four receivers.
Troy's two games this season both have scores that were not indicative of how the game played out on the field. In the opener, the Trojans outgained Stephen F. Austin by a 300-yard margin, but turnovers contributed to a closer final score, while last week's game at No. 15 Kansas State saw a four-point margin turn into 11 before the half on a quick score and two late touchdowns tilted the final margin to a more lopsided margin.
The Trojans will look to lean on their defense, especially a defensive line unit, to put pressure on JMU's transfer quarterback, Jordan McCloud. Richard Jibunor enters the week first among active players nationally in career sacks and tackle for loss yards while ranking fourth in forced fumbles, while Javon Solomon is seventh among active players in tackles for.
Troy has forced just one sack and 10 tackles for loss through the first two games, with just 1.5 stops behind the line coming from the front four.
Offensively, Kimani Vidal continues to lead the nation, rushing for 311 yards through the first two weeks of the season. The tally is the third most in Sun Belt history through two games and most in Troy history. Sixth-year quarterback Gunnar Watson has five touchdown strikes on the year to four different receivers, as seven Trojans have multiple receptions on the year.
James Madison's win at Virginia wasn't much of a surprise as the Dukes were favored against a Cavilers' team that lost six of its final seven games to close out the 2022 season. JMU rallied from a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter, capped by an 8-play, 80-yard drive that reached the end zone with 55 seconds remaining for the victory.
The Dukes boast one of the nation's top rushing defenses, allowing just 40.0 yards per game on the ground this year after holding opponents to 80.2 yards and just eight touchdowns in 2022.
Notable
• Troy has held an opponent to less than 250 yards in 37 games since moving to the FBS level; the season opener marked the first time in those games the Trojans allowed more than 27 points and just the second time allowing 21-plus points.
• Kimani Vidal has rushed for 200-plus yards in three of the last six games.
• Troy finished 6-0 in close games at the half last season (score differential is five points or less).
• From 2005-21, Troy was 11-73 when trailing at the half and 5-52 when scoring less than 21 points ... last season, Troy was 5-1 when trailing at the half and 5-1 when scoring less than 21 points.
• Senior safety Dell Pettus has started 49 straight games, the longest active streak in the country.
• Scott Taylor Renfroe is 4-for-4 on field goal attempts this season; his four field goals are tied for the second most through the first two games of the season by a Troy kicker since at least 2000. He is one of just two Trojans, Sam Glusman, with four or more field goals in the first two games without a miss.
• Troy held Kansas State to 147 rushing yards, tied for the 10th fewest by a Troy team against a ranked opponent.
• Richard Jibunor is the nation's active FBS leader in sacks, solo sacks, sack yards and tackle for loss yards ... he is fourth in forced fumbles and 12th in tackles for loss
• Reddy Steward has returned three career interceptions for a touchdown, the second most of any active FBS player nationally and tied for the most in Troy history.
• Troy has four rushes of 40-plus yards this season (all from Kimani Vidal), the most in the country.
• Rushing yards shy of becoming Troy's all-time leader for Kimani Vidal is 762 rushing yards shy of becoming the all-time leader in Troy history.
Televised by NFL Network, the matchup is what would have been the Sun Belt Conference Championship Game showdown last season had James Madison (2-0) not been in its FBS transitional process. While the names across the jerseys remain Troy and James Madison, the players on the field vary greatly from what would have transpired last December.
Troy (1-1) overhauled a majority of its roster following the graduation of almost half its defense, three starters on its offensive line and top two receivers. The Trojans returned just 57 players from last year's Sun Belt Championship squad, the fourth fewest in the country.
The Dukes, who are coming off a victory at Virginia, are replacing their leading rusher, starting quarterback and three of their top four receivers.
Troy's two games this season both have scores that were not indicative of how the game played out on the field. In the opener, the Trojans outgained Stephen F. Austin by a 300-yard margin, but turnovers contributed to a closer final score, while last week's game at No. 15 Kansas State saw a four-point margin turn into 11 before the half on a quick score and two late touchdowns tilted the final margin to a more lopsided margin.
The Trojans will look to lean on their defense, especially a defensive line unit, to put pressure on JMU's transfer quarterback, Jordan McCloud. Richard Jibunor enters the week first among active players nationally in career sacks and tackle for loss yards while ranking fourth in forced fumbles, while Javon Solomon is seventh among active players in tackles for.
Troy has forced just one sack and 10 tackles for loss through the first two games, with just 1.5 stops behind the line coming from the front four.
Offensively, Kimani Vidal continues to lead the nation, rushing for 311 yards through the first two weeks of the season. The tally is the third most in Sun Belt history through two games and most in Troy history. Sixth-year quarterback Gunnar Watson has five touchdown strikes on the year to four different receivers, as seven Trojans have multiple receptions on the year.
James Madison's win at Virginia wasn't much of a surprise as the Dukes were favored against a Cavilers' team that lost six of its final seven games to close out the 2022 season. JMU rallied from a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter, capped by an 8-play, 80-yard drive that reached the end zone with 55 seconds remaining for the victory.
The Dukes boast one of the nation's top rushing defenses, allowing just 40.0 yards per game on the ground this year after holding opponents to 80.2 yards and just eight touchdowns in 2022.
Notable
• Troy has held an opponent to less than 250 yards in 37 games since moving to the FBS level; the season opener marked the first time in those games the Trojans allowed more than 27 points and just the second time allowing 21-plus points.
• Kimani Vidal has rushed for 200-plus yards in three of the last six games.
• Troy finished 6-0 in close games at the half last season (score differential is five points or less).
• From 2005-21, Troy was 11-73 when trailing at the half and 5-52 when scoring less than 21 points ... last season, Troy was 5-1 when trailing at the half and 5-1 when scoring less than 21 points.
• Senior safety Dell Pettus has started 49 straight games, the longest active streak in the country.
• Scott Taylor Renfroe is 4-for-4 on field goal attempts this season; his four field goals are tied for the second most through the first two games of the season by a Troy kicker since at least 2000. He is one of just two Trojans, Sam Glusman, with four or more field goals in the first two games without a miss.
• Troy held Kansas State to 147 rushing yards, tied for the 10th fewest by a Troy team against a ranked opponent.
• Richard Jibunor is the nation's active FBS leader in sacks, solo sacks, sack yards and tackle for loss yards ... he is fourth in forced fumbles and 12th in tackles for loss
• Reddy Steward has returned three career interceptions for a touchdown, the second most of any active FBS player nationally and tied for the most in Troy history.
• Troy has four rushes of 40-plus yards this season (all from Kimani Vidal), the most in the country.
• Rushing yards shy of becoming Troy's all-time leader for Kimani Vidal is 762 rushing yards shy of becoming the all-time leader in Troy history.
Players Mentioned
BAN
/ Football
S
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K
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DE
/ Football
CB
/ Football
RB
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QB
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