Prairie View A&M head coach Tremaine Jackson isn’t interested in the past.
His focus is squarely on the challenge ahead — facing the defending HBCU national champion Jackson State University, for a berth in the Celebration Bowl.
“You know, getting too caught up in all-time series and things — a lot of our guys weren’t even alive when those old Prairie View and Jackson battles were happening,” Jackson said on Monday. “Here’s what we know: we haven’t played Jackson State since 2021, and when you cut the tape on, you can tell they’re the defending national champs. They’ve got really good players everywhere. They’re well-coached. It’s what you expect to see at this point in the season.”
The last time the two teams met was in the SWAC Championship Game — a 27-10 win by Jackson State.
Jackson said film study can only reveal so much. The true test, he noted, will come once his Panthers step onto the field.
“Film can tell you so much, but until we get there and start playing, we won’t really know,” he said. “We believe what we see. They’re a really talented football team, but we have to play — our guys have to play.”
Jackson emphasized mutual respect, acknowledging that top-tier programs across the country share similar advantages, from scholarship support to NIL opportunities and strong coaching staffs.
“At this point, everyone’s got good players, good coaches, and resources,” Jackson said. “So we make sure to treat everybody with the same respect.”
As Prairie View prepares for its biggest game of the season, Jackson said his team understands what’s at stake — and what it will take.
“Our guys are going to have to play their best game because it’s a championship game,” he said. “We’ve earned the right to be here, but our guys want to earn the right to hold up the trophy at the end. We look forward to the challenge.”
