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Conference newcomers to play for titles in Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, ACC
The first season of major conference expansion has produced an intriguing set of championship games this week.DECEMBER 1, 2024
Jacksonville St vs
-Western Kentucky
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Western Kentucky beats Jacksonville State, led by Young's 169 all-purpose yards (TD)
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JSU
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WKU
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Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, KY
Easton Messer - Notches 84 yards receivingMesser caught five passes for 84 yards against JSU on Saturday.
ImpactThough he was a secondary receiver again this year, Messer has improved upon his 2023 campaign. With a conference title game and a bowl game left he has 45 catches for 642 yards and four touchdowns.
DECEMBER 1, 2024•ROTOWIRE
Kisean Johnson - Notches eight catchesJohnson caught eight passes for 51 yards versus JSU on Saturday.
ImpactThe Gamecocks kept Johnson in check, but they couldn't keep him from getting the ball. He now has 65 catches on the season with a couple games left on the slate.
DECEMBER 1, 2024•ROTOWIRE
Elijah Young - Carries the offenseYoung ran 19 times for 91 yards and caught seven passes for 78 yards and a touchdown against JSU on Saturday.
ImpactYoung was responsible for the only touchdown the Hilltoppers scored in a 19-17 win that got them into the conference title game. He now has over 1,000 total yards on the season, unheard of for a WKU back in recent memory.
DECEMBER 1, 2024•ROTOWIRE
Caden Veltkamp - Throws for 300 yardsVeltkamp went 28-for-47 for 301 yards and a touchdown against JSU on Saturday. He picked up seven yards on the ground while fumbling twice and losing one of those fumbles.
ImpactVeltkamp can thank his defense and his kicker for getting the Hilltoppers into the conference title game. This is his second 300-yard game since becoming the starter, but Veltkamp has been a mess down the stretch. Over his last four games he's averaged 240 yards per pass with five touchdowns against five picks and fumbled three times.
DECEMBER 1, 2024•ROTOWIRE
Tre Stewart - Finds end zone againStewart ran 20 times for 85 yards and a touchdown and had two catches for 30 yards against WKU on Saturday.
ImpactStewart got to 1,400 rushing yards on the dot and scored his 20th rushing touchdown, but there's reason to be a bit worried the back's heavy workload is wearing on him. He's averaged 5.9 yards per carry on the season, but 3.9 over his last two games.
DECEMBER 1, 2024•ROTOWIRE
Logan Smothers - Rushes for TD in reliefSmothers went 4-for-6 for 62 yards and ran five times for 32 yards and a touchdown after replacing Tyler Huff (undisclosed) against WKU on Saturday.
ImpactDue to the injury to JSU's star quarterback, Smothers threw his first pass since Week 1 (he ran the ball a few times in the interim). If Huff's injury is serious enough, Smothers will find himself starting the Conference USA title game.
DECEMBER 1, 2024•ROTOWIRE
