Last September, the unthinkable happened just three hours into the college football season.
On the debut of the Big Ten Network, a tiny school from Boone, North Carolina shocked the No. 5 team in the country—and the college football nation.
Appalachian State 34, No. 5 Michigan 32.
A Football Championship Subdivision team had beaten a college football giant on its home field to set up the craziest college football season on record.
There is no doubt that, after last season, the belief that anything is possible is stronger than ever.
With that in mind, what team has the best chance to be this year's Appalachian State and shock a Bowl Subdivision team?
For starters, Appy State could easily be this year's Appy State.
The Mountaineers open this season at LSU in a matchup of defending National Champions.
LSU is without an experienced QB this season and faces some tough losses in the secondary, with only one upperclassman expected to start this season.
Appalachian State faces the same losses in the secondary, but returns QB Amanti Edwards from last season's team.
There is no way LSU will let this slip happen, having seen the results last season in Ann Arbor.
LSU also faces spread offenses this season from SEC foes Auburn and Florida, so this upset is unlikely.
Another choice could be Southern Illinois over Northwestern on Sep. 13.
The Salukis have defeated a FBS team each of the last two seasons, taking down Northern Illinois last season and Indiana the year before that.
Northwestern is coming off a 6-6 season but returns the most lettermen since 1992, including experienced QB C.J. Bacher and all four of the defensive front.
Northwestern bringing in new offensive and defensive coordinators makes this an intriguing pick, but I see Northwestern pulling out a close game.
So who will be this season's Appalachian State? Look no further than the new home of Ryan Perrilloux, Jacksonville State.
The Gamecocks have gained the biggest recruit in school history—maybe even in the history of the former Division I-AA—who is coming in ready to play.
Who will fall victim to the Fighting Perrillouxs?
The upset of the year will be in week one yet again, as the Gamecocks travel the short distance to Atlanta to face Georgia Tech on a Thursday night.
The Yellow Jackets finished last season 7-6 and have lost their leading passer and rusher from last season.
They also return just four starters on defense. This is the same defense that will have to prevent Perrilloux from escaping the pocket and running wild.
A new regime in Atlanta with head coach Paul Johnson making his debut, combined with Jax State's new addition, make this game too good of a selection to pass up for upset of the year.
The game can be seen on ESPN360.com on Aug. 28 at 8 p.m. EST.
Once this upset is complete, who knows what kind of season we'll have in store?
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4 months ago
pretty good pick for an upset and not one your average college fan would pick off the top of the head. i'm very interested to see what johnson does in atlanta.
inexperience on D may be the key to the jackets falling. good stuff.
4 months ago
Just because Jacksonville State is getting a stud QB doesn't mean they will knock off the Rambling Wreck. I don't think Jacksonville State stands a chance in this game. The only way a D1-AA team knocks off a D1-A team is by hard work, and every day. LSU is also losing many of their key players from last year. App St. has that going for them, and that's why App St. is this years App St.
4 months ago
You assume that Ryan P. will be able to stay on the team. His history dictates otherwise. I hope I am wrong but he may not make it through the season. Remember Cecil Collins?
4 months ago
Clearly you have lost your friggin' mind. Paul Johnson's offense won't be running at optimum efficiency in game 1, but they will still put up half a hundred on that bunch. There is a hug talent disparity, and one ill behaved QB transfer isn't going to change that. GT will have one of the better Defensive Lines in the entire country, Perrilloux is going to be on his arse practically the entire game. You should do a little more personnel analysis before you start throwing junk like that out there, it makes you look like an uninformed idiot.
4 months ago
Have you done any research on Georgia Tech? The only good player Jacksonville State has is Perrilloux. Tech's defensive line is loaded and is considered to have two lineman that will go in the first round of the next draft. Yeah the secondary is young, but they are way more talented than whatever Jax State has. The talent level and the fact that Paul Johnson is outstanding coach will be enough for Tech to beat Jax State. Do even a little bit of research before you make such a unfound prediction.
