Football is a weird game. One day you’re struggling to reach six wins, and the next, you’re standing in the middle of the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama, trying to prove that your program actually belongs on the national stage. That was basically the vibe when South Alabama vs Western Michigan kicked off in the 2024 Salute to Veterans Bowl. Honestly, if you just looked at the records—both teams coming in at 6-6—you might have expected a bit of a mid-tier slog.
You would have been wrong.
What we got instead was a fascinating clash between Major Applewhite’s high-octane Sun Belt offense and Lance Taylor’s disciplined MAC squad. It wasn't just about a trophy; it was about momentum heading into the 2025 and 2026 seasons. And for South Alabama, it was a chance to show that life after the Kane Wommack era wasn't just going to be okay—it was going to be explosive.
The Night South Alabama Found Its Rhythm
Going into the game, everyone was worried about South Alabama’s quarterback situation. Gio Lopez, the guy who had been the engine for the Jaguars all year, was banged up. Enter Bishop Davenport. There’s always a certain kind of tension when a backup steps into a bowl game. You never know if the playbook is going to shrink or if they’re just going to let it rip.
Davenport let it rip.
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He ended the night with 271 passing yards and two touchdowns, but the real story was Jeremiah Webb. Webb was basically a human highlight reel, racking up 182 receiving yards on just six catches. Two of those were massive scores—a 52-yarder and a 45-yarder—that just seemed to suck the air out of the Western Michigan sidelines. It's funny because Western Michigan usually prides itself on not making mistakes, but they had no answer for the vertical threat the Jaguars posed.
Why Western Michigan Couldn't Close the Gap
Lance Taylor has done a lot of good things in Kalamazoo. He’s made the Broncos tough. They don’t beat themselves with penalties, and they usually manage the clock like pros. But in this specific matchup, they just couldn't find the "extra gear" needed to keep up with the Sun Belt's speed.
The Broncos' offense, led by Hayden Wolff, was... fine. Wolff is a solid, veteran presence who transferred in from Old Dominion, and he played a clean game for the most part (196 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT). The problem was the run game. Jaden Nixon, who had been a beast all season with nearly 900 yards, was held to just 45 yards. When your identity is built on grinding teams down and you can only manage 3.6 yards per carry, you're in trouble.
South Alabama’s defense, coached by Will Windham, hasn't always been a brick wall. In fact, they were ranked 146th against the pass at one point during the season. But in Montgomery, they played inspired. They forced turnovers when it mattered and didn't let Western Michigan's Jalen Buckley get any momentum in the red zone.
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A Tale of Two Programs in 2025 and 2026
Since that matchup, these two programs have gone in wildly different directions. If you look at the 2025 season stats, Western Michigan actually rebounded in a massive way. They went 10-4, won the MAC Championship against Miami (OH), and crushed Kennesaw State in the Myrtle Beach Bowl. Lance Taylor proved that the loss to South Alabama was more of a fluke than a trend.
South Alabama, meanwhile, hit a bit of a rough patch in 2025. They finished 4-8, struggling with a massive exodus of talent through the transfer portal. Losing guys like Fluff Bothwell to Mississippi State and Gio Lopez to North Carolina really hurt the depth chart. It’s the reality of modern college football—if you’re a "Group of Five" school and you have a star, the "Power 4" programs are going to come knocking with NIL money.
South Alabama vs Western Michigan: The Statistical Reality
When you break down the box score of their last major meeting, the disparity in "big play" ability is what jumps off the page.
South Alabama outgained Western Michigan 537 to 317 in total yards. That's a massive gap for two teams that were supposedly evenly matched. The Jaguars averaged 8.7 yards per play. To put that in perspective, that’s video game numbers. Western Michigan actually won the time of possession battle—holding the ball for over 32 minutes—but it didn't matter because South Alabama was scoring in lightning-fast drives.
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One drive in the second quarter took only 35 seconds. Two plays, 80 yards, touchdown. You can’t coach against that kind of explosive speed if your secondary isn't elite.
What to Watch for Next
If these two teams meet again in the 2026 cycle, the narrative will be completely different. Western Michigan is currently riding high on the success of 2025, while Major Applewhite is in "rebuild mode" in Mobile. Here is what you should actually care about if you’re tracking these programs:
- The Transfer Portal Tug-of-War: South Alabama is currently trying to stabilize its roster. Watch for how they use the winter portal to replace the 20+ players they lost last season.
- The MAC Dominance: Western Michigan has established itself as a premier program in the Mid-American Conference. With Brady Jones taking over at QB, their offensive scheme has become even more unpredictable.
- Sun Belt Speed vs. MAC Discipline: This remains the core identity clash. Sun Belt teams like South Alabama will always try to outrun you, while MAC teams will try to outwork you.
The 2024 bowl game was a reminder that on any given night, a "6-6 team" can look like a world-beater if the matchups align. South Alabama had the speed, Western Michigan had the stability, and in the humidity of Alabama, speed won out.
To stay ahead of the curve on these matchups, start tracking the "Success Rate" stats rather than just total yards. For South Alabama, look at their "Early Down Success" to see if Applewhite’s offense is staying on schedule. For Western Michigan, keep an eye on "Points per Trip inside the 40"—that's where they either win or lose their close conference games. Monitoring the weekly injury reports in the Sun Belt is also vital, as depth remains the biggest challenge for the Jaguars heading into the 2026 season.