JACKSON, Miss. | Jackson State returns home for the first time in nearly a month, hosting a key Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) contest against No. 18 Florida A&M (FAMU) on Saturday afternoon in what might be the biggest HBCU football game of the year.
The game, which kicks off at 2:30 p.m., features a pair of nationally-ranked HBCU football teams as Jackson State (4-2, 2-0 SWAC) comes in this week at No. 25 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll presented by Hudl. The game will be one of three featuring ranked teams this weekend, with all three being conference games.
The last time the two teams played in Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium came 10 years ago when Jackson State scored on the game’s final play for a 22-17 victory over FAMU. The two have met 22 times since 1961 with Jackson State holding a 12-8-2 lead in the series.
Jackson State enters the game as the top-scoring offense in the SWAC and in the top 15 in the country, averaging 35.5 points per game. They are also leading the conference in passing efficiency (169.19), tackles for loss (7.8), and kickoff returns (28.42) – they are also third in the nation in tackles for loss and kickoff returns. Meanwhile, they are in the top three in several other categories entering Saturday including total offense (394.0), scoring defense (24.2), total defense (306.2), rushing defense (120.5), and sacks per game (2.83).
Meanwhile, FAMU (3-2, 1-0 SWAC) is ranked in the top three in the SWAC in net punting (39.84) and punt returns (15.25).
Jackson State and Florida A&M have played 22 times with Jackson State holding a 12-8-2 lead all-time since 1961, including a 5-2-1 record all-time in Jackson. The two have met six times in Tallahassee (3-3) and eight times at neutral sites (4-3-1).
Jackson State has played nine times on this date in history since the mid-1950s, playing against four different teams. The Tigers are 3-6 all-time on this date including winning HBCU football contests against Grambling State, Mississippi Valley State, and Southern. The last time Jackson State played on this date came back in 2019 against Mississippi Valley State, a 31-28 victory.
Jackson State has played just two teams from the state of Florida in Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M. The Tigers are 20-10-2 including a 6-2 mark against Bethune-Cookman.
Travis Terrell Jr. and KJ Chisholm were each named honorable mention performers by Stats Perform National Players of the Week. Terrell recorded 175 all-purpose yards in a 45-38 victory over Alabama A&M in the Gulf Coast Challenge on Saturday night in Mobile, earning him Honorable Mention Special Teams recognition. He returned a pair of kickoffs for a total of 113 yards, including a 96-yard touchdown in the opening quarter – his second in as many conference games and weeks. He also returned a pair of punts for 62 yards including one for 44 yards in the contest. Meanwhile, Chisholm finished with three tackles on the night including a pair of solo stops to earn Honorable Mention Freshman recognition. He also recorded a tackle for loss from his cornerback position and broke up a career-high four passes.
Head coach T.C. Taylor has faced Florida A&M two times as a player and one time as a head coach entering Saturday.
Series History (since 1956) Jackson State leads FAMU, 12-8-2 First Meeting: Dec. 9, 1961 – Florida A&M def. Jackson State, 14-8 Last Meeting: Sept. 3, 2023 – Florida A&M def. Jackson State, 28-10 Tallahassee: 3-3 | Jackson: 5-2-1 | Neutral: 4-3-1 | Streak: Florida A&M, W1
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