Brent Thompson led The Citadel to a 10-2 overall record and a conference championship in his first season with the Bulldogs. That season ended with a playoff loss to conference rival Wofford. Coach Thompson knows the value of winning the in-state conference games, having defeated both the Terriers and the Paladins during that 2016 regular season.

With Wofford and Furman expected to compete for the Southern Conference title this year, those in-state rivalries take on added importance. The Bulldogs visit Paladin Stadium October 19th and host the Terriers in the season finale November 23rd.

The Southern Conference coaches picked The Citadel to finish seventh in the league, but Coach Thompson has higher expectations for a team that defeated Western Carolina, Samford and Charleston Southern in November of last season.