A rivalry that once defined small-college football in Alabama will resurface in December when Troy and Jacksonville State meet in the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl, marking the programs’ first clash in nearly a quarter century.
The game is set for Dec. 16 at 8 p.m. CT inside Montgomery’s Cramton Bowl and will air on ESPN. It also reintroduces the former “Battle for the Ol’ School Bell,” a matchup that hasn’t been played since 2001 but still ranks among the region’s most familiar pairings. Jacksonville State owns the overall edge in the series, 33-28-2, though Troy claimed the last seven meetings before both programs moved on from the old Gulf South Conference.
“It’s rare that a bowl game gives you history and novelty in the same matchup,” executive director Clay Norrell said. “This one does both. Fans in this state know what this rivalry means.”
Both Teams Enter After Conference Title Setbacks
Troy arrives in Montgomery as the Sun Belt West champion, though the Trojans fell 31–14 to No. 25 James Madison in the league title game. The Trojans (8–5) stacked postseason honors anyway, placing 12 players on the All–Sun Belt team. Among them is punter Evan Crenshaw, the league’s Special Teams Player of the Year and an FBS leader in booming punts of 50 yards or more.
The bowl marks Troy’s 11th postseason appearance and completes the program’s sweep of participating in all three bowl games hosted in Alabama. The Trojans are 6–4 all time in bowls, a record that dates to their debut in the 2004 Silicon Valley Bowl.
Jacksonville State (8–5) also stumbled at the final hurdle, losing 19–15 to Kennesaw State in the Conference USA Championship. The Gamecocks still produced one of the most explosive performers in the country: running back Cam Cook, who earned both CUSA Offensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year honors. Cook leads the FBS in rushing (131.8 yards per game) and all-purpose yards (153.7).
JSU is appearing in a bowl for the third straight season. The Gamecocks made an immediate splash when they became bowl-eligible, winning their inaugural postseason game in 2024 before dropping a three-point decision to Ohio a year later.
Bowl Known for Close Finishes
The Salute to Veterans Bowl, previously the Camellia Bowl, has built a reputation for tight contests. Ten of the event’s first 11 games were decided by one possession, and several were settled on late, pressure-filled kicks. South Alabama set the bowl’s offensive yardage record in last year’s 30–23 win over Western Michigan.
With a renewed rivalry and two teams fresh off near-championship seasons, organizers expect the trend of close finishes to continue.
“Troy and Jacksonville State know each other too well for it not to be competitive,” Norrell said. “If history’s any guide, this thing will go deep into the fourth quarter.”
Tickets are available at SaluteToVeteransBowl.com.
About the Author
Dalton Tinklenberg is the Founder and Media Director of The Scouting Depot, where he leads comprehensive coverage of college and professional football. He is an active member of some of the most respected organizations in sports journalism, including the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), Maxwell Football Club, Online News Association (ONA), National Football Foundation (NFF), and the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).
Before launching The Scouting Depot, Dalton worked with Blue HQ Media, where he covered major sporting events such as the Indianapolis 500, the College Football Playoff, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Through his professional affiliations and on-the-ground experience, Dalton combines deep knowledge of the game with recognized standards of storytelling, editorial excellence, and authenticity in sports coverage.
