BOONE, N.C. — App State Football has a history of opening-game success in Sun Belt Conference play, with a recent trend of long-shot triumphs.
The Mountaineers (2-1) open their league schedule Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. with a Kidd Brewer Stadium visit from South Alabama (1-2). The game will be televised by ESPN, so a national television audience will be tuning in as App State attempts to reach 1-0 in conference play for the 10th straight year, following a 2014 loss in its first FBS season.
The last two openers culminated with highlight-reel drama, starting with Christan Horn's touchdown on a 53-yard Hail Mary to end a 32-28 victory against Troy in 2022 — on the same day App State hosted ESPN's College GameDay.