Troy University Athletics
Saturday, September 12
Troy, Ala.
3 p.m.
Troy University
vs
Alabama State
Troy Returns to The Vet to Host Alabama State
9/10/2026 9:07:00 AM | Football
TROY, Ala. – For the first time in nearly a decade, Troy and Alabama State will meet on the gridiron, with the Trojans hosting the Hornets on Saturday at The Vet; kickoff is set for 3 p.m. This will be the 17th all-time meeting between the schools separated by less than an hour, but only the fourth since the turn of the century.
In addition to the action on the field, Saturday's contest will be a can't-miss affair as Troy Athletics honors the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2011. Troy native Shelia Jackson will sing a stirring version of God Bless America between the third and fourth quarters, and first responders will be honored all day. For more details on everything happening on campus for gameday, visit Gameday Need to Know at TroyTrojans.com.
On the field, Gerad Parker's squad pulled off a gritty 24-21 victory over Sam Houston in the season opener this past Saturday. Sixth-year quarterback Goose Crowder threw three touchdown passes and averaged 12.0 yards per carry (excluding sack yardage), while linebacker Keno Jones recorded three tackles for loss. The Troy defense finished with 13 tackles behind the line as a unit.
Troy (1-0) limited the Bearkats to just 38 yards on the ground, the fewest by an opponent in a season opener since 2004, but will need to clean up the secondary after yielding 335 passing yards and three touchdown passes.
Some rust was to be expected for the Trojans, as 27 players made their Troy debuts in the opener and 13 made their collegiate debuts, while 15 Trojans made their first starts in a Troy uniform.
Despite five 10-win seasons since 2016, Troy is seeking its first 2-0 start since the 2013 season, when Larry Blakeney's squad defeated UAB and Savannah State to open the year. Assistant quarterbacks coach Corey Robinson was under center for the Trojans that season.
Alabama State (2-0) already has two games under its belt after much of the FCS ranks played in Week 0. The Hornets picked up a league victory over Southern in the opener, scoring 20 unanswered points after falling behind midway through the fourth quarter, and then shut out NCAA Division II Lane College, 34-0.
The Hornets are led by All-American quarterback Andrew Body, who threw 20 touchdown passes to just one interception last season while rushing for 518 yards and four touchdowns.
Notable
• 27 players made their Troy debut in the season-opening victory over Sam Houston, while 13 players made their NCAA debut
• Troy held Sam Houston to just 38 rushing yards on 24 carries ... it was the fewest rushing yards by an opponent in a season opener since Marshall rushed for 25 yards in the 2004 opener
• Six different Trojans caught their first career pass in the victory over Sam Houston
• After the victory over Sam Houston, Troy has won 14 of its last 15 games against teams from the state of Texas dating back to the 2012 season. Texas State (10-1), North Texas (2-0), Sam Houston (1-0) & UTSA (1-0)
• Troy has won nine of its last 10 games when rushing for 100-plus yards
• Troy has won 82 games since the start of the 2016 season, the 20th most in the country and the fifth most at the G6 level
• Fabian Rogosch's first quarter touchdown reception against Sam Houston came on the first catch and target of his career; he also caught the game-clinching pass on third down allowing Troy to kneel out the clock
• Troy had 13 tackles for loss in the opener against Sam Houston, it was the most by a Troy team since 2024 and the second-most of the opening weekend and most against an FBS team (Va. Tech had 18 against VMI)
• Donnie Smith led the Sun Belt with 11 sacks last season ... it was the second time in the last three seasons a Trojan has led the league in sacks (Javon Solomon, 2023, 16)
• Troy has run between 60-69 plays 11 times under head coach Gerad Parker, the Trojans are 4-7 in those games. When the total jumps to 70-plus plays, Troy is 7-2
• Troy has recorded multiple sacks in 36 games since the start of the 2022 season (27-9), the 17th most in the country. Troy has four or more sacks 19 times (17-2), the second most nationally, and five or more sacks 11 times (10-1), the sixth most in the country
• Troy outrushed Sam Houston 177-38 in the opener, it was just the second time in the past nine games that the Trojans outgained their opponent on the ground
• Troy has held 47 of its last 61 opponents to 375 yards of total offense or less; 17-of-27 in the Gerad Parker era
• Troy is 21-34 on the coin toss since 2022; the Trojans are 13-14 under Gerad Parker
• Troy is the only school to appear in multiple SBC Championship Games and have a winning record (2-1)
In addition to the action on the field, Saturday's contest will be a can't-miss affair as Troy Athletics honors the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2011. Troy native Shelia Jackson will sing a stirring version of God Bless America between the third and fourth quarters, and first responders will be honored all day. For more details on everything happening on campus for gameday, visit Gameday Need to Know at TroyTrojans.com.
