No. 25 Coastal Carolina rolling, Georgia Southern up next

No. 25 Coastal Carolina plays for the first time ever as a ranked FBS team when it faces Georgia Southern on Saturday.

Chanticleers coach Jamey Chadwell isn't sure how long the ranking - or the game against Georgia Southern - will last.

Chadwell acknowledged that despite how many milestones his team has achieved this year, unless they keep winning, they'll sink like a stone from the polls.

"We're realistic knowing if we slip up one time, we'll probably never see it again," Chadwell said. "I told our guys if you want to stay there and continue doing something for this program, you got to continue to keep winning."

That could be difficult for the Chants (4-0, 2-0 Sun Belt Conference) because the Eagles (3-1, 1-1) play with a similar style - like Coastal, relying on a strong run game and physical defense.

Both teams are in the top 20 nationally, averaging over 200 yards rushing a game this season. That emphasis means a fast-paced game with fewer possessions, Caldwell said, and perhaps fewer opportunities to rally from falling behind.

"I think time of possession will be very key in this game," Georgia Southern coach Chad Lunsford said. "They're very balanced on offense, but they try and establish drives. If they can do that, keep our offense off the field, that doesn't bode well for us."

No surprise the the Eagles (35:12) and Chanticleers (33:54) are 1-2 in the Sun Belt in time of possession

Georgia Southern has three players among the league's top seven rushers including Sun Belt leader J.D. King, who's averaging more than 105 yards a game.

Some other things to look for when Georgia Southern is at No. 25 Coastal Carolina:

McCALL IN CHARGE

Coastal Carolina is averaging more than 40 points a game this season behind quarterback Grayson McCall, a freshman from Indian Trail, North Carolina. McCall has thrown for 11 touchdown passes with just one interception this season. He accounted for five scores in the win at Kansas to start the year.

PANDEMIC SCHEDULING

Georgia Southern had appeared like it might go three weeks between games after its Oct. 14 contest with Appalachian State was postponed until December. But Eagles administrators were able to bring in UMass, which was eager for games after it had originally called off fall football. Georgia Southern defeated the Minutemen 41-0 last week.

WERTS AND ALL

Georgia Southern quarterback Shai Werts is moving up career lists at the school and in the conference. Werts, a senior, is starting his 40th game and is among just seven Eagles QBs with 2,000 yards passing and rushing in their careers. He is 184 yards away from becoming the top rushing quarterback in Sun Belt history.

DOUBLING UP

The Chanticleers were called for an oddball penalty for two players with the same number playing against Louisiana-Lafayette in the fourth quarter of a tie game. Coastal Carolina coach Jamey Chadwell took responsibility saying in the heat of the moment, the uniform slip up got by him. But not again, ending the practice of same uniform numbers. "We changed that, so no more," he said.

COVID CROWD

Coastal Carolina's football stadium was allowed by the state of South Carolina to have no more than 5,000 people in the arena, including both teams, their support staffs, bands and other spirit groups along with fans. That's less than a quarter of the stadium's 20,000 capacity. This is the third of six home games planned for the Chants this season.

NO. 25 COASTAL CAROLINA VS GEORGIA SOUTHERN

Georgia Southern (3-1, 1-1 Sun Belt) at No. 25 Coastal Carolina (4-0, 2-0), Saturday at noon ET (ESPNU).

Line: Coastal Carolina by 5.

Series record: Georgia Southern leads 5-1.

WHAT'S AT STAKE?

Coastal Carolina's time in the Top 25. The Chanticleers entered the national rankings for the first time since joining the Football Bowl Subdivision. They'll drop out quickly unless they keep their winning streak alive against Georgia Southern. The Eagles are looking for their third straight victory after wins against Louisiana-Monroe and UMass.

KEY MATCHUP

Coastal Carolina QB Grayson McCall vs. Georgia Southern's defense. McCall is a freshman who's making his mark, leading the Sun Belt pass efficiency and second in conference total offense. The Eagles lead the league in fewest points allowed at 19, less than half the more than 40 the Chanticleers have scored per game this season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Georgia Southern: QB Shai Werts is a senior with 2,660 yards rushing, the most of any current quarterback in the FBS. Werts is two TD passes away from tying all-time school leader Tracy Ham's mark of 33 scoring throws.

Coastal Carolina: RB CJ Marable became just the fourth Coastal Carolina runner to post a season with 1,000-or-more yards. He's leading the backfield again this year with 263 yards rushing and four TDs.

FACTS & FIGURES

Coastal Carolina made the Top 25 for the first time since leaving the Football Championship Subdivision for the FBS. ... The Chants got into the national rankings after defeating then-No. 21 Louisiana-Lafayette 30-27. That was the team's first ever victory over a ranked opponent in their short FBS history. .... Georgia Southern has won 10 straight games in October over the past three seasons. ... Coastal Carolina is a perfect 18-for-18 in red-zone scoring this season, their 100% mark tied for best in the FBS with eight other schools. ... Georgia Southern has had a 100-yard rusher in each of its first four games this season. ... Coastal Carolina's nickname is the Chanticleers, which comes from Geoffrey Chaucer's work, "The Canterbury Tales."