Now entering his first season as a head coach, Dowell Loggains inherits an App State program searching for stability after their first losing season since moving to FBS in 2015.
The Mountaineers have only suffered back to back losing seasons twice in their history, dating back to it’s inception as a NAIA school in 1928.
App State stumbled to a 5-6 finish in 2024. The Mountaineers managed just three Sun Belt wins, mainly because of a defense that statistically ranked as the program’s worst in 20+ years. The struggles ultimately led to the departure of Shawn Clark and the arrival of Loggains, who brings an NFL philosophy and an SEC pedigree.
Despite the disappointment of last year, optimism remains in Boone. The Mountaineers return several key playmakers on defense and have infused the roster with over 50 new players to help patch holes left by departing players. The program’s culture, long defined by toughness, physicality, and a “chip on the shoulder mentality,” is something Loggains and Co. have started to embrace fully.
For fans in Boone, the question isn’t whether Loggains can eventually restore App State to its winning ways– it’s how quickly. With a challenging non-conference schedule ahead and a demanding Sun Belt schedule, the Mountaineers enter 2025 with cautious optimism. They aim to return to bowl eligibility, reestablish their winning brand, play style, and ultimately win the championship.
Roster Turnover
Few Sun Belt teams saw more roster movement this offseason than App State. The defense lost 15 key players to the Transfer Portal and even more due to graduation, forcing the new staff to lean heavily on portal reinforcements. The front seven in particular will have a different look, as nearly all of last year’s top tacklers are gone. The silver lining: an influx of athletic transfers and the addition of defensive coordinator DJ Smith, whose style of defense should improve that side of the ball.
Offensively, the spotlight is on the quarterback.
With no starter officially named yet, the contenders for the job of QB1 include LSU transfer AJ Swann, Iowa State transfer JJ Kohl, and a secret half quarterback that Loggains mentioned in a recent press conference.
Whoever wins the battle will have weapons like receivers Jaden Barnes and Dalton Stroman to rely on. Sadly, tailback Kanye Roberts suffered a torn ACL in practice and will be out for the year. Arkansas transfer running back Rashod Dubinion will start for the Mountaineers.
Still, the offensive line remains a question mark after only returning one starter from last year.
For more info on App State’s roster, click here.
Schedule Breakdown
App State opens the non-conference schedule this year in Bank of America Stadium for the Dukes Mayo Classic against the Charlotte 49ers. This battle against two teams with dramatically new staff and rosters will be an interesting matchup.
FCS Lindenwood heads to a sold-out Kidd Brewer Stadium on Sept. 6 for the home opener. App State will then face Southern Miss (Sept. 13) on the road, where the Mountaineers will face head coach Charles Huff for the first time since he led Marshall to a 52-37 win in last year’s meeting with the Herd.
The marquee matchup this year was supposed be against Boise State in “The Blue,” but a loss to South Florida on Thursday has put a damper on things. Still, the Broncos began the season as the preseason No. 25 team in the land and will be one of the best non-conference games in the Sun Belt this season.
App State brings the new-look PAC-12 to Boone to face off against Oregon State to round out the non-conference slate.
Sun Belt Play offers no relief. Road trips to Old Dominion, James Madison, and Georgia State will be tough as all returned their head coaches and brought in a lot of talent. Home games include heated battles against Coastal Carolina, rival Georgia Southern on Nov. 6, Marshall on Nov. 22, and then a rivalry week battle against Arkansas State.
There will be no “easy wins” on this schedule, but if App State can build momentum early, a late push towards bowl eligibility looks possible.
Projected 2025 Record
Floor: 5-7
Ceiling: 10-2
Projection: 8-4
Key Story to Watch
All eyes will be on the quarterback competition.
Going back to the Jerry Moore days, App State has thrived when steady quarterback play paired with an aggressive run game. In 2025, that identity is evolving under Loggains’ scheme. Can one quarterback in the room step up and take the reins and lead?
The answer to that question will likely determine whether this season is remembered as a rebuilding year or the first chapter in a rapid return to Sun Belt contention.
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