Spring football gives way to fall optimism, and the Southwestern Athletic Conference landscape for 2025 is taking shape.
The conference remains fiercely competitive, with perennial powers and emerging contenders vying for supremacy.
Here’s an analysis of the SWAC football power rankings heading into the 2025 campaign, based on recent results, returning talent, and off-season developments.
Jackson State
Jackson State enters 2025 as the clear favorite, riding the momentum of a 12-2 season capped by a Celebration Bowl victory and a dominant 8-0 conference record.
The Tigers return much of the core that led them to an HBCU national championship. Their defense, anchored by Defensive lineman Jeremiah Williams and linebacker Reid Pulliam, remains formidable. Quarterback Jacobian Morgan leads an offense that will be without running back Irv Mulligan but boasts a wide receiver room that has been strengthened with the addition of Prairie View transfer Shemar Savage.
Southern
Southern University finished 2024 as SWAC West champions, posting a 7-1 conference mark and an 8-5 overall record. Despite falling to Jackson State in the championship, the Jaguars’ surge in the division keeps them firmly in the top tier. Defensive lineman Ckelby Givens, the 2024 Co-Defensive Player of the Year, returns to lead a defense that should again be among the league’s best.
Southern’s challenge will still be determining who can consistently produce at quarterback. Sophomore Jalen Woods and East Mississippi Community College transfer Jamari Jones will battle for the starting role.
Florida A&M
Florida A&M, a year removed from a Celebration Bowl title, slipped to 7-5 (5-3 SWAC) in 2024, their most conference losses since joining the SWAC. There is hope that the defense has righted the ship with an influx of transfer portal acquisitions.
The offense, however, suffered a minor setback when quarterback C.J. Montes, who had initially committed to the program, was lost to the transfer portal. The Rattlers still have three FBS transfer quarterbacks, RJ Johnson III (Toledo), Tyler Jefferson (Central Michigan), and Roman Purcell (Indiana), who will battle for the starting position in the fall.
Alabama State
What determines the Hornets’ place in the SWAC East will rest on the health of transfer quarterback Andrew Body. Alabama State’s 2024 season was all but derailed after the dual-threat signal-caller was lost for the season to injury. If Body can remain healthy and play at a level that made him one of the top quarterbacks in the SWAC, the Hornets could flirt with a division championship.
Prairie View A&M
Tremaine Jackson, one of the top Division II coaches in the country at Valdosta State, has lofty expectations for a program that seemed to stagnate under Bubba McDowell.
While Jackson’s early expression of bravado and candid nature hasn’t won the Panthers any games yet, the self-assurance backed by an impressive resume figures to put the program back in the middle of the SWAC West hunt.
Alabama A&M
Alabama A&M made a strong statement about how it wanted to be perceived in the SWAC by hiring program builder Sam Shade as head coach. The move has already paid dividends in the transfer portal, with the Bulldogs receiving commitments from former Miles College players, including All-SIAC defensive Jeremiah Hudson-Davis and former Arkansas-Pine Bluff quarterback Mekhi Hagens, who was the second-leading passer in the SWAC in 2024.
Alcorn State
A year ago, Alcorn State was the preseason favorite to win the SWAC, a prediction that shocked head coach Cedric Thomas. His skepticism was proven correct as the Braves stumbled to a 6-6 finish in a season defined by missed opportunities and concerns about player immaturity.
Texas Southern
The Tigers surprised under first-year head coach Cris Dishman, totaling the most conference wins since 2022. Can Texas Southern take the next step?
Grambling State
There is a lot of pressure on Mickey Joseph to get it right in Year 2.
Bethune-Cookman
The Wildcats were competitive in 2024 but still have a long way to go to contend in a loaded SWAC East.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Losing the offense’s top quarterback and wide receiver to the transfer portal will have the Golden Lions fighting to stay out of the SWAC West basement.
Mississippi Valley State
Terrell Buckley was an interesting offseason hire. He will need a lot of time to rebuild the Delta Devils into respectability.
There will be no cut and dried winner of the SWAC title. Its up for grabs.