GIO LOPEZ NEWS

Won't start vs. Western Michigan Lopez (undisclosed) won't be under center for Saturday's game against Western Michigan, Pete Thamel of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Lopez won't suit up for the Salute To Veterans Bowl, meaning Bishop Davenport will likely get the start under center. Lopez has committed to stay at South Alabama for the 2025 season, though. He finished a breakout 2024 campaign having completed 65.9 percent of his passes for 2,557 yards, 18 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also rushed 82 times for 465 yards and seven more scores.

DECEMBER 14, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Not leaving South Alabama Lopez (undisclosed) will be part of South Alabama's 2025 team, according to his announcement Wednesday.

Impact In a time when many student athletes change colleges to better their careers, Lopez does not need to. During the freshman's 2024 regular season with South Alabama, he logged 205 completions for 2,557 yards and 18 touchdowns. Lopez also recorded 82 carries for 465 yards and seven TDs, reaching 3,000 all-purpose yards and 25 endzone touches. The announcement should be welcoming news to South Alabama, whose program now awaits his availability for Saturday's bowl game against Western Michigan.

DECEMBER 11, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Banged up in regular-season finale Lopez was 16-for-23 passing for 190 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions during Friday's 45-38 loss to Texas State. He also had seven rushes for 29 yards with one touchdown.

Impact Lopez was hit while throwing a pick-six late in the fourth quarter and was replaced by Bishop Davenport for the Jaguars' final drive. At 6-6, South Alabama is bowl eligible, though it's unclear if Lopez will be healthy for game No. 13. Regardless, Lopez ends the regular season with 2,557 passing yards and an 18:5 TD:INT while adding 465 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns.

DECEMBER 2, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Throws three touchdowns Lopez completed 15 of 24 passes for 193 yards and three touchdowns during Saturday's 35-14 victory over Southern Miss. He also had five rushes for nine yards.

Impact Lopez threw more than two passing touchdowns for the first time since Week 3 and completed 62.5 percent of his passes. In 10 games, Lopez has completed 65.6 percent of his attempts for 2,367 yards and a 17:3 TD:INT. He has added 436 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns.

NOVEMBER 25, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Lopez throws for 3 TDs and South Alabama rolls past Southern Miss 35-14

Gio Lopez threw three touchdown passes, Fluff Bothwell ran for 104 yards, and South Alabama defeated Southern Miss 35-14

NOVEMBER 24, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Approaches 300 passing yards Lopez completed 24 of 34 passes for 285 yards and one interception during Saturday's 24-22 victory over Louisiana. He also had eight rushes for 34 yards with two touchdowns.

Impact Lopez spent the Jaguars' bye week recovering from a concussion and was deemed healthy ahead of Saturday's contest. He topped 275 passing yards for the third time in nine games but threw his third interception of the campaign. The redshirt freshman added a pair of rushing scores. On the year, he's thrown for 2,174 yards and rushed for 427 yards with 20 combined touchdowns.

NOVEMBER 18, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Healthy for Louisiana game Lopez (concussion) is healthy for South Alabama's game Saturday at Louisiana-Lafayette, Creg Stephenson of AL.com reports.

Impact Lopez left South Alabama's previous game with a concussion, but the benefit of an immediate bye week allotted him enough time to physically recover for Saturday. The quarterback's latest performance saw him throw an interception for only the second time in 2024. This year has seen Lopez log seven times as many touchdowns (14) as interceptions (two) with 150 completions on 230 pass attempts for 1,889 yards. He also has 62 carries for 393 yards (6.3 averaged per carry) and four rushing TDs. However, Lopez's excellence will be put to the test against a Louisiana-Lafayette team leading the Sun Belt Conference.

NOVEMBER 15, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Departs with concussion symptoms Lopez was 22-for-30 passing for 257 yards, one touchdown and one interception during Saturday's 34-30 defeat against Georgia Southern. He also had seven rushes for 43 yards.

