The Troy Trojans enter uncharted territory this week as they take their first of two byes following their win over Campbell on Saturday.

Due to Labor Day falling on its latest possible day, along with a late Thanksgiving, the season has been stretched to 14 weeks. Because of that, teams have been given an extra bye week.

The Trojans first bye week falls on its earliest possible date. After defeating Campbell 43-14, The Trojans will have an extra week to get ready for game number two against Southern Mississippi.

“I have never done it before,” said head coach Chip Lindsey. “This year is different in college football. Everybody has two bye weeks. Our first one happens to be next week. Coaches tell you, you make your biggest improvements from week one to week two. So, if that’s the case, we should make double that in week three.”

The Trojans will use the time to get some players healed up after sustaining a few “bumps and bruises along the way on Saturday night. As far as a practice plan, Lindsey and the coaching staff was still formulating a plan following the win against Campbell.

“Hopefully we’ll get together and get a good plan together for a really good Southern Miss team,” Lindsey said.

Quarterback Kaleb Barker played in five complete games last year before a torn ACL shut him down for the rest of the year. After getting his first action since on Saturday, an early bye week is nothing new for the Barker.

“It’s really nothing different,” Barker said. “Fall camp is basically like having three off weeks in a row. It’s similar to how Campbell was, you have time to prepare for them rather than just playing week after week. We’ll watch the film, go over that and make corrections and then get to work for Southern Miss.”

Troy’s second and final bye will land following their game against Missouri and before their nationally televised game against South Alabama on Wednesday, October 16.