South Alabama Jaguars Ready to Roar Back Into Bowl Season Hunt

MOBILE, Ala. (BuzzReport) — A new football season brings a fresh opportunity for the South Alabama Jaguars, who are looking to put last year’s struggles behind them and make a run back to Bowl Season.

The Jaguars will officially launch their 2026 campaign Saturday, Sept. 5, when they welcome Southeastern Louisiana for a 6 p.m. CT kickoff that will stream live on ESPN+.

South Alabama enters the matchup with a perfect 1-0 record against the Lions. The Jaguars won the only previous meeting between the programs, rolling to a 35-17 victory in 2023.

But Southeastern Louisiana is only the beginning of what promises to be a demanding non-conference schedule.

After opening the season at home, South Alabama will hit the road for a Sept. 12 showdown at Tulane before returning home Sept. 19 to face Ohio. The Jaguars will then travel to Kentucky on Sept. 26 for one of the biggest early tests on the schedule.

Conference play will bring its own challenges, including a road trip to Marshall on Oct. 20 and a regular-season finale against Appalachian State at home Nov. 27.

South Alabama enters the season with plenty to prove. The Jaguars were picked to finish sixth in the Sun Belt West Division in the conference’s preseason coaches poll, putting the program in a position where it will have to outperform expectations to climb the standings.

Third-year head coach Major Applewhite will have an experienced group to work with. The Jaguars return two players who earned All-Sun Belt recognition in 2025, while four South Alabama players were selected to the 2026 Preseason All-Sun Belt Teams.

The Jaguars are coming off a difficult 4-8 season in 2025, but there were signs of life late in the campaign. South Alabama won three of its final five conference games, giving the program momentum heading into the offseason.

Now, the challenge is turning that late-season spark into consistency.

South Alabama has built its football program from the ground up since its founding in 2009. The Jaguars enter 2026 with an all-time record of 94-106, including a 71-102 record during their 14 seasons competing at the FBS level in the Sun Belt.

With a challenging schedule, experienced leadership and a roster eager to change the narrative, the Jaguars have an early opportunity to make a statement.

The road back to Bowl Season begins Sept. 5.

And for South Alabama, the message is simple: the hunt starts now.

2026 SCHEDULE

9/5Southeastern Louisiana

9/12at Tulane

9/19Ohio

9/26at Kentucky

10/3ULM*

10/8at Arkansas State*

10/20at Marshall*

10/31Louisiana Tech*

11/7at Louisiana*

11/14Troy*

11/21at Southern Miss*

11/27App State* 

* Sun Belt Conference Game