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Jackson State Tigers football

College football team of Jackson State University From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jackson State Tigers football
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The Jackson State Tigers football team represents Jackson State University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).

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After joining the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) in 1958, the program exploded into national prominence. In the 1980s, the program enjoyed its greatest success. Under head coach W. C. Gorden, the Tigers won eight conference championships between 1980 and 1990, including four straight from 1985 to 1988.[2]

Since 1958, Jackson State has won about 25 percent of the conference's football championships (19) and is a perennial powerhouse program among HBCUs. The Tigers have produced 101 professional football players and four Pro Football Hall of Famers: Lem Barney, Walter Payton, Robert Brazile, and Jackie Slater. Only 13 college football teams at any level have produced more Pro Football Hall of Famers than Jackson State.

Jackson State has been named a recipient of the black college national championship five times.[3] In 2023, Tigers placekicker Leilani Armenta became the first woman to score in an HBCU Division I game.[4]

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Classifications

  • 1958–1969: NAIA
  • 1970–1982: NAIA Division I
  • 1956–1972: NCAA College Division
  • 1973–1976: NCAA Division II
  • 1977: NCAA Division I
  • 1978–present: NCAA Division I–AA/FCS

Conference memberships

JSU fanbase

Jackson State is widely noted for its strong football support and culture.[5][6] Jackson State fans have led the Division I FCS in attendance for multiple seasons and are the 2024 regular-season leaders.[7][8][9][10]

Championships

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The Tigers playing against the Prairie View A&M Panthers during the 2021 SWAC Football Championship Game

National championships

Jackson State has been named a recipient of the black college football national championship five times.

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Conference championships

Jackson State has earned a total of 21 conference championships and has won the SWAC (Southwestern Athletic Conference) title 19 times since joining in 1958. Conference championships include:

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Division championships

The Southwestern Athletic Conference instituted a divisional system for football in 1999. Jackson State plays in the Eastern Division of the conference along with Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Bethune-Cookman, Florida A&M and Mississippi Valley. The SWAC Western Division includes Alcorn State, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Grambling, Prairie View A&M, Southern University, and Texas Southern. Each season, the SWAC East and SWAC West divisional champions face off in the SWAC Championship Game. Jackson State University claims ten SWAC Eastern Division championships and has won eight outright to advance to the title game.

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† Co–champions

^ win vacated by Southern University due to NCAA violations[12]

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NCAA I-AA/FCS playoff results

The Tigers have appeared in the I-AA/FCS playoffs 12 times with a record of 0–12.

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Bowl games

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Head coaches

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Coach of the Year Honors

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Rivalries

During the early years of Jackson State's football history, rivalries were established with in-state foes Rust College and Tougaloo. Stillman College was also a common opponent which brought excitement and high interest to games played at the Mississippi Fairgrounds and later at Alumni Field on the campus of Jackson State. Since then, JSU has formed several traditional rivalries with long-time foes.

Alcorn State

Southern

Tennessee State

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All-Americans

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Over 50 Jackson State players have been named All-Americans.[citation needed][when?]

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Player of the Year

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Jackson State players that received Player of the Year honors.[citation needed][when?]

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College Football Hall of Fame members

Pro football alumni

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See: List of Jackson State Tigers in the NFL draft

As of 2017, Jackson State has produced over 90 pro football players including four who have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and 16 who have been selected to play in the Pro Bowl.[18] Notable players include:

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Economic impact

In 2021, Jackson State football was responsible for having a $30 million positive economic impact on Jackson's economy. Jackson State's football program is considered the most powerful in the Division I FCS in regards to generating a notable economic impact and drawing public interest.[19][20]

Facilities

Jackson State University owns and operates Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium affectionately known as "The Vet".[21] The 60,492-seat stadium has been the home field of Jackson State football since 1970.[22] For many years, the stadium was the largest in Mississippi until 2016.[23] In 2024, The Vet won the championship in the College Football Campus Tour Best FCS Stadium Invitational, beating out the Kibbie Dome in Idaho in the title round with 58% of nearly 12,000 votes.[24]

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of March 1, 2025[25]

2025
Hampton
at Southern Miss
Tuskegee

References

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