What's at stake in the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl between South Alabama and Western Michigan

The 2024 IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl — the postseason game previously known as the Camellia Bowl — returns to Montgomery, Alabama on Saturday night as South Alabama and Western Michigan face off in a battle of six-win teams.

This is somewhat of a home game for a South Alabama team playing two and a half hours away from campus, which partially explains why the Jaguars opened as 10.5-point favorites.

The other part is the run of success South Alabama coach Kane Wommack is on. The Jaguars have reached a bowl game for the third consecutive season following a New Orleans Bowl loss in 2022 and 68 Ventures Bowl victory last season.

South Alabama has a chance to win back-to-back bowl games for the first time in program history after joining the FBS in 2012. The Jaguars lost the Camellia Bowl in 2014 and Arizona Bowl in 2016. Western Michigan can earn its first bowl victory — and first under head coach Lance Taylor — since the 2021 Quick Lanes Bowl, which was also the last time the Broncos reached seven wins.

Both teams each played one ranked opponent this year with South Alabama only faring slightly better in a 42-10 loss to then-No. 14 LSU than Western Michigan did in a 56-0 loss to then-No. 2 Ohio State.

Notably, Western Michigan entered its rivalry game against Eastern Michigan in the regular season finale with both teams needing a win to earn a bowl game. The Broncos held on at home for a 26-18 win, snapping a three-game losing streak.

South Alabama became eligible a week earlier by picking up its sixth win at Southern Mississippi before losing its regular season finale against Texas State.