Jackson State is getting into its second season below head coach T.C. Taylor and is trying to return to contending for championships within the SWAC.
Final 12 months, the Tigers posted a modest 7-4 total file, together with a 5-3 in opposition to the SWAC, tied for the second-best file within the SWAC East division.
This time, the SWAC East is far nearer in competitors, being a three-team race between the Tigers, Florida A&M, and Alabama State.
Jackson State has the expertise to win and reclaim the division title; it simply comes right down to executing on the sphere.
Listed here are my game-by-game predictions for the 2024 Jackson State Tigers soccer season.
8/29 Louisiana-Monroe [L]
Final Assembly: UL Monroe 12-7, 2021
Jackson State’s season begins taking the sphere in opposition to a well-recognized FBS opponent, the College of Louisiana at Monroe. These two groups confronted one another within the 2021 fall season, head coach Deion Sanders’ first full season with the Tigers, seeing UL Monroe coming away with a slim 12-7 victory. UL Monroe comes into this recreation having posted a 2-10 file in 2023, dropping 10 straight video games to finish the season. If JSU can play a clear recreation, having dedicated three turnovers the final time they performed this staff, they may certainly come away with the win.
File: 0-1
9/7 Lane [W]
Final Assembly: First
The Tigers then shift to its dwelling opener as they welcome the Lane Dragons of the SIAC to Thee Vet. Lane is coming off a disappointing season wherein they completed with a 2-8 total file. They’re no stranger to enjoying in opposition to the SWAC, having performed in opposition to Alabama A&M final season and taking UAPB to the restrict of their 2022 matchup. It is a far more depleted Lane staff than the one which confronted UAPB in 2022, as evidenced by their 51-13 loss in opposition to Bama A&M. This shall be a showcase recreation for the Tigers, as they need to win fairly simply.
File: 1-1
9/14 Southern [W]
Final Assembly: Jackson State 27-14, 2023
Of their convention opener, we get a rematch of the 2022 SWAC championship recreation when the Tigers face the Southern Jaguars. These are two utterly completely different groups from that convention title recreation, most notably not having the respective head coaches from that contest. Regardless of who has been on the sideline, what has remained the identical is the success JSU has had over Southern. As talked about above, they’ve gained 4 straight in opposition to the Jags, together with the 2022 SWAC championship recreation. The final three video games haven’t even been shut, with a median win margin of over 22 factors. Whereas this recreation may very well be nearer than these earlier matchups, there’s not a lot proof that the consequence will prove any completely different.
File: 2-1, 1-0
9/21 Grambling State [W]
Final Assembly: Jackson State 66-24, 2022
Jackson State will then face the opposite half of the Bayou Traditional rivalry, which is occurring the street to a conflict with Grambling State. The final time these groups performed one another, it was not fairly as Jackson State outscored Grambling 45-7 within the second half, coasting to victory. The important thing matchup on this recreation shall be between Myles Crawley and the JSU secondary. Crawley completed second within the SWAC final season with 210.3 passing yards per recreation and 16 touchdowns, whereas Jackson State tied the convention excessive with 17 interceptions. Whichever facet performs higher will see their staff stroll away with the victory.
File: 3-1, 2-0
9/28 Texas Southern [W]
Final Assembly: Jackson State 21-19, 2023
Finishing their three-game tilt in opposition to the SWAC West, JSU travels to Houston for a date with Texas Southern. This has been a really favorable matchup for Jackson State, which has gained 9 straight video games in opposition to TSU relationship again to 2011. Final 12 months, nonetheless, Texas Southern got here near ending the streak, coming a two-point conversion away from tying the sport on the finish of regulation. Jackson State is not going to make the identical mistake twice and can put Texas Southern out of their distress sooner moderately than allow them to hold round.
File: 4-1, 3-0
10/5 Alabama A&M- W
Final Assembly: Jackson State 45-30, 2023
Of their first divisional matchup of the season, JSU travels to Cellular, Alabama, to face Alabama A&M within the Gulf Coast Problem. The Tigers have gained three straight in opposition to the Bulldogs, with every win coming by double-digit margins. Jackson State had its finest all-around efficiency of the season final 12 months in opposition to Bama A&M, forcing 5 turnovers (main to 2 touchdowns) whereas posting three passing and dashing touchdowns, respectively. If the Bulldogs can minimize down on the turnovers, this recreation may go right down to the wire and even finish in an Alabama A&M victory.
