The stage is set for Saturday's Cricket SWAC Football Championship Game as Jackson State looks to win back-to-back league championships against Southern at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.
GAME INFORMATION:
- Date; Matchup: Saturday, December 3, 2022; SWAC East Champion Jackson State Tigers (11-0 overall, 8-0 SWAC) vs. SWAC West Champion Southern Jaguars (7-4, 5-3 SWAC)
- Game time, Stadium, Location: 3 p.m., The Vet; Jackson, Miss.
- Fan Color: Blue
- Tickets: Limited Availability online at gojsutigers.com/tickets and at The Vet Stadium Box office from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Friday
- General Parking: Sold out; Overnight and tailgate parking available at Farmers Market Lot located at corner of West St. and Woodrow Wilson Ave. available Friday at 6 p.m. on a first come, first serve basis
- Radio: JSU Sports Network pregame show begins at 2 p.m. on 95.5 FM in Jackson; Satellite Radio XM Channel 135; Sirius Channel 203, and SiriusXM online channel 966; SWAC Hall of Famer Rob Jay and Former JSU QB Darrell Asberry on the call
- TV/Online: ESPN2 and on ESPN App with Tiffany Greene, Jay Walker, and Jalyn Johnson
- Live Stats: https://gojsutigers.com/sidearmstats/football/summary
JSU Football is looking to win its 18th SWAC Championship and claim back-to-back league titles for the first time since 1995-96. This is the second meeting of the season between the teams, with Jackson State beating Southern 35-0 at The Vet on October 29.
This is the seventh championship game appearance for Jackson State since the games' inception in 1999 (1999, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2021, 2022), with the Tigers holding a 2-4 record. This is the third time the Tigers and Jaguars have met in the SCG (1999, 2013).
Coming off an 11-2 season in 2021 and the SWAC Championship win under Head Coach Deion 'Coach Prime' Sanders, JSU football has gone undefeated in 2022, posting the first 11-0 regular season in program history. The Tigers became the first SWAC team since 1991 to go undefeated in the regular season (Alabama St. went 10-0-1; finished with 11-0-1 record and win in the Heritage Bowl). JSU also became the first SWAC team since 1984 to finish the regular season undefeated and untied (Alcorn went 9-0 before losing in 1-AA playoffs to finish season 9-1).
The Jackson State defense leads the FCS in five statistical categories and ranks in the top 10 in nine total categories: first in scoring defense (10.1 ppg), total defense (216.9 ypg), passing defense (121.5 ypg), third down conversions allowed (22.5%), and fewest first downs allowed (139), second in both sacks per game (3.8), and total sacks (42), third in defensive touchdowns (four) and fourth in rushing defense (95.5 ypg).
Offensively, JSU leads the SWAC and ranks in the FCS Top 15 in four categories: eighth in scoring offense (37.5 ppg), 10th in passing offense (290.5 ypg), 14th in total offense (448.6), and fifth in completion percentage (69.1%). The Tigers are seventh in the SWAC in rushing offense (158.1 ypg), first in first downs gained (262 / 23.8 pg), and third in third-down conversions (41.0%).
The Tigers are 26-5 in the Coach Prime era and 22-2 in the last two seasons. JSU has won 17 consecutive SWAC games, and 19 straight games over league opponents.
Southern is making its first SWAC Championship Game appearance since 2019, as the Jaguars won their final two games against Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Grambling to claim the West title. Offensively, the Jaguars average 32.4 ppg and 396.7 yards total offense (202.5 rushing / 194.2 passing). Defensively, Southern allows 19.8 points and 288.7 yards per game (111.5 rushing / 177.2 passing).
#TheeILove #IBelieve
