Southern (8-4, 7-1 SWAC) is set to face off against Jackson State (10-2, 8-0) on Saturday at 2 p.m. EST, broadcasted on ESPN2.
The BetMGM College Sports Odds currently have no betting line for this matchup.
Historically, Southern holds a lead over Jackson State with a series record of 37-34.
The teams are meeting for the second time this season and for the first time in three years.
The home team, the Jackson State Tigers, are on a remarkable eight-game winning streak, having secured the title for the East Division.
They seek to replicate their success against the West Division champions, the Southern Jaguars, who have also claimed victory in their last four matches.
The winner of this crucial game will earn the right to compete in the upcoming Celebration Bowl in Atlanta, which serves as the national championship for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
Jackson State previously defeated Southern in a non-conference matchup held at home on September 14, with a score of 33-15, marking their fifth consecutive win in the series.
A key aspect to watch will be the clash between Jackson State’s rushing offense and Southern’s rushing defense.
The Tigers average nearly 37 points per game, leading the SWAC, and are also second in total yards with an impressive 406 per contest.
This offensive threat is highlighted by a top-ranking ground game that gains an average of 213.8 yards each game.
Conversely, the Jaguars boast a solid defensive unit that ranks third overall, allowing an average of 293.3 yards, and is third against the run, yielding 137.4 yards per game.
In their earlier matchup, Jackson State dominated on the ground, outrushing Southern 201 to 29.
Fans should keep an eye on Southern’s standout defensive lineman, Ckelby Givens.
Givens, who was named a first-team All-SWAC selection and co-defensive player of the year, led a defensive effort that restricted Grambling State to merely 49 yards rushing in their recent Bayou Classic victory.
He totalled 67 tackles, 11 sacks, and 26.5 tackles for loss this season, ranking prominently in the conference and among FCS players.
On the other side, Jackson State running back Irv Mulligan is a player to watch.
After overcoming injuries that sidelined him for the offseason workouts, fall training camp, and the first two games, Mulligan emerged as the conference’s leading rusher with 1,058 yards and 10 touchdowns from 157 carries.
His performance places him in the 23rd spot in the FCS rankings, while he averages 6.74 yards per carry.
Recently named SWAC offensive player of the year, he is also a finalist for numerous national accolades.
In other facts and figures: Southern edged out their rival Grambling State with a score of 24-14 in the Bayou Classic last week.
Jaguars wide receiver Chandler Whitfield had a standout performance, making five catches for a season-best 146 yards and a touchdown, which earned him MVP honors.
Additionally, running backs Kobe Dillon and Kendric Rhymes are both among the top ten in SWAC rushing, with 760 and 614 yards respectively, while Rhymes has tied for fourth in touchdowns with seven.
Notably, both Southern and Jackson State are tied for second in the conference with 31 sacks apiece.
Jackson State successfully claimed their third SWAC East title in four seasons—this being their first since Deion Sanders departed to Colorado following a 12-2 record in 2022.
