Jackson State Tigers football

The Jackson State Tigers football team represents Jackson State University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision level as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
After joining the Southwestern Athletic Conference 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.
Since 1958, Jackson State has won about 25 percent of the conference's football championships 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. In 2023, Tigers placekicker Leilani Armenta became the first woman to score in an HBCU Division I game.

WWW gojsutigers.com/football

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

1911–1912: Independent
1913: Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
1914-1934 Independent
1935-1940 South Central Athletic Conference
1941-1946 Independent
1947–1950: South Central Athletic Conference
1951: Independent
1952–1957: Midwest Athletic Association
1958–present: Southwestern Athletic Conference

JSU fanbase

Jackson State is widely noted for its strong football support and culture. Jackson State fans have led the Division I FCS in attendance for multiple seasons and are the 2025 regular-season leaders.

Championships

National championships

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

1962	Black college national co-champions	John Merritt	10–1
1985	Black college national co-champions	W. C. Gorden	8–3
1996	Black college national co-champions	James Carson	10–2
2024	Black college national champions	T. C. Taylor	12-2

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:

1920
1957	John Merritt	Midwest Athletic Association	6–2	2–0
1961	John Merritt	Southwestern Athletic Conference	9–2	6–1
1962	John Merritt	Southwestern Athletic Conference	10–1	6–1
1972	Robert Hill	Southwestern Athletic Conference	8–3	5–1
1973	Robert Hill	Southwestern Athletic Conference	9–2	5–1
1975	Robert Hill	Southwestern Athletic Conference	7–3	4–2
1980	W. C. Gorden	Southwestern Athletic Conference	8–3	5–1
1981	W. C. Gorden	Southwestern Athletic Conference	9–2–1	5–1
1982	W. C. Gorden	Southwestern Athletic Conference	9–3	6–0
1985	W. C. Gorden	Southwestern Athletic Conference	8–3	6–1
1986	W. C. Gorden	Southwestern Athletic Conference	9–3	7–0
1987	W. C. Gorden	Southwestern Athletic Conference	8–3–1	7–0
1988	W. C. Gorden	Southwestern Athletic Conference	8–1–2	7–0
1990	W. C. Gorden	Southwestern Athletic Conference	8–4	5–1
1995	James Carson	Southwestern Athletic Conference	9–3	7–0
1996	James Carson	Southwestern Athletic Conference	10–2	6–1
2007	Rick Comegy	Southwestern Athletic Conference	8–4	8–2
2021	Deion Sanders	Southwestern Athletic Conference	11-2	8-0
2022	Deion Sanders	Southwestern Athletic Conference	12-1	8-0
2024	T. C. Taylor	Southwestern Athletic Conference	12-2	8-0

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.
† Co–champions
^ win vacated by Southern University due to NCAA violations

NCAA I-AA/FCS playoff results

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

1978	Semifinals	Florida A&M	L 10–15
1981	Quarterfinals	Boise State	L 7–19
1982	First Round	Eastern Illinois	L 13–16
1985	First Round	Georgia Southern	L 0–27
1986	First Round	Tennessee State	L 23–32
1987	First Round	Arkansas State	L 32–35
1988	First Round	Stephen F. Austin	L 0–24
1989	First Round	Montana	L 7–48
1990	First Round	Middle Tennessee	L 7–28
1995	First Round	Marshall	L 8–38
1996	First Round	William & Mary	L 6–45
1997	First Round	Western Illinois	L 24–31

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.

All-Americans

Over 50 Jackson State players have been named All-Americans.

