Southern vs. Jackson State: Who Will Claim The 2024 SWAC Championship?

The game info, odds, predictions, and more of the 2024 SWAC Football Championship.

2024 SWAC Football Championship / HBCU LEGENDS

HOUSTON - The HBCU football sports world awaits the highly intriguing matchup in the 2024 SWAC Football Championship matchup between Southern University (8-4, 7-1 SWAC) and No. 15 Jackson State (10-2, 8-0 SWAC). Today's game will kick off at 1 PM CT at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson, Mississippi.  

Don't let the 33-15 score from the Sept. 14 "Boom Box Classic" disarm you.  As the Tigers defeated the Jaguars convincingly, Southern faithful believe this team has subtle changes that could tilt in their favor in the championship contest.

Coach Terrence Graves stated after the Bayou Classic win, "We're a different team," as the 'Cardiac Cats' have rallied to win three overtime games in the conference. In response to a reporter's question about the differences in Southern, JSU defensive coordinator Torenzo Quinn bluntly stated, "Same team."

Ckelby Givens / SU Athletics

GAME INFO

• Jackson State clinched the SWAC East Division title on Nov. 16 with a 16-10

road win over Alabama State.

• Southern clinched the SWAC West Division title on Nov. 16 with a 31-9 home

win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

• The Jackson State Tigers are currently ranked No. 15 in the AFCA Coaches

Poll.

• The title game features the No. 1 ranked scoring offense (JSU) versus the

No. 3 ranked scoring defense (SU).

• 2024 marks the 25 year anniversary of the SWAC Football Championship

game. The inaugural matchup in 1999 featured the Southern Jaguars versus

the Jackson State Tigers. The game was played at historic Legion Field in

Birmingham, Alabama.

• Odds: Jackson State is a 13.5 point favorite.

• The SWAC Football Championship is set to be broadcast live on ESPN2 with Tiffany Greene (Play by Play) and Jay Walker (Color Analyst).

Sep 3, 2023; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Jackson State Tigers running back Irv Mulligan (5) runs with the football against the Florida A&M Rattlers during the fourth quarter of the Orange Blossom Classic at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images / Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

THE KEY PLAYERS

Jackson State boasts eleven All-SWAC players, led by the electric running back Irv Mulligan, named the 2024 SWAC Offensive Player of the Year. Southern had one All-SWAC honoree in the 2024 SWAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year, defensive end Ckelby Givens.

THE QUARTERBACKS

The most critical position on the gridiron for both combatants will be the quarterbacks Jacobian Morgan (Jackson State) and Jalen Woods (Southern). It's simple for the young student-athletes:

1. Protect The Football
2. Move The Chains
3. Make The Critical Plays
4. Use Your Mobility
5. Trust Your Offensive Line

Morgan has gained the trust and praise of head coach T.C. Taylor after recovering from a difficult start to the season. The junior signal-caller has completed 146 out of 231 passes for 1,968 yards, 19 touchdowns, and six interceptions this season. He's also added six touchdowns off of 83 rushing attempts.

His counterpart, Woods, is a freshman out of College Park, Georgia. Coach Terrence Graves and offensive coordinator Mark Frederick thrust the young quarterback into action after inconsistent play from Noah Bodden and Czavian Teasett.  

You have to credit Woods as he helped the Jags to win the 51st Annual Bayou Classic this past weekend. In six game appearances, he's thrown 38 completions for 541 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions. He must have a nearly perfect game against a highly aggressive Tigers defensive unit.

Jackson State Tigers' quarterback Jacobian Morgan (15) talks to Jackson State Tigers' head coach T.C. Taylor during the game against the ULM Warhawks in Monroe, La., on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. / Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK

OTHER PLAYERS TO WATCH

Jackson State

• RB Irv Mulligan (SWAC Offensive Player of the Year)
• WR Joanes Fortilien
• DB Robert McDaniel
• DL Joshua Nobles
• DB Esaias Guthrie

Southern

• RB Kobe Dillon
• RB Kendric Rhymes
• DL Ckelby Givens (Co-Defensive Player of the Year)
• LB Vincent Paige Jr.
• WR Chandler Whitfield

STATS PERFORM FACTS OF THE GAME

● Jackson State has won five straight games against Southern University, including a win in the 2022 SWAC Championship Game (43-24) and a win earlier this season (Sept. 14). The Jaguars have not lost six straight games against a single opponent within the last 25 years.

● Jackson State wants to join Michigan as the only Division I team (FBS or FCS) to win three conference championship games since 2021. The Tigers won in both 2021 and 2022.

● Jackson State owns a +18.4 average point differential this season, the sixth best in the FCS. The Tigers had four wins by at least 35 points, tied for the second most in the FCS (South Dakota State – 5).

● Jacobian Morgan has passed and rushed for a touchdown in five games this season, most by any HBCU player at the FCS level.

● Despite missing a couple of games, Irv Mulligan is in line to become the first Jackson State player to lead the SWAC in rushing yards since Destry Wright in 1998. Mulligan's five 100-yard rushing games since Week 8 are tied for the most in the FCS.

● Southern defeated Grambling State, 24-14, in this year's edition of the Bayou Classic. Chandler Whitfield hauled in a career-high 146 receiving yards en route to being named the game's MVP.

● Southern's defense allows a 29.2 third-down conversion percentage this season, the best in the SWAC and sixth best in the FCS. Jackson State's offense converts third downs at a 41.8% clip, second-best in the SWAC (41st in the FCS).

● Southern is looking for its first five-game winning streak since 2018. The team's 7-1 record in conference play was its best since 2016 (went 8-1).

● Kobe Dillon (752) and Kendric Rhymes (614) are the only HBCU RB duo at the FCS level that each rushed for 600+ yards this season. This is the only time in the last 25 years that the Jaguars have had such a tandem.

FIVE PREDICTIONS

1. Should the Tigers get out to a two-score first-half lead, life will be difficult for the Jaguars to recover. Jackson State will win.
2. Should the Jaguar lead at halftime, the Tigers will be in an uncomfortable position. Still, the ending favors Southern.
3. Plus Two: If either team wins the turnover battle by 2+, they win. Southern is a -7 for the season, yet they find themselves a win away from the Celebration Bowl. The Jaguars could pull off an upset if the margin is just 1+ in either direction. Also, neither quarterback can afford to toss more than two interceptions. If so, the needle points in the opponent's direction.
4. Line of scrimmage: 150+ rushing yards = Victory
5. Special Teams: The place kickers and return specialists must be special today. Southern must win the field position battle at The Vet before a hostile crowd. 3+ field goals = WIN; 120+ return yards = WIN

SOUTHERN 17, JACKSON STATE 31

NEXT

The winner will play South Carolina State in the 2024 Celebration Bowl inside the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 14.

---