MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Bowl season may still be young, but Alabama football wasted no time reminding everyone that bragging rights matter — especially when they stay in-state.
Jacksonville State knocked off Troy on Tuesday night in the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl, renewing an old rivalry under the bowl lights and delivering a statement win for Conference USA over the Sun Belt. The Gamecocks’ 17-13 victory capped a frisky, entertaining clash that felt far more intense than your typical midweek December bowl.
Jacksonville State, the C-USA runner-up, finished the season 9-5 in head coach Charles Kelly’s first season at the helm. Troy, the Sun Belt runner-up, closed at 8-6 after Tuesday’s result. Records aside, this one carried weight — for the programs, the conferences and the Yellowhammer State.
Creel Sets the Tone
Jacksonville State quarterback Caden Creel played like he wanted the moment. Calm in the pocket, decisive with the football and fearless when Troy pushed back, Creel controlled the game from start to finish. He consistently extended drives, punished coverage mistakes and gave the Gamecocks exactly what they needed — answers.
Every time Troy threatened, Creel responded. Every time the Trojans leaned on momentum, Jacksonville State leaned on its quarterback.
That steadiness mattered in a bowl game that swung emotionally and never fully settled until the final minutes.
A Bowl Game That Felt Like More
This wasn’t just another postseason exhibition. The atmosphere reflected it.
Fans from both sides showed up, made noise and treated the matchup like what it was — a renewed rivalry clash that doesn’t happen often enough anymore. Montgomery served as a fitting backdrop, hosting a game that blended regional pride, conference credibility and just enough weird bowl-season energy to keep things fun.
Jacksonville State played with edge. Troy played with urgency. Neither side treated this like a vacation.
Conference USA Claims Early Bragging Rights
The result also carries meaning beyond the scoreboard.
This was just the second FBS bowl game of the season, following Washington and Boise State’s matchup in the LA Bowl on Saturday, and Conference USA wasted no time planting a flag. A win over a respected Sun Belt program gives the league early bowl-season momentum and something it doesn’t always get — the talking point.
C-USA teams have spent years fighting for respect. Tuesday night didn’t solve everything, but it helped.
What It Means Going Forward
For Jacksonville State, the win reinforces that its move at the FBS level continues to gain traction. Nine wins, a bowl trophy and a victory over a regional rival make for a strong finish and something tangible to build on heading into the offseason, after winning the conference last year and coming up just short this season.
For Troy, the loss stings, but it doesn’t erase a solid season or a program that remains one of the Sun Belt’s most consistent. Bowl games can turn on a handful of plays, and this one did.
For Alabama football fans, it was a reminder that meaningful games don’t always need playoff implications. Sometimes, they just need history, proximity and pride.
And on a Tuesday night in Montgomery, that was more than enough.
Check Out All EasySportz College Football Content Here!
College Football Viewing Guide
