2022
Deion’s departure to Colorado
Sanders leaves for the University of Colorado in December 2022, taking national attention with him. Program must prove it is bigger than one coach.
Wound
Program outlook
Program outlook
Walter Payton played here. Deion Sanders rebuilt it and left for Colorado. T.C. Taylor did something harder: he made the program better than the legend that preceded him.
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The program produced 102 NFL draft picks across history and four Hall of Famers.
For the first time in modern history, Jackson State was on ESPN. Then, in December 2022, Sanders left for Colorado, taking the spotlight with him. The departure could have been a crisis of faith. Instead, it became a test of institutional strength. T.C. Taylor, a former Jackson State player hired in 2023, was not famous.
What happened proves a simple truth: the program was always bigger than any one coach. Jackson State speaks now with a particular kind of pride—not about famous names or national attention, but about institutional resilience. The Vet, Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, is packed with Tiger Nation showing up for a program they believe in, not a personality they're following. That's what sustainable excellence looks like in the FCS.
Through six games in 2026, Jackson State is 5-1, with wins over Tennessee State (26-24), Edward Waters (66-14), Tuskegee (41-7), Southern (35-17) and Alabama A&M (31-28). On October 10 it lost 45-38 at Grambling as an 8.5-point favorite.
Update (Oct. 28, 2026): Jackson State is 6-2. Since then it lost 24-21 at Bethune-Cookman on Oct. 24, as an 8.5-point favorite.
On the field
Jackson State football is rooted in power running and defensive discipline—a ball-control philosophy built for SWAC competition. T.C. The 2025 team leaned on a controlled offense and a defense designed to keep games close, a reflection of T.C.'s stewardship philosophy. The brand of football is smash-mouth and resilient, built for sustained SWAC and HBCU excellence.
Jackson State in History
- Colorado hires Deion SandersCoach change · Dec 3, 2022
What this program never forgets
Most weeks vanish. These didn’t.
Moment of the year · 2026
Won 66-14 vs Edward Waters
Week 1 of 2026. A statement win, by 52 points.
2022–2023
Jackson State has sent 2 players to the NFL Draft since 2022.
Steady. Consistent FCS presence on draft boards.
2
picks · last 5 drafts
#217
James Houston
Outside Linebacker · 2022 · 
Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
#245
Isaiah Bolden
Cornerback · 2023 · 
New England Patriots
New England Patriots
Players drafted: 44 · 7 in the first roundthe talent factory →
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Conference
SWAC standing · 2026
5th in the SWAC
Jackson State sits 5th of 12 in the SWAC at 3-2. Mid-conference — moves up or down depend on rivalry results and the late-season closing run.
| # | Program | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama A&M | 4-1 |
| 2 | Alcorn State | 3-2 |
| 3 | Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 3-2 |
| 4 | Bethune-Cookman | 3-2 |
| 5 | Jackson State | 3-2 |
| 6 | Prairie View A&M | 3-2 |
| 7 | Alabama State | 3-3 |
| 8 | Grambling | 2-3 |
| 9 | Mississippi Valley State | 2-3 |
| 10 | Texas Southern | 2-3 |
| 11 | Southern | 2-4 |
| 12 | Florida A&M | 1-4 |
Gameday customs
Rituals
Three gameday rituals — the ones outsiders never quite catch.
Walter Payton Legacy
since 1971
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No HBCU program carries a more prestigious player legacy.
The Soul Bowl (Alcorn State Rivalry)
since 1970
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Jackson State and Alcorn State, separated by roughly 100 miles across Mississippi, compete in one of the nation's most storied in-state rivalries.
The BoomBox Classic (Southern University Rivalry)
since 1975
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The Jackson State–Southern University rivalry, known informally as the BoomBox Classic, represents a battle between two of the most prestigious HBCU bands in college football. The rivalry on the field mirrors the rivalry in the stands and the pep bands. As of 2025, Southern leads the series 37-36, and the games carry cultural significance beyond football—this is a clash between two institutions that define HBCU identity.
Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium
since 1970
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Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, affectionately known as 'The Vet,' opened in 1970 with a capacity of 60,492. It stands as one of the most passionate home-field environments in FCS football. In 2025, Jackson State posted the highest average home attendance of any FCS program in the nation—28,733 fans per game—a testament to the intensity and loyalty of Tiger Nation.
Cultural identity
2024 WReddit blowups
r/CFB moments
1.4k
[Postgame Thread] South Carolina State Defeats Jackson State 31-10
738
[Postgame Thread] NCCU Defeats Jackson State 41-34 (OT)
449
[Postgame Thread] Jackson State Defeats Florida A&M 7-6
320
[Postgame Thread] Jackson State Defeats Florida A&M 59-3
295
[Postgame Thread] Jackson State Defeats Edward Waters 53-0
All-time top community posts
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