SWAC 2025 football preview: Is it just Jackson State and everyone else?

The SWAC projects as a grind in 2025.

The SWAC East is the league’s most challenging race, with Jackson State boasting elite skill talent and preseason Offensive Player of the Year Jacobian Morgan leading the charge.

Florida A&M’s veteran line and stingy defense keep the Rattlers close, while Alabama State’s health at quarterback could make the Hornets a true spoiler.

Defending West champion Southern anchors the SWAC West behind its dominant defense, while Alcorn State counters with a powerful run game and key transfer additions.

Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern bring new energy and playmakers, with Grambling and UAPB in varying stages of building. The West doesn’t have the depth of the East, but its top two are clear title contenders.

Here is everything you need to know about the SWAC before the season starts:

EAST DIVISION

Jackson State Tigers

• Coach: T.C. Taylor

• Preseason outlook: Picked 1st in the East

• Headliners: QB Jacobian Morgan (Preseason Offensive POY); WRs Nate Rembert, Joanes Fortilien; TE Marvin Landy; OL D’Andre Townes-Blue. On D, DL Jeremiah Williams; specialists Gerardo Baeza (K) and Travis Terrell Jr. (RS).

• The bottom line: The Tigers have the most complete offensive skill group in the conference, and the defensive edge makes JSU the divisional favorite.

Florida A&M Rattlers

• Coach: James Colzie III 

• Preseason outlook: 2nd in the East

• Headliners: RB Thad Franklin Jr.; OL Charles Davis, Ashton Grable; DL Davion Westmoreland; LB Nay’Ron Jenkins; DBs TJ Huggins and Jameel Sanders

• Bottom line:  The veteran offensive line is the strength of the Rattlers, at least on offense. Quarterback situation remains an unknown before Week 1. Its defense might have to carry the Rattlers until the offense stabilizes.

Alabama State Hornets

• Coach: Eddie Robinson Jr.

• Preseason outlook: 3rd in the East

• Headliners: DB Keane Lewis (1st-team); OL Desmond Daniels (1st-team) with Cameron Smith and Dezmond Penn on 2nd-team

• Bottom line: Secondary and offensive line pieces are in place to keep the Hornets in every game, as they did last season with injuries to the quarterback position. Speaking of quarterbacks, transfer Andrew Body is healthy again, and if he stays that way, ASU could be a serious contender in the SWAC East.

Alabama A&M Bulldogs

• Coach: Sam Shade

• Preseason outlook: 4th in the East

• Headliners: OL Tyrell Lawrence; DL Nick Glenn (both 2nd-team)

• Bottom line: Transition year under Shade. The foundation of the team will be established. Losing Arkansas-Pine Bluff transfer quarterback Mekhi Hagens hurts the offense’s ability to develop quickly. But the Bulldogs should be competitive.

Bethune-Cookman Wildcats

• Coach: Raymond Woodie Jr.

• Preseason outlook: 5th in the East

• Headliners: QB Cam Ransom; WR Maleek Huggins; DL Adrian Hall; LB Malik Stinnett; DB Antwone Watts (1st-team)

• Bottom line: If Ransom-to-Huggins clicks and takeaways rise, B-CU can jump a spot or two. But the Wildcats still have a long way to go to compete.

Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils

• Coach: Terrell Buckley

• Preseason outlook: 6th in the East

• Headliners: The Delta Devils have returnees in WR/RB DePhabian Fant and DB Kobe Byrd, but that only underscores the depth of the rebuild under Buckley.

• Bottom line: The first year will be about establishing culture and bulking up recruiting. With a committed Buckley there, the hope is that the Delta Devils defense will eventually be a strength.

WEST DIVISION

Southern Jaguars

• Coach: Terrence Graves

• Preseason outlook: 1st in the West

• Headliners: DL Ckelby Givens (Preseason Defensive POY); LB Vincent Paige Jr.; DBs Horacio Johnson and Herman Brister III; TE Dupree Fuller

• Bottom line: The defense that propelled the Jaguars to a SWAC West title is still there. The offense, with questions at quarterback amid an ongoing battle between Cam’Ron McCoy and Jalen Woods for the No. 1 job, will determine whether Southern can repeat.