File: 5-1, 4-0
10/19 Florida A&M- L
Final Assembly: Florida A&M 28-10
For the primary time since Florida A&M joined the SWAC in 2021, they are going to play in opposition to Jackson State in October in a recreation not titled the Orange Blossom Traditional. After dropping the primary two matchups within the sequence, Florida A&M obtained its first win on the board, getting off to a quick begin and coasting to victory. Though the Rattlers come into the season with a special roster and training employees, an argument may very well be made they nonetheless have extra expertise than Jackson State. The query is, will the Rattlers have the chemistry at this level within the season to place forth the efficiency wanted to knock the Tigers off?
File: 5-2, 4-1
10/26 Bethune-Cookman- W
Final Assembly: Jackson State 22-16, 2023
Persevering with the theme of dealing with two groups in an in-state rivalry in back-to-back video games, Jackson State goes to Daytona Seaside to face the opposite half of the Florida Traditional, Bethune-Cookman. Bethune-Cookman has not crushed Jackson State since transitioning to the SWAC, with their final win over the Tigers within the 2019 MEAC/SWAC Problem. This BCU staff, on paper, nonetheless, is the most effective it has had in its SWAC period, coming off an excellent offseason. Whether or not or not they’ll execute at a excessive degree in opposition to a Jackson State staff that could be a contender for the SWAC East division title stays to be seen.
File: 6-2, 5-1
11/2 Arkansas-Pine Bluff *Homecoming*- W
Final Assembly: Jackson State 40-14, 2023
Jackson State then returns dwelling for its homecoming contest in opposition to Arkansas-Pine Bluff. In 2013, JSU gained seven of its final eight contests in opposition to UAPB. This features a third straight win in what was its first matchup in opposition to the Golden Lions since 2019. For Arkansas-Pine Bluff to win this recreation, they should acquire Jackson State’s respect early by both getting a cease on protection or scoring a landing on the opening drive. If they permit JSU to play forward, they are going to have little to no shot of profitable.
File: 7-2, 6-1
11/9 Mississippi Valley State- W
Final Assembly: Jackson State 21-6, 2023
The Tigers will keep dwelling the next week as they welcome Mississippi Valley State for a divisional conflict. It has been a whole decade because the Delta Devils have gotten a win over the Tigers and have misplaced their final 9 matchups in opposition to them. Mississippi Valley State’s finest probability to win this recreation is to hold round and preserve the sport shut till the fourth quarter.
File: 8-2, 7-1
11/16 Alabama State- L
Final Assembly: Alabama State 24-19, 2023
We have now now reached the ultimate two video games of Jackson State’s season, which may decide whether or not or not they are going to win the SWAC East division title. Their penultimate recreation comes in opposition to Alabama State, which may even be within the thick of the SWAC East race. Final 12 months, Alabama State avenged Jackson State, who defeated them on their homecoming the earlier 12 months. I predicted Jackson State would get its win again in my Alabama State predictions, however I now have some reservations. Beating Alabama State two straight occasions on their dwelling subject, with the enhancements they made within the offseason on the offensive facet of the ball, shall be a frightening activity for the Tigers. It will undoubtedly be a toss-up recreation that might finally determine the winner of the division.
File: 8-3, 7-2
11/23 Alcorn State- L
Final Assembly: Alcorn State 28-24, 2023
Ought to Jackson State clinch a berth within the SWAC title recreation, they may very well be in for a championship preview in its common season finale in opposition to Alcorn State. Final 12 months, Alcorn additionally snapped its dropping streak in opposition to Jackson State, getting a cease within the last minute to safe the victory. This recreation may go both manner, however the distinction this time is that will probably be performed on Alcorn’s dwelling subject. Penalties had been the distinction in final 12 months’s contest, with Jackson State committing 15 to only seven by Alcorn State. If JSU can minimize down on the penalties, they may certainly come away with the win.
2024 File: 8-4, 7-3
