A rising Jacksonville State team will face its toughest conference test and highest stakes of the season.

The Gamecocks are set to play their fourth straight Conference USA game on Wednesday as they travel to face the defending conference champion Liberty. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m., and the game will be televised on CBS Sports Network.

Jax State won its fourth straight game and went 3-0 in Conference USA with a 42-20 win over Middle Tennessee State, while Liberty fell to winless Kennesaw State to snap a 17-game winning streak consecutive.

Jax State fell to Liberty at home last year in a 31-13 loss.

“It’s going to be a big challenge, and our guys know how important it is,” Jax State coach Rich Rodriguez said. “I watched Liberty against Kennesaw; Kennesaw, I’m just now watching the film, they played great. They executed really well, took the momentum and got a great win for them. But, the Liberty won 17 in a row for a reason, and we’re playing for them.

“Our guys have a lot of respect for their program and know what a challenge it will be.”

Rodriguez has his group peaking at the right time, with last week’s win over MTSU putting Jax State at 203 points in its previous four games. That mark represents the most points in a four-game stretch by a Jax State team since the 2015 FCS national runner-up team.

Jax State leads Conference USA in nearly every offensive category, including points per game (39.7), touchdowns (36), yards per game (465.9) and average yards per game (7).

Running back Tre Stewart leads CUSA in rushing yards (682) and touchdowns (11), with the Limestone transfer becoming Jax State’s first 200-yard rusher since 2015 in last week’s win; quarterback Tyler Huff leads the conference in total offense (2,060 yards) behind the Gamecocks’ offensive line.

Rodriguez said the win over MTSU featured some of the most consistent play from the offensive line he’s seen this season despite losing starting center Brock Robey for the season after the Kennesaw State game.

“Anytime you can rush anything we’ve done, they do something pretty good up front,” Rodriguez said. “You add a quarterback to the running game, which is always part of what we do. He runs really well and Tre was phenomenal; he gets better and better every week. He’s in his first year in the system and he’s comfortable with what we’re doing now, but I think every game we play, he’s getting more comfortable.

“I’ve said it before, you’re not going to be able to run that many yards without really good perimeter blocking. Our tight ends take a lot of pride along with our receivers, so it’s definitely a group effort.”

Liberty’s offense is anchored by veteran quarterback Kaidon Salter, who was named CUSA MVP for the regular season and championship game; he threw for 1,280 yards with 10 touchdowns and two interceptions this season, also rushing for 278 yards and two scores.

Veteran running back and CUSA Newcomer of the Year Quinton Cooley ranks second among CUSA running backs in nearly every rushing stat, including rushing yards (582), yards per game (97) and touchdowns (six); Jax State’s Stewart leads the conference in all three categories.

The veteran defense is highlighted by TJ Bush, Jr., who leads Conference USA in sacks (five) to go along with 30 tackles, six tackles for loss and three passes defensed.

“They’re very athletic, just like we saw last year and really all over the world,” Rodriguez said. “Obviously on offense they have a lot of athletes, but their athleticism on defense last year when we played them stood out and they’re just as athletic this year.”

Last season, the Liberty won 13 straight and defeated New Mexico State in the Conference USA title game and made a New Year’s Day bowl as a Group of Five representative; The Flames fell in a 45-6 loss to Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl.

Rodriguez spoke to his group about the stakes at hand, with a win keeping Jax State tied atop Conference USA with Western Kentucky heading into the team’s final four games.

“They’re the defending conference champions, they were in a BCS bowl last year, it’s still the same team,” Rodriguez said. “I’m sure we’re going to get the best version of them, and our guys have a lot of respect for their program. We have to play better and our guys know that.

“You don’t want to look too far, but it’s for first place in the league, right? At the moment we’re still in a position where every game we’re playing for is for first place in the league.”