Jackson State hosts Southern in SWAC opener at Veterans Memorial Stadium

Jackson, Miss. — Jackson State hosts Southern on Saturday at Veterans Memorial Stadium in the SWAC’s opening game of the season. The Tigers (3-0) aim to extend their seven-game winning streak over the Jaguars, which ties the longest in the series history.

The teams have faced each other 72 times since 1956. Southern leads the series 18-15 at Jackson State’s home field, while Jackson State leads 19-15 at Southern’s stadium in Baton Rouge. The series includes five neutral-site meetings.

Jackson State’s recent success includes a 26-24 victory over Tennessee State last Saturday. Key contributors included kicker Andrew Ivaniciuc, who made four field goals, and quarterback Jared Lockhart, who threw for 388 yards and four touchdowns, earning SWAC Player of the Week honors. Defensive player Keith Bass Jr. also earned weekly honors after recording six tackles and a sack.

Jackson State has built a strong program under head coach T.C. Taylor, going 15-3 at home since 2023. The Tigers have claimed three SWAC championships, played in three Celebration Bowls, and won the 2024 HBCU national championship. They have also won 63 of 75 games since fall 2021 and are 36-4 against conference opponents in that span.

Saturday’s game will be broadcast on ESPN+. The Tigers look to continue their dominance at home, where they are 6-0 this season and 15-3 under Taylor. The last regular-season home loss for Jackson State came in November 2023 to Alcorn State.

Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Fans can follow the team on social media at @GoJSUTigers and visit the official athletics website for updates and coverage.

Source: Original Article