On the field, Gerad Parker's squad pulled off a gritty 24-21 victory over Sam Houston in the season opener this past Saturday. Sixth-year quarterback Goose Crowder threw three touchdown passes and averaged 12.0 yards per carry (excluding sack yardage), while linebacker Keno Jones recorded three tackles for loss. The Troy defense finished with 13 tackles behind the line as a unit.
Troy (1-0) limited the Bearkats to just 38 yards on the ground, the fewest by an opponent in a season opener since 2004, but will need to clean up the secondary after yielding 335 passing yards and three touchdown passes.
Some rust was to be expected for the Trojans, as 27 players made their Troy debuts in the opener and 13 made their collegiate debuts, while 15 Trojans made their first starts in a Troy uniform.
Despite five 10-win seasons since 2016, Troy is seeking its first 2-0 start since the 2013 season, when Larry Blakeney's squad defeated UAB and Savannah State to open the year. Assistant quarterbacks coach Corey Robinson was under center for the Trojans that season.
Alabama State (2-0) already has two games under its belt after much of the FCS ranks played in Week 0. The Hornets picked up a league victory over Southern in the opener, scoring 20 unanswered points after falling behind midway through the fourth quarter, and then shut out NCAA Division II Lane College, 34-0.
The Hornets are led by All-American quarterback Andrew Body, who threw 20 touchdown passes to just one interception last season while rushing for 518 yards and four touchdowns.
Notable
• 27 players made their Troy debut in the season-opening victory over Sam Houston, while 13 players made their NCAA debut
• Troy held Sam Houston to just 38 rushing yards on 24 carries ... it was the fewest rushing yards by an opponent in a season opener since Marshall rushed for 25 yards in the 2004 opener
• Six different Trojans caught their first career pass in the victory over Sam Houston
• After the victory over Sam Houston, Troy has won 14 of its last 15 games against teams from the state of Texas dating back to the 2012 season. Texas State (10-1), North Texas (2-0), Sam Houston (1-0) & UTSA (1-0)
• Troy has won nine of its last 10 games when rushing for 100-plus yards
• Troy has won 82 games since the start of the 2016 season, the 20th most in the country and the fifth most at the G6 level
• Fabian Rogosch's first quarter touchdown reception against Sam Houston came on the first catch and target of his career; he also caught the game-clinching pass on third down allowing Troy to kneel out the clock
• Troy had 13 tackles for loss in the opener against Sam Houston, it was the most by a Troy team since 2024 and the second-most of the opening weekend and most against an FBS team (Va. Tech had 18 against VMI)
• Donnie Smith led the Sun Belt with 11 sacks last season ... it was the second time in the last three seasons a Trojan has led the league in sacks (Javon Solomon, 2023, 16)
• Troy has run between 60-69 plays 11 times under head coach Gerad Parker, the Trojans are 4-7 in those games. When the total jumps to 70-plus plays, Troy is 7-2
• Troy has recorded multiple sacks in 36 games since the start of the 2022 season (27-9), the 17th most in the country. Troy has four or more sacks 19 times (17-2), the second most nationally, and five or more sacks 11 times (10-1), the sixth most in the country
• Troy outrushed Sam Houston 177-38 in the opener, it was just the second time in the past nine games that the Trojans outgained their opponent on the ground
• Troy has held 47 of its last 61 opponents to 375 yards of total offense or less; 17-of-27 in the Gerad Parker era
• Troy is 21-34 on the coin toss since 2022; the Trojans are 13-14 under Gerad Parker
• Troy is the only school to appear in multiple SBC Championship Games and have a winning record (2-1)
Players Mentioned
Thursday, September 10
Wednesday, September 09
Monday, September 07
Monday, September 07