2025 Salute to Veterans Bowl Prediction: Troy vs Jacksonville State
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It’s not exactly Auburn vs Alabama, but Troy and Jacksonville State are two Alabama teams playing in the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl in Cramton.
It’s not like there’s a rich history between the two schools that are about 150 miles apart – the last meeting was a 21-3 Troy win in 2001. It’s not as if the winner will have a major leg up on recruiting, or in any sort of a rivalry way, but yeah, it should be fun.
Both teams lost their respective conference championships, and at the very least, one of them will have a fun way to end its season.
Troy is in its third bowl in four years, and its first since Gerad Parker took over. The Trojans don’t do anything particularly well, and they’re banged up, but they’re tough, and they find a way to win.
Jacksonville State is a blast when the offense works. It didn’t in the Sun Belt title loss to Kennesaw State, but with a win, it will come up with its third nine win season in a row since moving up to the FCS ranks – don’t knock it; a whole slew of big programs would kill for the Gamecocks win-loss success.
It’s also the third straight bowl appearance, winning the New Orleans in 2023, and losing the Cure last year.
IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl Troy vs Jacksonville State Preview
How To Watch Troy vs Jacksonville State
Date: Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Game Time: 9:00 pm ET
TV: ESPN
Location: Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, AL
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Why Troy Will Win
This works both ways, and it’s the story of your 2025 IS4S Salute To Veterans Bowl.
If Jacksonville State runs wild, it wins. If the Troy running game is okay, it wins.
The Gamecocks have a passing game, and they’re just balanced enough to be dangerous, but when they don’t rip off well over 250 yards, they don’t win.
Troy has to take control of the game away from the Gamecocks from the start, just like Kennesaw State did last week.
The Owls couldn’t contain everything the high-powered Jax State offense tried to do, but they were fantastic and locking up all the midrange passes and didn’t allow anything deep.
They sold out against the run, dared Caden Creel to hit something big, and the Owl defensive backs took care of the rest.
Oddly enough, that’s what the Trojans did against the James Madison passing game in the Sun Belt Championship loss. The Dukes ran so well that they didn’t push the downfield attack, but Troy locked up absolutely every midrange throw. However …
Why Jacksonville State Will Win
Troy didn’t have a prayer against the James Madison running game.
It’s a different style and look than what Jacksonville State brings, but the big plays came early – a second quarter 73-yard JMU touchdown dash took control of the game – and that’s what the Gamecocks need.
Texas State doesn’t run the same style of offense, but it’s closer to what Troy will see, and it wasn’t pretty when the Bobcats were tearing off huge runs.
The Troy run defense has been hit-or-miss all year, but that’s not the real problem.
Trojan star running back Tae Meadows was stuffed by James Madison, and now he’s in the transfer portal. Quarterback Will Crowder is banged up, the team is coming off a -26-yard running day, but …
Troy vs Jacksonville State Prediction, Betting Lines
It all comes back to the Jacksonville State running game.
This has been one of the low-key great bowl games over the last several years. The 2021 version was ugly – Georgia State took down Ball State 51-20 – ten of the 11 were decided by one score.
This shouldn’t be close, one way or another. Either the Gamecock offense works, and Troy doesn’t have it up front, or the Trojan coaching staff has this sniffed out.
Here’s the other thing – Troy has to score.
It got totally stuffed in four of its losses, and it couldn’t stop screwing up against Clemson. Jacksonville State will get the O going right away, but it won’t have the defense to shut down the Trojans cold, no matter who’s in the Troy backfield.
It’s the Salute To Veterans Bowl. It’ll be good, because that’s what this bowl does.
Troy 27, Jacksonville State 23
Line: Troy -3.5, o/u: 46.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 1.5
Must See Rating: 3.5
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This story was originally published by College Football News on Dec 10, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add College Football News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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