College football is weird. We spend months analyzing stats, looking at "strength of schedule," and debating portal entries, only for a backup quarterback to step onto a field in Montgomery, Alabama, and turn the whole narrative upside down. That’s exactly what went down when we watched South Alabama vs WMU in the 2024 Salute to Veterans Bowl. If you were looking for a clean, predictable matchup between the Sun Belt and the MAC, you weren't watching this game.
It was messy. It was high-stakes for two programs trying to prove they belonged. And honestly? It was one of the better bowl games of the year that nobody outside of Mobile or Kalamazoo seems to talk about anymore.
The Game That Flipped the Script
Let's set the stage. South Alabama entered the game as a 6.5-point favorite, but they were essentially playing without their heart and soul. Star quarterback Gio Lopez was sidelined with a nasty case of turf toe. Their top receiver, Jamaal Pritchett, who literally led the Sun Belt in catches and yards, had opted out. On paper, Western Michigan should have smelled blood in the water.
And for a while, they did.
Western Michigan jumped out to a 10-0 lead. Jalen Buckley punched in a 1-yard run, and it felt like the Broncos were going to bully the Jaguars all night. But then Bishop Davenport happened.
Davenport wasn't supposed to be the hero. He was the "next man up" in a season where South Alabama had already gone through the ringer under first-year coach Major Applewhite. Davenport didn't just manage the game; he torched it. He finished with 271 yards through the air and another 85 on the ground. Two of his passes went to Jeremiah Webb—one for 52 yards and another for 45—flipping a 10-point deficit into a lead by halftime.
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Why the South Alabama vs WMU Matchup Was a Statistical Nightmare
If you’re a defensive coordinator, don't watch the tape of this game. It'll give you hives. The Jaguars put up a staggering 537 total yards. For context, Western Michigan only managed 317.
- Rushing Dominance: South Alabama ran for 266 yards.
- Big Play Volatility: The Jaguars averaged 8.7 yards per play. That is an insane number for a bowl game.
- Third Down Struggles: Interestingly, USA only converted 2 of 8 third downs. They didn't need to get to third down because they were scoring on massive chunk plays instead.
Western Michigan played a "bend but don't break" style that eventually just... broke. They held the ball longer (32 minutes to South Alabama's 27), but possession doesn't mean much when the other team is scoring from 50 yards out.
The 2025 Reality Check
Fast forward to where we are now in early 2026. Looking back, that South Alabama vs WMU game was a massive fork in the road for both programs.
For the Jaguars, it was the start of the Major Applewhite era properly taking root. They finished 2024 with a 7-6 record and back-to-back bowl wins for the first time in school history. But 2025 was a different story. The Jags struggled to find that same explosive consistency, finishing 4-8. Bishop Davenport, the bowl hero, became the full-time guy, throwing for over 2,000 yards and 12 touchdowns, but the defense just couldn't hold up its end of the bargain, giving up over 30 points a game.
Western Michigan, meanwhile, used that loss as fuel. Lance Taylor’s squad went on a tear in 2025. They didn't just improve; they won the MAC. They finished 10-4, beat Miami (OH) in the conference title game, and absolutely crushed Kennesaw State in the Myrtle Beach Bowl.
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It’s a classic college football irony. The team that won the head-to-head bowl game ended up regressing the following year, while the "loser" used the experience to build a championship roster.
Key Players You Should've Kept An Eye On
You can’t talk about this rivalry—if you can call a cross-conference bowl matchup that—without mentioning the guys who actually put the pads on.
Jeremiah Webb’s 182-yard receiving performance in the bowl game remains one of the most efficient outings in South Alabama history. He only had six catches. Think about that. He averaged 30 yards every time the ball touched his hands.
On the Broncos' side, Jalen Buckley remained a workhorse. Even in the 2025 season where WMU took over the MAC, Buckley was the engine, crossing the 1,000-yard mark and scoring 9 touchdowns. He was the steady hand that kept the Broncos' offense viable when the passing game went cold.
What Most People Get Wrong About These Games
People tend to look at "Group of Five" bowl games as meaningless exhibitions. They aren't. For schools like South Alabama and Western Michigan, these games are the primary recruiting tool.
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When South Alabama beat Western Michigan 30-23, they were able to tell recruits in the Alabama/Florida panhandle area that they were a "winning culture." When WMU lost, Lance Taylor used that "close but no cigar" feeling to keep his veteran core together for the 2025 title run.
Also, can we talk about the venue? The Cramton Bowl in Montgomery isn't the Rose Bowl. It's old. It's got character. The wind can be weird. In that December 2024 game, the temperature was a crisp 61 degrees with a light breeze—perfect football weather, but the kind of environment where a MAC team from Michigan usually feels right at home. Instead, the "Southern" team handled the conditions better.
Actionable Insights for the Next Matchup
If these two ever meet again in a bowl or a scheduled non-conference game, here is what you need to look for:
- Check the "Opt-Out" List Early: As we saw with Jamaal Pritchett, one missing star can change the entire offensive scheme.
- Monitor the Defensive EPA: South Alabama’s defense has been a roller coaster. If they are playing a disciplined, run-heavy team like Western Michigan, the "yards per rush" stat is the only one that matters.
- Look for the "Big Play" Quarterback: Western Michigan historically plays a more methodical, pro-style game. South Alabama loves the vertical threat. The team that dictates the tempo of the game—not just the score—usually wins this specific matchup.
The 2024 game proved that stats from the regular season often go out the window in December. South Alabama was missing their best players and still out-gained WMU by over 200 yards. It’s a reminder that in college football, momentum and "want-to" often override what the spreadsheets say.
Moving forward, keep a close watch on the coaching stability at both schools. Major Applewhite is still trying to regain that 2024 magic at South Alabama, while Lance Taylor has turned Western Michigan into a regional powerhouse. If they cross paths again, the dynamic will be completely different.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the transfer portal movements this spring. Both programs have been active in looking for defensive secondary help, which was the glaring weakness in their last meeting. Checking the updated 2026 rosters in August will give you the best indicator of whether we'll see another 500-yard explosion or a defensive grind.