NEW ORLEANS — South Alabama will take aim at a Bowl Season return after a one-year hiatus when it opens the 2026 campaign against Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday, Sept. 5, at 7:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
The Jaguars are 1-0 all-time against the Lions, earning a 35-17 victory in the lone prior meeting in 2023.
South Alabama’s non-conference slate also features trips to Tulane (Sept. 12) and Kentucky (Sept. 26) around a home clash with Ohio (Sept. 19). Alongside annual matchups with their West Division rivals, the Jaguars will visit Marshall (Oct. 20) and host App State (Nov. 27) from the Sun Belt East Division.
The Jaguars were picked to finish sixth in the Sun Belt West Division in last month’s
2026 Sun Belt Conference Football Preseason Coaches Poll.
Third-year head coach Major Applewhite will lead a roster that
returns two All-Sun Belt picks from 2025 and
had four players named to the 2026 Preseason All-Sun Belt Teams.
South Alabama went 4-8 in 2025, but closed the season on a high note by winning three of its last five conference bouts.
Since the program was founded in 2009, the Jaguars are 94-106—including a 71-102 mark in 14 seasons of FBS football in the Sun Belt.
To listen to head coach Major Applewhite, redshirt senior offensive lineman Kenton Jerido and redshirt senior defensive back Jayvon Henderson’s remarks from the 2026 Sun Belt Football Media Days,
visit the Sun Belt Conference YouTube page.
2026 SCHEDULE
| 9/5 |
Southeastern Louisiana |
| 9/12 |
at Tulane |
| 9/19 |
Ohio |
| 9/26 |
at Kentucky |
| 10/3 |
ULM* |
| 10/8 |
at Arkansas State* |
| 10/20 |
at Marshall* |
| 10/31 |
Louisiana Tech* |
| 11/7 |
at Louisiana* |
| 11/14 |
Troy* |
| 11/21 |
at Southern Miss* |
| 11/27 |
App State* |
* Sun Belt Conference Game
2025 ALL-SUN BELT RETURNERS
Third Team
OL – Kenton Jerido, South Alabama (RS Sr., OL – Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Honorable Mention
LB – Tirrell Johnson, South Alabama (5th Yr., LB – Wynne, Ark.)
2026 PRESEASON ALL-SUN BELT SELECTIONS
Second Team
RB – Keenan Phillips, South Alabama (Jr., RB – Bainbridge, Ga.)
OL – Ethan Hubbard, South Alabama (RS Jr., OL – Hoover, Ala.)
OL – Kenton Jerido, South Alabama (RS Sr., OL – Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
WR – Anthony Eager, South Alabama (RS Jr., WR – Mobile, Ala.)