4 months ago
Are you serious? Football is a sport of 11 players not 1. If Perrilloux doesn't have a offensive line he doesn't stand a chance against GT which happen to have a top 5 defensive line. If Perrilloux manages to stay out of trouble and gets to play, I forsee a lot of pain in his near future. You are way off in this one buddy.
4 months ago
JSU is no appalachian state, just because they have a talented QB doesn't mean they'll have a good team...think 2007 Notre Dame with Jimmy Clausen.
Appy state is far superior than JSU top to bottom.
Also, Paul Johnson will not allow an upset to happen on HIS own turf, he's a dynamic coach who will keep a step ahead of his opponents.
Please for the love of god..do NOT make dumb predictions like these.
4 months ago
Shouldn't the article read... who is this year's La-Monroe?
4 months ago
Jax State is not even on the same plane as App State. The Mounatineers beat Michigan because Michigan was ranked #5 and were at home overlooking a Div I-AA team. App St. beat Michigan with their speed. They aren't big but they are some of the fastest players in college football. Jax St. has Perrilloux and that's IT!!! They don't have the speed of App State or the size and speed combo of GT. Tech's quarterback is Josh Nesbitt who was a very highly recruited QB out of Georgia and his talent level is even with or just lower than Perri's except he doesn't have the mental and behavioral issues. Not to mention Tech has Jon Dwyer (Parade All-American), Roddy Jones (4 Star record-setter), and Jamaal Evans (3- Star high major prospect) running out of the backfield. This is just PART of the offense that will be coming at them. The Defensive line may end up being one of the top 2 in the nation with future first-rounder Michael Johnson and Vance Walker, future second-rounder Daryl Richard, and Pennsylvania's #1 prospect Derrick Morgan. Not to mention Senior CB Jahi Word-Daniels and future All-American safety Morgan Burnett will hold down the defensive backfield with high-major prospect Jerrard Tarrant manning the other corner spot. Do you honestly think Jax State is going to beat that team with Paul Johnson coaching??? He's not Lloyd Carr. Johnson is notorious for having his team ready no matter who they are playing. Lloyd was notorious for his guys coming out flat against weaker competition. CPJ will be ready and WILL NOT look past Team Perrilloux.
from 4 months ago
Apparently you don't know much about Jacksonville State, They will be loaded with transfer talent. This game could be close.
4 months ago
A Jax State fan here: RP will be a huge boost to our team, but not that big a boost. If the Gamecocks are going to beat GT, he'll have to do it pretty much by himself. Our OL is perpetually young, we graduated the last in a line of suerpstar RBs two years ago and haven't seen their match since, and our coaches make enough mistakes to give any opponent a chance against us (see last year's finale against SE Missouri St.). As a program, Jax State has plenty of potential, and Perrilloux gives us something we were lacking going into '08: a quarterback who's actually taken a snap beyond high school. But beating Ga. Tech? We'll need more weapons then the one gun we've got.
4 months ago
Jim... show me where they are "loaded" and how that equals up to what GT carries. Even if they do get a few transfers, it won't be enough. BTW... my buddy goes to Jax St and is a hardcore JSU fan but his first team is GT... so I know a little bit about them.
4 months ago
Well tommy your friend does not know alot about JSU. They have a reciever who is currently the best kick returner in IAA. Perriloux has a freshman back up quarterback coming in who could of played at any other big school. and JSU has a lot of good freshman recievers coming in. The defense only lost about 4 or 5 starters, look for JSU to pull off a big upset.
4 months ago
I attend Jax State and talked to Perrilloux yesterday for about 30 minutes. He doesnt seem to think that it is going to be a one man show. Jax State has transfers from Alabama, Ole Miss, Clemson, Virgina, and Florida State. I look for JSU to pull off an upset in Atlanta.
4 months ago
GT wins this one EASY. The key is (as others have mentioned) GT's DL. It really is the best they have had in years. This game will be over by half-time. Not a good prediction.
