JACKSON, Miss. | Jackson State opens the 2024 football season on the road Thursday night against FBS opponent ULM with a 6 pm kickoff inside Malone Stadium. The game can be seen on ESPN+ and heard on Hallelujah 95.5 FM.
 
The game on Thursday night marks the first time since the Spring season of 2021 that the Tigers have not opened the season in either the Orange Blossom Classic or the MEAC/SWAC Challenge, and will be just the second meeting all-time between the Tigers and ULM.
 
Jackson State returns 87.6 percent (1,869 yards) of its yards gained rushing from the line of scrimmage from a season ago, while also returning 69.4 (1,739) yards receiving. The Tigers also return two of its top five tacklers on defense from last year in preseason all-conference picks Esaias Guthrie and Jeremiah Williams.
 
Game Info – Jackson State at ULM
Thursday, Aug. 29 | 6 p.m. | Malone Stadium
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Jackson State Notes

• The Tigers were picked to finish third behind Alabama State and Florida A&M in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) East Division with five players earning preseason all-conference honors.
• Jackson State led the nation in interceptions last season at the end of the regular season with 17, finishing fourth overall at the conclusion of the season behind North Dakota State who finished with 21 overall and finished tied with Florida A&M with 17.
• The Tigers return a player who can flip the field with a simple drop of the football in punter Matt Noll. The senior averaged 44.3 yards per game punting last season and was named to the FCS Punter of the Year Watch List and was named a preseason All-American.
• The Tigers have played 152 games against teams from the state of Louisiana since 1956. They have faced seven different teams over that span and have a 65-87 record. They have played games against Grambling State (27-42), ULM (0-1), Nicholls (1-1), Northwestern State (2-4), Southeastern Louisiana (2-2), Southern (33-36), and Tulane (0-1).
• Transfer defensive back Robert McDaniel found his way onto a pair of Watch Lists entering the season after returning to the Tigers. He was on the team previously before landing at Alcorn State and returning this year to be named to the Aeneas Williams Preseason Watch List and the East-West Shrine 1000 – recognizing the top 1000 seniors heading into the season. McDaniel totaled 30 tackles for the Braves as a defensive back in 2023 with 21 solo stops. He also recorded a pair of tackles for loss. McDaniel accounted for six turnovers last season causing three fumbles and was among the league leaders with three interceptions. He also recorded five pass breakups. He was added to the Senior Bowl Watch List just eight days before the season opener against ULM.
• B.J. Washington joined Robert McDaniel on the Aeneas Williams Preseason Watch List after a season when he recorded 25 total tackles including 19 solo stops. He also recorded four tackles for loss and a pair of pass breakups, while he also forced a fumble and recorded three interceptions. He recorded multiple tackles in six games.
• Since 1956, Jackson State has recorded 47 wins in the season opener, putting together a 47-24-4 record over that span. The Tigers have won their last four season openers dating back to the Spring of 2021 after dropping five consecutive openers from 2015 to 2019.
• Jackson State has one of arguably the youngest staffs in the country with an average age of 32.5 years old. The Tigers have 10 coaches on staff that are under the age of 30, while head coach T.C. Taylor is only 45 years old in his second season with Jackson State.

Series History
ULM leads Jackson State, 1-0
First/Last Meeting: Sept. 19, 2021 – ULM def. Jackson State, 12-7
Monroe: 0-1 | Jackson: 0-0 | Neutral: 0-0 | Streak: ULM, W1

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