Alcorn State Braves

• Coach: Cedric Thomas

• Preseason outlook: 2nd in the West

• Headliners: RB Jacorian Sewell, OL Ronald Brown, LB Stemarion Edwards (all 1st-team)

• Bottom line: The Braves boast a potent one-two punch in the backfield with Jacorian Sewell (804 yards, 6 TDs) and Chattanooga transfer Reggie Davis (850 yards, 5 TDs). Adding more firepower, former Howard quarterback Jaylan Tolbert, who threw for 820 yards in just five games, arrives as a key transfer piece.

Prairie View A&M Panthers

• Coach: Tremaine Jackson

• Preseason outlook: 3rd in the West

• Headliners: RB Lamagea McDowell (2nd-team)

• Bottom line: Tremaine Jackson has built winners everywhere he’s been, going 30-9 at Valdosta State and reaching the 2024 Division II title game. His offensive-minded approach should play well with QB Cameron Peters. Defensively, the unit is anchored by returning tacklers Jayven Jackson, Jeremiah Harris II, Cameron Franklin and Jamal Marshall. A light schedule could give the Panthers a chance to be a SWAC West factor.

Texas Southern Tigers

• Coach: Cris Dishman

• Preseason outlook: 4th in the West

• Headliners: WR Trenton Leary, DL Damarcus Thompson, P Jeremy Ramirez (all preseason picks).

• Bottom line: The defense gets a boost with LB Jacob Williams returning from injury. QB KJ Cooper is also back after sparking last year’s season-opening win over Prairie View A&M. Offensively, WR Trenton Leary (41 catches) and RB Athean Renfro are central pieces. At the same time, Damarcus Thompson shifts to the edge, and Michael Akins adds depth at linebacker.

Grambling State Tigers

• Coach: Mickey Joseph (2nd year)

• Preseason outlook: 5th in the West

• Headliners: DL Bryce Cage (1st-team); DB Blake Davis; P Johnny Schifano (both All-SWAC)

• Bottom line: The Tigers are in a pivotal year under Joseph. The strength lies in the trenches with defensive end Bryce Cage and offensive lineman Tahj Martin. Cornerback Blake Davis is also a playmaker. They will need all of them to play consistently to have a shot.

Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions

• Coach: Alonzo Hampton

• Preseason outlook: 6th in the West

• Headliners: RB BJ Curry; K Trey Glymph (both 2nd-team)

• Bottom line: With QB Mekhi Hagens and WR Javonnie Gibson having departed as transfers, it severely hurts the offense. How the Lions find offense in 2025 will be a tough battle all season.

Cliff notes (league-wide)

• Favorites: Southern and Jackson State are likely chalk to meet in the title game. They also claim the league’s two preseason Players of the Year (Givens and Morgan)

• Best units: JSU’s passing game/special team return units; Southern’s defensive line and linebackers; Alcorn’s offensive line and running backs; FAMU’s offensive line and defensive backs.

New head coaches to watch: Sam Shade (AAMU) and Tremaine Jackson (PVAMU)—each could change their team’s identity quickly.

Who wins the SWAC?

The 2025 SWAC Championship Game is headed for another Jackson State vs. Southern clash.

• Jackson State (East favorite): With QB Jacobian Morgan (Preseason Offensive Player of the Year) leading an explosive offense and special teams loaded with All-SWAC picks, the Tigers have the firepower to control the East. Their early matchup with Florida A&M will be the litmus test, but JSU’s depth gives them the edge.

• Southern (West favorite): Anchored by Ckelby Givens (Preseason Defensive Player of the Year) and a nasty front seven, the Jaguars are the most complete defensive unit in the conference. If their offense stays efficient, Southern looks like the toughest out in the league.

👉 Prediction: Jackson State wins the 2025 SWAC title.

Why? Jackson State is too deep across the board, and it helps to have the best player in the conference at the most important position.