4 months ago
i don't agree with you Jade, JSU doesn't have a bad offensive line, If you looked at JSU's background they have a history of being a running team. Im pretty sure Coach Crowe knows how to recruit an offensive line. Plus your talking like GT is ranked, they're not even one of the best teams IA, the Calvin Johnson era is over. I look for the upset!
4 months ago
JSU will have a chance at an upset if GT puts the football on the carpet 6 times or more, and generally makes lots of mistakes with their new offense (which is possible). But GT's defensive line is going to be sick this year. Anyone overlooking that little detail hasn't thought this matchup through.
4 months ago
JSU and APP are not even on the same plain in terms of talent. Maybe JSU could be a good FCS team before we predict them to beat a good FBS team. I really hope App and JSU match up in the playoffs or even the national title so we can show those boys what homegrown talent is all about.
4 months ago
You should stick to writing articles like this one instead of attempting to be a jokester, if you know what I mean. Good article.
However, your upset of the year won't happen. Teck will win this one BIG, and RP won't know what hit him.
from 4 months ago
Like you said, it was an attempt, and one that fell short at that.
Thanks for the nod. I told you that one article wasnt normal.
4 months ago
Sorry, that should be Tech...lol!
4 months ago
I think Randy Moss to Marshall is biggest star to ever transfer to 1AA.
3 months ago
jax state is getting to legit football players from the sec. they are very talented and hard working. mlb isaiah smith(ole mis) and rb/cb tremayne coger(Alabama). they are former teammates at columbia central high in Tn. this will only boost their chances. these are the transfers perrilloux was talking about. fred ross florida state/utep is also trying to come.
reply to comment by Corey
11 days ago I attend Jax State and talked to Perrilloux yesterday for about 30 minutes. He doesnt seem to think that it is going to be a one man show. Jax State has transfers from Alabama, Ole Miss, Clemson, Virgina, and Florida State. I look for JSU to pull off an upset in Atlanta.
3 months ago
Okay, Nobody calls it Appy State its Appalacian or App St
2 months ago
These may not be on the App. St. over Michigan level of upsets, but look for
Delaware to crush Maryland, Richmond to surprise Virginia, and UMass to destroy Texas Tech. James Madison will kill Duke (no shocker there), and then will move on to beat none other than... Appalachian State.
about 1 month ago
lol wrong
from about 1 month ago
Hey, I went out on a limb to make a prediction. You have no life to post on an article from two months ago.
about 1 month ago
rofl
about 1 month ago
idiot..
from about 1 month ago
...yet you only joined this site to say this? Wow, Bleacher Report is happy to have you.
about 1 month ago
Wow! You were right on the money with this prediction, Nic!!! Do you have any more predictions for us?
from about 1 month ago
I predicted Bama over Clemson. Do you have the ability to write an article yourself, or are you just as useless as this comment?
about 1 month ago
Clearly the author of this article just didn't do his research. Shoddy journalism. I was at this game last night and it could have been far worse. JSU scored a junk TD with less than a minute remaining against Tech's 3rd string. The talent gap was so obvious and Tech didn't really even play that well.
from about 1 month ago
Hindsight is 20/20, and Tech probably didn't play that well b/c they arent that good of a team, which is why I picked this game. I would say they would be lucky to make a bowl this year, but then again they are in the ACC, which doesnt look like it deserves a bowl this season.
about 1 month ago
Don't quit your day job. Hopefully, this isn't your day job.
from about 1 month ago
Hopefully you have a job. Way to judge off of one article. Where is your one article?
about 1 month ago
Nice pick. If you had done a little more research you would have found that Tech has one of the best defensive lines in the country, and that was pretty much the story. The Gamecocks didn't even cross the fifty until there was only a couple of minutes left in the second quarter. Perriloux was running for his life the whole game.
Dumbass.
from about 1 month ago
Its called a prediction, and one unit doesnt make a team. I don't see you making any predictions or any contributions to this site, so you pretty much mean nothing to me or this site. Just delete your account and just spare all of us.
about 1 month ago
Wow...prophetic. GT 41 JSU 14...and it wasn't even that close.
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