Jackson State Tigers football

The Jackson State Tigers football team represents Jackson State University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).

After joining the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) in 1958, the program exploded into national prominence. In the 1980s, the program enjoyed its greatest success. Under head coach W. C. Gorden, the Tigers won eight conference championships between 1980 and 1990, including four straight from 1985 to 1988.

Since 1958, Jackson State has won about 25 percent of the conference's football championships (19) and is a perennial powerhouse program among HBCUs. The Tigers have produced 93 professional football players and four Pro Football Hall of Famers: Lem Barney, Walter Payton, Robert Brazile, and Jackie Slater. Only 13 college football teams at any level have produced more Pro Football Hall of Famers than Jackson State.

In 2023 Tigers placekicker Leilani Armenta became the first woman to score in an HBCU game, scoring three extra points in an October 29, 2023 game against the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

Classifications

 * 1958–1969: NAIA
 * 1970–1982: NAIA Division I
 * 1956–1972: NCAA College Division
 * 1973–1976: NCAA Division II
 * 1977: NCAA Division I
 * 1978–present: NCAA Division I–AA/FCS

Conference memberships

 * 1911–1912: Independent
 * 1913: Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
 * 1914-1934 Independent
 * 1935-1940 South Central Athletic Conference
 * 1941-1946 Independent
 * 1947–1950: South Central Athletic Conference
 * 1951: Independent
 * 1952–1957: Midwest Athletic Association
 * 1958–present: Southwestern Athletic Conference

JSU fanbase
Jackson State is widely noted for its strong football support and culture. Jackson State fans have led the Division I FCS in attendance for multiple seasons.

National championships
Jackson State has been named a recipient of the black college football national championship three times.

Conference championships
Jackson State has earned a total of 20 conference championships and has won the SWAC (Southwestern Athletic Conference) title 18 times since joining in 1958. Conference championships include:

Division championships
The Southwestern Athletic Conference instituted a divisional system for football in 1999. Jackson State plays in the Eastern Division of the conference along with Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Alcorn State, and Mississippi Valley. The SWAC Western Division includes the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Grambling, Prairie View A&M, Southern U, and Texas Southern. Each season, the SWAC East and SWAC West divisional champions face off in the SWAC Championship Game. Jackson State University claims seven SWAC Eastern Division championships: 1999, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 and has won five outright to advance to the title game.

† Co–champions

^ win vacated by Southern University due to NCAA violations

NCAA I-AA/FCS playoff results
The Tigers have appeared in the I-AA/FCS playoffs 12 times with a record of 0–12.

All-time SWAC records
This table reflects the results of SWAC (Southwestern Athletic Conference) match-ups when both Jackson State and its opponent were members of the conference. Jackson State began SWAC play in 1958. Examples of excluded results are Grambling 1937–1957, Alabama A&M contests (1948–1995), and 1910s/1950s contests vs Alabama State. See the College Football Data Warehouse  for more complete series records.

''Updated through December 3, 2023 of the 2023 Division I FCS football season. ''

Rivalries
During the early years of Jackson State's football history, rivalries were established with in-state foes Rust College and Tougaloo. Stillman College was also a common opponent which brought excitement and high interest to games played at the Mississippi Fairgrounds and later at Alumni Field on the campus of Jackson State. Since then, JSU has formed several traditional rivalries with long-time foes.

All-Americans
Over 50 Jackson State players have been named All-Americans.

Player of the Year
Jackson State players that received Player of the Year honors.

College Football Hall of Fame members

 * Kevin Dent
 * W. C. Gorden
 * John Merritt
 * Walter Payton
 * Willie Richardson
 * Robert Brazile

Pro football alumni

 * See: List of Jackson State Tigers in the NFL Draft

, Jackson State has produced over 90 pro football players including four who have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and 16 who have been selected to play in the Pro Bowl. Notable players include:

Economic impact
In 2021, Jackson State football was responsible for having a $30 million positive economic impact on Jackson's economy. Jackson State's football program is considered the most powerful in the Division I FCS in regards to generating a notable economic impact and drawing public interest.

Facilities
Jackson State University owns and operates Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium affectionately known as "The Vet". The 60,492-seat stadium has been the home field of Jackson State football since 1970. For many years, the stadium was the largest in Mississippi until 2016. In 2024, The Vet won the championship in the College Football Campus Tour Best FCS Stadium Invitational, beating out the Kibbie Dome in Idaho in the title round with 58% of nearly 12,000 votes.