Impact Lopez was removed from Saturday's game in the fourth quarter due to concussion-like symptoms and was deemed unable to return, Creg Stephenson of AL.com reports. Stephenson also notes that South Alabama head coach Major Applewhite said Lopez is likely to be cleared ahead of their Nov. 16 game against Louisiana-Lafayette. Bishop Davenport took over for Lopez, and would likely remain under center if Lopez can't suit up.

NOVEMBER 4, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Not needed in win Lopez was 18-for-30 passing for 168 yards during Saturday's 46-17 victory over Louisiana-Monroe. He also had three rushes for 25 yards with one touchdown.

Impact South Alabama didn't need to throw the ball much Saturday, as they ran the ball 46 times for 358 yards and six touchdowns. Through seven games, Lopez has thrown for 1,632 yards with a 13:1 TD:INT while adding 350 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.

OCTOBER 28, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Clean game in win Lopez completed 16 of 21 passes for 158 yards and one touchdown during Tuesday's 25-9 victory versus Troy. He also had 11 rushes for 67 yards with one touchdown.

Impact Lopez didn't need to do anything flashy to take down Troy, as the quarterback logged his second fewest passing yards in a game this season. However, he completed 76.2 percent of his passes, didn't turn the ball over and was a threat in the run game. Through six games, Lopez has completed 110-of-170 passes for 1,464 yards and a 13:1 TD:INT. He's added 325 yards and three scores as a rusher.

OCTOBER 21, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Falls short of 300 yards Lopez completed 21 of 35 passes for 292 yards, two touchdowns and one interception during Saturday's 18-16 loss to Arkansas State. He also had 10 rushes for 54 yards.

Impact Lopez had combined for 325 passing yards in South Alabama's previous two games but delivered his most yards since Week 1. However, he did throw his first interception of the campaign, bringing his TD:INT to 12:1. Lopez had another strong game on the ground, and he's now rushed for 258 yards and two touchdowns across five games.

OCTOBER 7, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Quieted by LSU Lopez completed 16 of 22 passes for 171 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 42-10 loss to LSU. He also had 10 rushes for 33 yards.

Impact Lopez completed 72.7 percent of his attempts and didn't commit a turnover, but his efforts weren't enough to keep up with the Tigers. Lopez has now been held to fewer than 175 passing yards in back-to-back games. He's up to 1,014 passing yards with a 10:0 TD:INT while adding 204 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Career day as runner Lopez was 16-for-24 passing for 154 yards and two touchdowns during Thursday's 48-14 win versus Appalachian State. He also had seven rushes for 105 yards with one touchdown.

Impact Lopez carved up the Mountaineers' defense through the air and on the ground, accumulating 259 yards from scrimmage on a light workload. The redshirt freshman set a career high in rushing yards, and he's scored at least three touchdowns in every game this season. Lopez is 57-for-92 with 843 passing yards and a 9:0 TD:INT through three outings.

SEPTEMBER 22, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Gio Lopez has 3 total TDs as South Alabama dominates Appalachian State in 48-14 win

Gio Lopez threw for two touchdowns and ran in another, and Fluff Bothwell rushed for 116 yards and two scores as South Alabama dominated Appalachian State 48-14 on Thursday night

SEPTEMBER 20, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Throws four touchdowns Lopez (toe) completed 15 of 19 passes for 257 yards and four touchdowns during Thursday's 87-10 victory against Northwestern State.

Impact Lopez missed South Alabama's Week 2 game due to a toe injury, but he suited up Thursday. The redshirt freshman was featured in the lopsided victory, completing 78.9 percent of his passes and averaging 13.5 yards per attempt. Lopez has been outstanding this season, tallying 689 passing yards with eight total touchdowns and no interceptions. He'll look to keep rolling next week against Appalachian State.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Dressed for Thursday's game Lopez (toe) is dressed for pre-game warmups ahead of Thursday's game versus Northwestern State, Creg Stephenson of AL.com reports.