1962	WR	Willie Richardson	AP Little All-American	-	-	-	-
1967	WR	Harold Jackson	Pittsburg Courier All-American	-	-	-	-
1969	OL	Joe Stephens	AP Little All-American	-	-	-	-
1971	WR	Jerome Barkum	AP Little All-American	-	-	-	-
1973	RB	Walter Payton	Chevrolet - Mutual Black Network All-American	-	-	-	-
1974	RB	Walter Payton	Chevrolet - Mutual Black Network All-American	-	-	-	-
1974	LB	Robert Brazile	Chevrolet - Mutual Black Network All-American	-	-	-	-
1975	RB	Walter Payton	Chevrolet - Mutual Black Network All-American	-	-	-	-
1975	LB	Robert Brazile	Chevrolet - Mutual Black Network All-American	-	-	-	-
1976	WR	Leon Sherrod	Mutual Black Network All-American Team	-	-	-	-
1977	OL	Louis Bullard	Mutual Black Network All-American Team	-	-	-	-
1977	RB	Ricky Patton	Mutual Black Network All-American Team	-	-	-	-
1977	CB	Charles Williams	Mutual Black Network All-American Team	-	-	-	-
1979	RB	Perry Harrington	Sheridan All-American Team	-	-	-	-
1980	C	Tom Rice	Sheridan All-American Team	-	-	-	-
1980	G	Larry Werts	Sheridan All-American Team	-	-	-	-
1981	G	Michael Field	Sheridan All-American Team	-	-	-	-
1981	RB	Larry Cowan	Sheridan All-American Team	-	-	-	-
1989	OL	Tim Brown	Sheridan All-American Team	-	-	-	-
1989	--	Ike Ayozie	Sheridan All-American Team	-	-	-	-
1989	LB	Darion Conner	Div. I-AA First Team All-American	-	-	-	-
1989	--	Fred McCrae	Sheridan All-American Team	-	-	-	-
1991	OL	Deitrich Lockridge	Div. I-AA First Team All-American	-	-	-	-
1991	TE	Harold Heath	Div. I-AA All-American	-	-	-	-
1991	DB	Isaac Morehouse	Div. I-AA All-American	-	-	-	-
1991	LB	Charles Ray Davis	Sheridan All-American Team	-	-	-	-
1992	OL	Lester Holmes	Div. I-AA First Team All-American	-	-	-	-
1992	TE	Isiah Bliss	Sheridan All-American Team	-	-	-	-
1992	OL	Lester Holmes	Sheridan All-American Team	-	-	-	-
1992	LB	Mario Perry	Sheridan All-American Team	-	-	-	-
1993	LB	Fernando Smith	Div. I-AA All-American	-	-	-	-
1995	DB	Picasso Nelson	Sheridan All-American	-	-	-	-
1996	DB	Sean Woodson	Div. I-AA First Team All-American	-	-	-	-
1996	LB	Otha Evans	Div. I-AA All-American	-	-	-	-
1999	RB	Destry Wright	Div. I-AA All-American	-	-	-	-
1999	WR	Sylvester Morris	Div. I-AA All-American	-	-	-	-
1999	DL	Eric Chandler	Div. I-AA All-American	-	-	-	-
2011	DL	Joseph Lebeau	FCS All-American	-	-	-	-
2011	DL	Joseph Lebeau	Boxtorow All-American	-	-	-	-
2011	QB	Casey Therriault	Boxtorow All-American	-	-	-	-
2011	TE	Renty Rollins	Boxtorow All-American	-	-	-	-
2012	WR	Rico Richardson	Sheridan All-American Team	-	-	-	-
2012	WR	Rico Richardson	Boxtorow All-American	-	-	-	-
2012	DL	Joseph LeBeau	Sheridan All-American Team	-	-	-	-
2012	DL	Joseph LeBeau	Boxtorow All-American	-	-	-	-
2012	DB	Qua Cox	Boxtorow All-American	-	-	-	-
2013	OL	Jordan Arthur	Boxtorow All-American	-	-	-	-
2013	DB	Qua Cox	Boxtorow All-American	2013	DL	Javancy Jones	Freshman All-American Team
2014	DL	Javancy Jones	Boxtorow All-American Team	2015	PK	Ryan Deising	Sheridan All-American Team
2015	DL	Javancy Jones	Sheridan All-American Team	-	-	-	-
2015	DL	Javancy Jones	Boxtorow All-American	-	-	-	-
2016	DL	Javancy Jones	Sheridan All-American Team	-	-	-	-
2021	DL	James Houston	Associated Press FCS All-American Team	-	-	-	-
2022	OL	Tyler Brown	Associated Press FCS All-American Team	-	-	-	-
2022	DL	Aubrey Miller Jr.	Associated Press FCS All-American Team	-	-	-	-

Player of the Year

Jackson State players that received Player of the Year honors.

