Gulf South Week One Preview & Picks

September 4th, 2025 7:00am

Saturday marks another action-packed slate in the Gulf South Conference, where every matchup carries weight in one of Division II’s most competitive leagues. Fresh off a mix of statement wins and hard-fought openers, teams are set to showcase star power, emerging playmakers, and classic rivalries that define GSC football. With momentum on the line and early-season positioning at stake, this weekend’s games promise high-energy battles and plenty of fireworks across the region.

Last Week’s Results
*home team in bold

• Delta State 31, No. 24 Central Missouri 23

• No. 17 Valdosta State 31, Clark Atlanta 28 (neutral site)

• No. 23 West Alabama 27, Fort Valley State 17 (neutral site)

• No. 11 West Florida 48, No. 14 Lenoir-Rhyne 21

Must-See Matchup

No. 14 Valdosta State (1-0) at Johnson C. Smith (1-0) | Charlotte, N.C. | Saturday, Sept. 6 | 1:00 p.m. | Audio | Stats | Video

The new-look Blazers opened the Graham Craig era with some late-game drama, using a go-ahead field goal from freshman Matt Rolader to take a 31-28 lead with just over seven minutes left as the defense turned Clark Atlanta away for the win. Valdosta State’s run game carried the load with 188 ground yards and three different players running in for a score. VSU’s defense was uncharacteristically porous, tallying just two tackles for loss without recording a sack. Johnson C. Smith opened its season with a dominant 45-9 win over Morehouse College, putting up over 500 total yards of offense including 209 on the ground. Quarterback Kelvin Durham was nearly perfect, completing 15-of-19 attempts for 270 yards and three scores while also rushing another score across the goal line. The Golden Bulls’ defense held Morehouse to just 59 rushing yards while also picking off four Tiger pass attempts.

JCSU is on the rise after a strong finish to 2024 and a subsequent strong start to 2025, while Valdosta State is a program steeped in tradition and a 2024 National Runner-Up finish, albeit with a totally different coaching staff and set of star players. My gut is going with VSU until proven wrong, but an upset on the Golden Bulls’ home field wouldn’t be a surprise.

My pick: No. 14 Valdosta State

Week 1 Schedule at a Glance
*all times Eastern

Saturday, September 6

No. 22 West Alabama (1-0) at Chowan (1-0) | Murfreesboro, N.C. | 1:00 p.m. | Stats | Video

West Alabama Head Coach Scott Cochran, in his debut season, secured a 27–17 victory over Fort Valley State in the Labor Day Classic—a promising start that showcases his veteran leadership and the Tigers' refreshed identity. UWA racked up 201 yards and three touchdowns on the ground against FVSU, while the defense held Fort Valley to just 217 total yards. Chowan opened the 2025 slate with a two-touchdown win over Elizabeth City State as quarterback Maurice Smith, Jr. earned Conference Carolinas Offensive Player of the Week honors after throwing for 287 yards (22-for-33) and one touchdown while also catching a pass in the end zone.

This series hasn’t been close, with West Alabama winning both matchups by a combined 52-6 score behind an unstoppable ground game and dominant defense. Saturday will be no different.

My pick: No. 22 West Alabama

No. 8 West Florida (1-0) at Kentucky Wesleyan | Owensboro, Ky. | 1:00 p.m. | Stats | Video

Last week’s Top 15 matchup between then-No. 11 West Florida and No. 14 Lenoir-Rhyne turned into a rout early as UWF pulled away for a 48-21 win in Pensacola. The Argo offense put up 537 total yards and held the LR run game to just 62 rushing yards to show dominance on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Marcus Stokes was the star, accounting for six total touchdowns (four passing, two rushing), while star wide out Corey Scott hauled in nine catches for 172 yards and a score of his own.

This game will be the season opener for Kentucky Wesleyan after a 2-9 season in 2024, where opponents averaged over 400 yards and nearly 40 points per game. 

Expect West Florida to carry momentum on the road trip, and don’t be shocked if the post-game box score shows another 500-yard game for the Argo offense.

My pick: No. 8 West Florida

North Greenville (0-0) at No. 24 Delta State (1-0) | Cleveland, Miss. | 7:00 p.m. | Live Stats | Live Video

Since their first meeting in 2011, this series stands slightly in Delta State’s favor, 5–3, with their latest thriller ending as one of the most dramatic finishes in recent history. Last October, the Crusaders secured a 47-45 victory in FOUR overtime periods over then-No. 24 Delta State on their home field. 

This season’s early non-conference matchup - North Greenville left the Gulf South at the end of 2024 - features a DSU squad fresh off an upset of then-No. 24 Central Missouri last week at home where quarterback Cole Kirk threw for 282 yards and two touchdowns. On the other sideline, NGU boasts a new head coach in Nate Garner, but a familiar face under center as dual-threat signal caller Dylan Ramirez is back for this senior season in Tigerville.

This matchup blends history with urgency—Delta State looks to build on a statement-opening win, while North Greenville aims to prove that last season’s overtime magic wasn’t a fluke. Expect fireworks, gritty competition, and a pulse-pounding showdown in the second week of college football action.

My pick: No. 24 Delta State

Players to Watch

• Cole Kirk, Delta State, Sr., QB – Kirk started 2025 off right where he left off in 2024, leading the Statesmen to an upset of then-No. 24 Central Missouri last week. The senior signal caller did it all, passing for 281 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing 11 times for 95 yards. Delta State’s offense can put up points in a hurry and Kirk is the main reason why.

• Jairus McFarland, Delta State, Sr., DB – McFarland’s leadership in the secondary played a huge part in Delta State’s upset of then-No. 24 Central Missouri to open the year. The Statesmen held Central Missouri to just 23 points and 251 passing yards as the senior totaled six solo tackles and three pass breakups. DSU will need him to continue to be a disruptor as they face off against a creative NGU offense on Saturday.

• Marcus Stokes, West Florida, r-So., QB – The reigning GSC Offensive Player of the Week, Stokes opened 2025 in style as he led West Florida to a 48-21 win over then-No. 14 Lenoir-Rhyne, accounting for six touchdowns. The redshirt-sophomore threw for a career-high 353 yards and four TDs, while completing 20-of-29 passes and he also had two rushing touchdowns while carrying the ball six times for 15 yards. Stokes and the rest of his UWF squad should shine against a weak Kentucky Wesleyan defense this weekend.

Conference Standings