This upcoming season for the Appalachian State Mountaineers football program is going to be entering unfamiliar territory, as they will be under a completely new coaching staff.  DraftKings currently has the over/under win total for the Mountaineers listed at 5.5 (over -160; under +125).

Embed from Getty Images

Brief Recap of 2024

App State’s 2024 season fell short of their usual standard, finishing 5-6 overall (3-5 in conference play). Their scheduled home matchup against Liberty was cancelled due to complications from Hurricane Helene.

Defensively, the Mountaineers struggled mightily, allowing 35.2 points per game (118th in FBS), 423.5 yards per game (105th in FBS), and giving up scores on 92.11% of opponents’ red zone trips (122nd in FBS).

On the offensive side, the Mountaineers were closer to average, putting up 25.5 points per game (75th in FBS) and 419.4 yards per game (33rd in FBS). However, like the defense, the offense had major red zone issues, converting just 69.77% of their red zone opportunities into points (129th in FBS).

2025 Outlook

App State enters 2025 under the leadership of new Head Coach Dowell Loggains, Associate Head Coach Clyde Christensen, and Defensive Coordinator DJ Smith. All three bring extensive college and NFL experience, which should bode well for the program—assuming the staff can find chemistry quickly.

The Mountaineers return just 38.5% of their production from last season, well below the Sun Belt average of 51.1%. While this may seem like a disadvantage, it could also provide a clean slate for the new coaching staff to establish its identity.

Looking at the schedule, there isn’t a game that App State can’t compete in. They were 4-1 at home last season and will host six home games in 2025. If they can go 4-2 at home and pick up just two wins on the road or at neutral sites, they’ll surpass the 5.5-win mark. ESPN’s Football Power Index currently projects App State for 5.9 wins, indicating that both the model and the oddsmakers expect improvement.

Final Thoughts

With a largely new roster and an entirely new coaching staff, this is an exciting, transitional season for Appalachian State. Given a manageable schedule and six home games, there’s a strong case to be made for the Mountaineers to clear the 5.5-win total. This season could mark the beginning of a promising new chapter for App State football.