1971	Sylvester Collins	QB	SWAC Offensive Player of the Year
1973	Walter Payton	RB	SWAC Player of the Year
1973	Walter Payton	RB	Chevrolet - Mutual Black Network Player of the Year
1974	Walter Payton	RB	Chevrolet - Mutual Black Network Player of the Year
1977	Jessie Griffin	LB	SWAC Defensive Player of the Year
1979	Perry Harrington	RB	SWAC Offensive Player of the Year
1980	Larry Werts	LB	SWAC Defensive Player of the Year
1981	Keith Taylor	QB	SWAC Offensive Player of the Year
1982	Mario Kirksey	LB	SWAC Defensive Player of the Year
1985	Jackie Walker	LB	SWAC Defensive Player of the Year
1985	Daryl Jones	RB	SWAC Newcomer of the Year
1986	Kevin Dent	DB	SWAC Defensive Player of the Year
1987	Lewis Tillman	RB	SWAC Offensive Player of the Year
1987	Andre Lloyd	LB	SWAC Defensive Player of the Year
1988	Kevin Dent	DB	SWAC Defensive Player of the Year
1988	Lewis Tillman	RB	SWAC Offensive Player of the Year
1989	Darion Conner	LB	SWAC Defensive Player of the Year
1989	Ike Ayozie	K	SWAC Newcomer of the Year
1990	Marlo Perry	LB	SWAC Freshman of the Year
1995	Picasso Nelson	LB	SWAC Newcomer of the Year
1996	Sean Woodson	DB	SWAC Offensive Player of the Year
1997	Corey Bradford	WR	SWAC Newcomer of the Year
1998	Sylvester Morris	WR	SWAC Offensive Player of the Year
1999	Tommy Head	LB	SWAC Defensive Player of the Year
2000	Robert Kent	QB	SWAC Newcomer of the Year
2002	Terry Ross	WR	SWAC Freshman of the Year
2008	Marcellus Speaks	DL	SWAC Defensive Player of the Year
2008	Marcellus Speaks	DL	Boxtorow Defensive Player of the Year
2010	Casey Therriault	QB	SWAC Newcomer of the Year
2010	Casey Therriault	QB	Boxtorow Newcomer of the Year
2011	Casey Therriault	QB	SWAC Offensive Player of the Year
2011	Casey Therriault	QB	Boxtorow National Player of the Year
2011	Joseph LeBeau	DE	SWAC Newcomer of the Year
2012	Rico Richardson	WR	SWAC Offensive Player of the Year
2013	Javancy Jones	DL	SWAC Freshman of the Year
2019	Keonte Hampton	LB	SWAC Defensive Player of the Year
2021	Shedeur Sanders	QB	Boxtorow Newcomer of the Year
2022	Shedeur Sanders	QB	SWAC Offensive Player of the Year
2022	Aubrey Miller Jr.	LB	SWAC Defensive Player of the Year
2022	Shedeur Sanders	QB	Boxtorow Offensive Player of the Year
2022	Aubrey Miller Jr.	LB	Boxtorow Defensive Player of the Year
2024	Irv Mulligan	RB	SWAC Offensive Player of the Year
2024	Travis Terrell Jr.	RB	SWAC Freshman of the Year
2024	Travis Terrell Jr.	RB	Boxtorow Newcomer of the Year

College Football Hall of Fame members

Pro football alumni

, 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. Notable players include:

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.

Facilities

Jackson State University owns and operates Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium affectionately known as "The Vet". The 60,492-seat stadium has been the home field of Jackson State football since 1970. For many years, the stadium was the largest in Mississippi until 2016. 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.

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of January 13, 2026

vs Tennessee State¹	Tennessee State	vs Norfolk State²

John A. Merritt Classic, Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN
MEAC/SWAC Challenge, Atlanta, GA