The games for Jackson State now count.
And it starts with a road rivalry game at Southern — a team JSU has beaten the last six meetings, including twice in the SWAC championship game.
“When you talk about JSU and Southern, it’s going to be a great atmosphere. Every (game) counts now, so we have to be ready,” said Jackson State coach T.C. Taylor.
The matchup, which marks Jackson State’s first conference road game of the season, is more than just another contest. The annual clash between JSU and Southern is among the SWAC’s most anticipated rivalries, drawing large crowds and passionate fan bases.
Tigers know Southern is out for revenge
Last year, the Tigers (3-1) bested Southern twice, including a championship clincher, but Taylor stressed that past victories are nothing but motivation for this year’s matchup.
“They’re going to be chomping at the bit to get a little get-back at us, but we feel good about the team we’re taking down there,” Taylor said.
Southern returns much of last year’s squad, including standout running back Trey Holly and a revamped offense now under new offensive coordinator Fred McNair, though the Jaguars have not committed to a starting quarterback .
Taylor pointed to stopping Holly and Southern’s transfer running backs as key defensive objectives, emphasizing that defensive line play and linebacker tackling would be crucial. “We’ve been doing an excellent job defensively – tackling well, stopping the run. We have to keep that up,” he said.
JSU offense can still reach potential
While Taylor praised his defense and special teams, he acknowledged that the offense has yet to reach its full potential. “We haven’t clicked on all cylinders yet on offense. I know what we’re capable of when everybody flips that switch – it’ll be special,” he explained. He pointed to the quarterback room, led by Jacobian Morgan as holding untapped promise.
Jacobian came back from injury, and he knows he has to play better for us to push the ball downfield and get this offense going,” Taylor added.
As the Tigers prepare to enter the sold-out stadium in Baton Rouge, Taylor’s focus is squarely on preparing his players for the energized atmosphere and the long season ahead.
“We’ve got eight games to play, do well in those, and that creates a ninth – the SWAC Championship. You win that, and it’s a tenth, the national championship. All of them are important, but this is just the next one up,” Taylor said.
With confidence, a healthy roster, and the weight of rivalry tradition behind them, Jackson State appears ready for its next test, setting the stage for another thrilling chapter in the storied history between JSU and Southern.
