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Following an FBS program-record 11 wins last year, Jamey Chadwell and his Coastal Carolina Chanticleers are five weeks away from opening their 2021 campaign at home on September 2nd against FCS The Citadel.
The team will look to compete for their second consecutive Sun Belt Championship, after earning a share of the conference title with Louisiana last season. Here is a look at three games to keep an eye on as the season nears.
Last season, Coastal Carolina and the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns tied as the 2020 Sun Belt conference season champions. Coastal continues to enjoy their success of the 2020 season, where they had an (11-1) record, the program’s first bowl berth, and a national ranking as ninth in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll.
3. Georgia State at Coastal Carolina
Week 11: Saturday, Nov. 13 (Homecoming)
The Chanticleers upset the Georgia State Panthers in a (51-0) loss last season. Georgia State went (6-4) in the 2020 season and won the Lending Tree Bowl, where they finished third in the East behind Coastal Carolina and Appalachian State.
Despite Georgia State having a difficult schedule this season, head coach Shawn Elliott shares that he still aspires to win the Sun Belt Conference championship for his team. With four All-Sun Belt Conference honorees utilizing their extra year of eligibility and returning to the team, GSU’s offensive line will return strong.
As for Coastal Carolina, with the NCAA granting all fall athletes with an extra year of eligibility, First Team All-Sun Belt Conference, C.J. Brewer is among some of those returning to the field this fall. Brewer finished the season with a tie of second on the team and fourth in the Sun Belt with 6.5 sacks.
2. Coastal Carolina at Appalachian State
Week 9: Wednesday, Oct. 20th at 7:30 ET
With the recent news about Appalachian State being picked as co-favorite in the Sun Belt conference, a lot of noise is being bussed about them. In Shawn Clark’s first season as head coach, App State finished the 2020 season (9-3).
Appalachian State lost to the Chanticleers when the two met last year, but that didn’t stop the Mountaineers’ offensive line from staying in the game. RB Camerun Peoples rushed for one TD and 178 yards on 27 carries.
1. Kansas Jayhawks at Coastal Carolina
Week 2: Friday, Sept. 10 at 7:30 p.m. ET
With Kansas falling to Coastal in an upset (38-23) last season, fans are looking to see this match up again at Brooks Stadium this time around. With returning quarterback Grayson McCall, who threw three touchdown passes and ran for two more, Coastal’s offensive line will continue to shine this season.
It has been no secret that the Kansas Jayhawks have lost a lot of their players to the transfer portal. While also dealing with the turnover of new coaching, Kansas has lost more than 27 players total. With a promising season last year, the Jayhawks have lost three key members of their defensive team, Da’Jon Terry, Karon Prunty, and Marcus Harris, who will all be playing in the SEC in the fall.
Coastal’s incoming class includes 16 commits, at least 12 of them 247Sports 3-star athletes. There will be a lot of new faces that will likely be seen on the field, to help contribute to the success of this year’s season.