KICKOFF: 1 p.m.
LIVE STREAM: ESPN+
RADIO: Jackson State Sports Radio Network
PURCHASE TICKETS
 
JACKSON, Miss. – The No. 20/24 ranked Jackson State football team plays host to SWAC-newcomer Bethune-Cookman Saturday at 1 p.m. from historic Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.
 
The Tigers will be without head coach Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders as the Pro Football Hall of Famer is recovering from a follow-up procedure on his foot. Prayers and thoughts are with Coach Prime for a speedy recovery.
 
Gary Harrell will serve as the interim head coach for the game. Harrell joined Sanders' staff in November of 2020 after spending one season as the running backs coach at Alabama State. Previously, Harrell spent two seasons as Lane Kiffin's wide receivers coach at Florida Atlantic.
 
A wide receiver in college at Howard (1990-93) and four games in the NFL with the New York Giants (1994-95), he started his coaching career at his alma mater working with receivers in 2002–03. Harrell was receivers coach at Texas Southern (2004-05), receiver coach at Florida A&M (2006-07), quarterbacks coach at Morgan State (2008) and offensive coordinator at Bowie State (2009-10).
 
Harrell was the coach at Howard from 2011-12 and 2014-16. The JSU football program is in capable hands with Coach Harrell.
 
Jackson State vs. Bethune-Cookman Series
 
Series Record: JSU leads 4-3
 
2021: TBD
2019: BCU 36, JSU 15, Atlanta, Ga.
1989: JSU 27, BCU 7, Indianapolis, Ind.
1978: JSU 35, BCU 6, Jackson, Miss.
1977: BCU 10, JSU 3, Miami, Fla.
1974: JSU 23, BCU 7, Daytona Beach, Fla.
1973: JSU 42, BCU 32, Jackson, Miss.
1972: BCU 22, JSU 17, Daytona Beach, Fla.
 
Homecoming a Success
 
JSU (5-1, 3-0 SWAC) is coming off a 28-7 homecoming victory over Alabama State at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. The attendance was 53,578 which was the largest homecoming crowd in school history and the 10th largest for a home game. According to Visit Jackson, Homecoming brought over 5 million to the community.
 
Top Ranked Defense
 
It's often said that defense wins championships. The Tigers' dominant defense led to a 3-0 record in classic games (Orange Blossom Classic, Southern Heritage Classic, W.C. Gorden Classic) and set the tone for the season. The Tigers only allow an average of 12.2 points per game and 240.5 yards per game. In an era of football that tends to favor offenses, the Darkside Defense has bucked that trend and been dominant.
 
-Derailed the top-ranked Alabama A&M offense
-Did not allow touchdowns versus Florida A&M and Louisiana-Monroe
-Did not allow a score in the second half versus Alabama State
 
Mean Machine
 
A trademark of JSU defense is pressuring and getting to the quarterback. As a team, JSU has totaled 28 sacks – which leads the FCS. It also ranks second overall at the Division I level (Troy, 31).
 
James Houston ranks second in the SWAC with 8.5 sacks, Aubery Miller is third with 5 sacks, and Nyles Gaddy rounds out the top 10 with 3.5 sacks. When the Tigers aren't sacking the opposing quarterback, the unit is still finding itself behind the line of scrimmage. Houston ranks second in the conference with 11.5 tackles for loss, Miller is fourth with 8.5 TFL, Antwan Owens is ninth with 7.5 TFL and Devonta Davis rounds out the top 10 with 6.0 TFL. All-SWAC linebacker Keonte Hampton ranks 12^th with 7.0 TFL.
 
Miller leads the conference with 62 total tackles and a staggering 10.3 tackles per game. Hampton ranks 12^th with 37 total stops and Houston is 21^st with 30 tackles.
 
Offense Peaking
 
Prior to the 61-15 shellacking and scootergate at Alabama A&M, JSU head coach Deion Sanders named JSU alum and former All-American wide receiver TC Taylor as the Tigers' offensive coordinator. The Blue and White responded with 496 yards of total offense – it's most yards in a game since 2011. The Tigers averaged 9.4 yards per play and generated 247 rushing yards and 249 passing yards, nearly a 50/50 split and offensive balance that Coach Prime was looking for out of the offensive unit. In the 28-7 win over Alabama State on Homecoming.
 
Playing like a Veteran
 
Freshman quarterback Shedeur Sanders is a true freshman quarterback, but the young man who is known as "Grown" due to his maturity is playing like a veteran through the first half of the season. The Canton, Texas product leads the SWAC with a 69.6 completion percentage (135-for-194) and has thrown 13 touchdown passes to only one interception. Shedeur is averaging 257.2 passing yards per game and is second in the conference with 1543 passing yards.