T.C. Taylor and the Jackson State football team will look to return to the top of the SWAC with a 2026 slate announced Sunday that includes five home games and four classics.
The Tigers will open the season on Aug. 29 at Tennessee State in the John Merritt Classic in Nashville. The historic matchup is being renewed after four seasons. The last time the two teams played, Jackson State won 16-3.
Weeks two and three will be a pair of classics inside Veterans Memorial Stadium. On Sep. 5, Jackson State will play Edward Waters in the Hope Labor Day Classic before welcoming Tuskegee for the W.C. Gorden Classic on Sept. 19. It will be the first time the Tigers have played Edward Waters.
On Sept. 26, Jackson State will open SWAC play when it faces Southern at home. The series is tied at 36-all as Jackson State has won the last seven meetings.
Jackson State hits the road for back-to-back games beginning with the Gulf Coast Challenge against Alabama A&M at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala., and then at Grambling State on Oct. 10.
October will close out with a pair of games against Florida teams: against Florida A&M in Jackson on Oct. 17 and at Bethune-Cookman on Oct. 24.
The home portion of the schedule closes on Nov. 7 against Mississippi Valley State, an in-state series Jackson State has historically dominated with a 57-5-1 advantage. The Tigers will close out the season with two road contests at Alabama State on Nov. 14 and at Alcorn State on Nov. 21. The Tigers have a 31-21 all-time advantage over the Braves.
Jackson State, which won a de facto HBCU national championship in 2024, went 9-3 in 2025 and fell to Prairie View A&M in the SWAC championship game.
Kickoff times for 2026 will be announced at a later date.
Jackson State 2026 football schedule
(*) – denotes conference game
Aug. 29: at Tennessee State in the John Merritt Classic
Sept. 5: vs. Edward Waters in the Hope Labor Day Classic
Sept. 12: BYE
Sept. 19: vs. Tuskegee
Sept. 26: vs. Southern*
Oct. 3: Alabama A&M (Gulf Coast Challenge in Mobile, Ala.)*
Oct. 10: at Grambling State*
Oct. 17: vs. Florida A&M*
Oct. 24: at Bethune-Cookman*
Nov. 7: vs. Mississippi Valley State*
Nov. 14: at Alabama State*
Nov. 21: at Alcorn State*