Troy Travels to JMU for SBC Championship Game Rematch

TROY, Ala. – Troy returns to Bridgeforth Stadium on Thursday for a rematch of the 2025 Sun Belt Conference Championship game against James Madison. The nationally televised contest kicks off at 6:30 p.m. (CT) on ESPN2.

Ironically, both teams enter the game coming off a loss. JMU (7-1, 4-1 SBC) dropped an overtime contest at App State last Thursday, while Troy (3-4, 1-2) fell to ULM, allowing a pair of late scores after leading 14-3.

JMU has won 11 straight home games, the sixth-longest active streak in the country, and is averaging 50.3 points and 491.8 yards while allowing just 13.8 points and 335.5 yards in its four home games this season.

The story has been different on the road, where the Trojans are seeking their first win in four tries this season. Troy averages just 11 points and 328.3 yards on the road, but the defense has played well, allowing only 27 points and 331.7 yards, the fifth- and second-best road totals in the Sun Belt.

Troy heads to JMU with some uncertainty at quarterback after Goose Crowder left a second straight game with an upper-body injury. Fellow sixth-year signal caller Tucker Kilcrease rushed for a touchdown at Louisiana two weeks ago and threw a touchdown pass against ULM last week.

Led by Donnie Smith and Keno Jones, the Troy defense, with a history of sacking the quarterback and forcing turnovers, will need to play a major role. The Dukes will be without the Sun Belt's leading rusher, George Pettaway (103.0 ypg), after he suffered an injury against App State.

Smith has a sack in nine of the last 10 games and in 15 games since the start of last season, the most in the country, while Jones ranks seventh in the league with 7.5 TFLs.

Troy has forced three or more turnovers 36 times since 2016, the third most in the country, and has four or more sacks in 19 games dating back to 2022, the eighth-most nationally.

JMU games have gone one of two ways this season … close games or blowouts. The Dukes have played four games (three wins) decided by 13 points or fewer, while the other four have been decided by an average of 41.3 points.

Notable
• Troy has scored on its opening drive of the game in 4-of-7 games and the opening drive of the second half in 4-of-7 games

• Troy is averaging 3.7 yards after contact running the football; the 17th most in the country

• Troy has held four opponents to fewer than 150 passing yards this season, tied for the fifth most in the country.

• Tucker Kilcrease's six career rushing touchdowns are the fifth most by a Troy QB since at least 1995

• Troy's 437 rushing yards against Southern Miss were the most in a SBC game since Georgia Southern rushed for 507 yards against New Mexico State on Oct. 17, 2015, and the most by a Troy squad since 2002

• Troy has won the coin toss in 6-of-7 games

• Goose Crowder is averaging 4.6 yards after contact (180 total yards) and has forced 15 missed tackles. He is sixth nationally among QBs (min. 30 rushes) in YAC and tied for 26th in missed tackles forced

• Donnie Smith has a sack in nine of the last 10 games dating back to last season and in 15 total games since 2025. The 15 games is the most in the country

• Donnie Smith is tied for 15th nationally (PFF) with 21 quarterback hurries through. Among players with 175 snaps, ranks 20th nationally with a 14.1 win percentage and 15th with a 14.1 pressure percentage (plays with pressure generated/pass rush snaps)

• Troy has allowed 84 scrimmage plays of 10 yards or more, the third fewest in the Sun Belt

• Troy has forced 66 missed tackles in the run game, the ninth most in the country

• Troy has rushed for 1,381 yards through seven games, which already eclipses the 14-game total from 2025

• Troy ranks 11th nationally holding opponents to a 72.0 percent success rate in the red zone (18-of-25) ... the Trojans are 53rd with a 56.0 touchdown rate allowed (14-of-25)

• Jabari Strait has allowed receptions on just 36.7 percent of targets against him (11-of-30); that ranks fourth among FBS players with at least 30 targets. He also ranks third nationally with just five first downs allowed in coverage (min. 30 targets)

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Players Mentioned

Goose Crowder

Keno Jones

Tucker Kilcrease

Donnie Smith

Jabari Strait

Troy University Athletics