In a game that felt like it carried the weight of years of bad blood, South Alabama pulled off a decisive 25-9 victory over Troy on October 15, 2024, at Hancock Whitney Stadium. The Jaguars' defense, often criticized for lapses earlier in the season, clamped down hard, holding the Trojans to just nine points—their lowest output in the series since 2013. Quarterback Gio Lopez threw for 198 yards and two touchdowns, but it was the ground game that sealed it, with running back Kentrel Williams rushing for 112 yards and a score that had the home crowd roaring late into the night.
Indeed, this win snapped Troy's impressive six-game winning streak in the Battle for the Belt, a rivalry that's always simmered with intensity since South Alabama joined the FBS in 2013. Troy, who had dominated with a 9-3 all-time edge coming in, looked off their game from the start. Their offense, led by quarterback Gunnar Smith, managed only 237 total yards, plagued by three interceptions that the Jaguars turned into momentum swings. However, Troy's coach, Jon Sumrall, pointed to penalties—12 for 95 yards—as the real killer, calling it a "self-inflicted wound" in his postgame remarks.
The implications ripple through the Sun Belt Conference. South Alabama, now 3-4 overall and 2-1 in league play, climbs into contention for a bowl bid, while Troy drops to 4-3 and 2-2, their title hopes dented. Moreover, this clash highlighted the growing parity in the division; no longer is it Troy's show alone. The teams' histories intertwined since Troy joined the Sun Belt in 2004, but football fireworks only ignited post-2009. Yet, with another matchup looming on October 4, 2025, at Troy's Veterans Memorial Stadium, questions linger about whether the Jaguars can sustain this fire.
Still, both squads showed flashes of potential amid the sloppiness—Troy's defense forced two turnovers of their own, keeping it closer than the score suggests. As the season grinds on, one can't help but wonder if this rivalry will continue to define their paths forward.