Mississippi Valley State’s fourth-quarter comebacks might look like a sudden breakthrough. Terrell Buckley knows they are the product of months of work.
The Delta Devils’ ability to rally against Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern late in games did not materialize overnight. According to Buckley, the foundation for their late-game resilience began in January, when he started challenging his players to embrace change, accept accountability, and trust the process he was building.
“And not the old cliches,” Buckley said on Monday at the SWAC coaches media conference. “The same stuff that as coaches we use of trying to get creative, challenging them, embracing the change, embracing where they’re at.”
Buckley has leaned on his experiences as a former college and NFL player while continuing to observe other coaches and learn from their approaches. That willingness to evolve has become part of his effort to change the mindset of a program searching for consistency.
“I am still growing,” he said.
That growth, Buckley explained, has translated into the way he communicates with his players and establishes the standards they are expected to meet. He wants them to understand where they are, what is required of them and why accountability cannot disappear when circumstances become difficult.
Mississippi Valley State has done it again.
The Delta Devils score 24 fourth-quarter points to knock off Texas Southern.
It’s the program’s first two-game winning streak in four seasons. https://t.co/G38VNjM92z
— HBCU Sports (@HBCUSports) October 10, 2026
“I don’t ask for certain things. I demand it,” Buckley said.
Maybe that’s why quarterback Josh Brown or the defense performs at their best when the Delta Devils are desperate.
Those demands are reinforced through conversations and daily interactions, creating expectations that extend beyond the practice field. When the fourth quarter arrives and a game begins slipping away, Buckley believes his players are better equipped to respond because they understand what he expects from them.
“So now, coming fourth quarter, when I demand certain things, they are accepted,” he said.
The victories over Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern have offered a glimpse of that philosophy in action. Facing deficits late in games can expose a team’s weaknesses, particularly for a program trying to establish a winning identity. Mississippi Valley State has instead found ways to fight back and finish.
The Delta Devils still have work to do, but their recent results suggest the lessons Buckley began emphasizing months ago are taking hold.
For Buckley, the fourth-quarter surge is about more than timely plays or late-game adjustments. It reflects a culture built on communication, demanding standards and a willingness to embrace change.
The comeback wins may be happening on Saturdays, but their roots stretch back to long before — when Buckley began laying the groundwork for Mississippi Valley State to finish what it started.