Impact Lopez is dealing with a toe injury that cost him last Saturday's game. He is dressed ahead of Thursday's contest and was taking first-team snaps ahead of the game, which are certainly good signs, but still they do not guarantee his availability. If he does not suit up, Bishop Davenport will start under center.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Head coach hopeful of availability South Alabama's head coach Major Applewhite is hopeful Lopez (toe) will be able to play when the team hosts Northwestern State on Thursday, Creg Stephenson of AL.com reports.

Impact Unsurprisingly, Lopez sat out when South Alabama played at Ohio on Saturday. Bishop Davenport was the Jaguars' quarterback then. However, their head coach believes between Saturday and Thursday is enough for him to be available against Northwestern State.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Doubtful versus Ohio State Lopez (toe) is doubtful for South Alabama's matchup versus Ohio State on Saturday, Craig Stephenson of Alabama.com reports.

Impact Lopez is not expected to play Saturday after completing 26 of his 49 pass attempts for 432 yards and three touchdowns in the team's opener versus North Texas last week. If he ends up being unable to play, Bishop Davenport will likely start at quarterback.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Dominates North Texas Lopez was 26-for-49 passing for 432 yards and three touchdowns during Saturday's 52-38 defeat to North Texas. He also had 13 rushes for 62 yards with one touchdown.

Impact Lopez's debut as South Alabama's starting quarterback was outstanding, topping 400 passing yards and accounting for four touchdowns with no turnovers. He turned to wideout Jamaal Pritchett early and often, finding Pritchett 10 times for 197 yards and a score. While the up-tempo nature of Saturday's game certainly helped Lopez put together his monstrous stat line, the redshirt freshman could be one of the most valuable QB's in the Sun Belt for fantasy purposes.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Dominates North Texas Lopez was 26-for-49 passing for 432 yards and three touchdowns during Saturday's 52-38 defeat to North Texas. He also had 13 rushes for 62 yards with one touchdown.

Impact Lopez's debut as South Alabama's starting quarterback was outstanding, topping 400 passing yards and accounting for four touchdowns with no turnovers. He turned to wideout Jamaal Pritchett early and often, finding Pritchett 10 times for 197 yards and a score. While the up-tempo nature of Saturday's game certainly helped Lopez put together his monstrous stat line, the redshirt freshman could be one of the most valuable QB's in the Sun Belt for fantasy purposes.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Named starter for opener Lopez has been named South Alabama's starter for its opener against North Texas, Creg Stephenson of AL.com reports.

Impact Lopez was the favorite to land the starting role dating back to March, so it comes as little surprise that he'll trot out with the starters in the Jaguars' first game of the season. The redshirt freshman appeared in five games for South Alabama last season, tossing for 475 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions while completing 67 percent of his passes. The gunslinger also tacked on two rushing touchdowns.

AUGUST 20, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Gio Lopez leads South Alabama to 59-10 rout of Eastern Michigan in 68 Ventures Bowl

Freshman Gio Lopez threw for three touchdowns and ran for another, and South Alabama trounced Eastern Michigan 59-10 in the 68 Ventures Bowl

DECEMBER 24, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Could see larger role in bowl game South Alabama is planning to use multiple quarterbacks in the 68 Ventures Bowl against Eastern Michigan, Craig Stephenson of Al.com reports.

Impact With South Alabama planning to use multiple quarterbacks against Eastern Michigan and bowl games not affecting redshirt eligiblity, Lopez could very well see an expanded role in the 68 Ventures Bowl. The freshman quarterback played in four games for the Jaguars during the regular season, throwing for 283 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions while adding 66 yards and a score on the ground as well. With Lopez's redshirt intact, it will be interesting to see how large of a role he plays within the South Alabama offense.

DECEMBER 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Starting against Troy Lopez will earn his first career start Thursday night as Carter Bradley won't play, Creg Stephenson of AL.com reports.

Impact Lopez, a true freshman, has seen action in three games thus far but hasn't yet logged a start. It'll come against a tough Troy team as South Alabama battles for bowl eligibility down the stretch. In mop-up duty this season, Lopez has tossed for 128 yards, one touchdown and one interception while completing 66.7 percent of his passes.

NOVEMBER 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE