Jackson State started its season in Atlanta at the MEAC/SWAC Challenge. And the team hopes to end it at the Celebration Bowl come December.
But the road back to Georgia has also included a stretch of games to begin 2023 in Miami at the Orange Blossom Classic, in Baton Rouge versus longtime rival Southern and this week, Jackson State will play at FBS Texas State.
First-year head coach T.C. Taylor spoke about how difficult it has been starting the season with four straight road games and how the team has managed the early schedule.
“I’m tired of living out of suitcases,” said Taylor about the Tigers’ early road schedule. “It’s been a challenging schedule for our football team. For us to be at 2-1 and that one we didn’t play our best football game where we had a lot of mistakes on our end, not taking [anything] away from a good FAMU football team, but this has been a challenge. Our kids are ready to play here, but that’s the way this thing played out.”
Taylor did credit the school’s fan base, who he says are “showing up and showing out in numbers.”
JSU will play its home opener against Bethune-Cookman on Sept. 23 before going back on the road the following week to face Alabama A&M.
“It’s important that we are ready to go week in, week out, whether we are on the road or we are at home,” Taylor said. “I think it tells you a lot about your football team when you’re playing all of these road games early on against these quality opponents that we’re going to fight. We [have] a lot of fight in this football team.”