The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Battle for the Belt

South Alabama4-10Troy
Regional Program III#97 of 138–Regional Program II#87 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
Next meeting: Sat Nov 14 · time TBA, 10 days away.

Troy leads the all-time series 10-4. They've met 14 times since 2012. Troy once took 6 straight.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

South Alabama
Transfer portal
-20
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -56
Troy
Transfer portal
-10
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -41

Stature & the series, 2012–2025

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeSouth AlabamaTroyevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: South Alabama won, gray: Troy won)2020

The identity war

Troy has been the more pass-heavy program more often than not.

Across 15 seasons of real play-level data (2012–2026), South Alabama led 2 and Troy led 13.

more passmore runSouth AlabamaTroy201220142016201820202022202420262019Troy 19.3 ptsTroy won 37-13
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

The biggest win was Troy by 29 in 2020. The biggest crowd, 30,837, was in 2016.

The coaching duels

Joey Jones vs Larry Blakeney1-2
Joey Jones vs Neal Brown2-1
Steve Campbell vs Chip Lindsey0-2
Kane Wommack vs Jon Sumrall0-2
Major Applewhite vs Gerad Parker1-1

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
4-27
Troy leads
1st-rounders
0-2
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
South AlabamaTroy
1970s0-3
1980s0-1
1990s0-5
2000s0-9
2010s1-6
2020s3-3

Best picks, either side

2005DeMarcus Ware Defensive End · Dallas CowboysRd 1, pick 11#11 overall
2008Leodis McKelvin Cornerback · Buffalo BillsRd 1, pick 11#11 overall
2017Gerald Everett Tight End · Los Angeles RamsRd 2, pick 12#44 overall
2003Osi Umenyiora Defensive End · New York GiantsRd 2, pick 24#56 overall
2009Sherrod Martin Cornerback · Carolina PanthersRd 2, pick 27#59 overall
2011Jerrel Jernigan Wide Receiver · New York GiantsRd 3, pick 19#83 overall
1992Leonard Wheeler Defensive Back · Cincinnati BengalsRd 3, pick 28#84 overall
2017Antonio Garcia Offensive Tackle · New England PatriotsRd 3, pick 21#85 overall

Recent meetings

Gate premium

South Alabama1.37×its own average home crowd
Troy1.16×its own average home crowd
2025Troy31-24
2024South Alabama25-9
2023Troy28-10
2022Troy10-6
2021Troy31-24
2020Troy29-0
2019Troy37-13
2018Troy38-17
2017South Alabama19-8Troy — Troy favored by 18.0
2016Troy28-21
2015South Alabama24-18
2014South Alabama27-13
2013Troy34-33South Alabama — decided by 1
2012Troy31-10

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is South Alabama’s chance to win through that meeting. South Alabama is 0-2 in the meetings since 2018 that were still close in the fourth quarter.

2025Troy 31-24South Alabama lost 24-31 at Troy. Chance to win started at 47%, low under 1%, high 63%.
2024South Alabama 25-9South Alabama won 25-9 vs Troy. Chance to win started at 72%, low 63%, high 99%.Busy
2023Troy 28-10South Alabama lost 10-28 at Troy. Chance to win started at 30%, low under 1%, high 60%.Busy
2022Troy 10-6South Alabama lost 6-10 vs Troy. Chance to win started at 60%, low under 1%, high 61%.
2021Troy 31-24South Alabama lost 24-31 at Troy. Chance to win started at 43%, low 2%, high 56%.
2020Troy 29-0South Alabama lost 0-29 vs Troy. Chance to win started at 38%, low under 1%, high 39%.
2019Troy 37-13South Alabama lost 13-37 at Troy. Chance to win started at 10%, low under 1%, high 23%.
2018Troy 38-17South Alabama lost 17-38 vs Troy. Chance to win started at 24%, low under 1%, high 24%.