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The Southern University Jaguars have officially announced their 2026 football schedule, setting the stage for the Marshall Faulk era to commence with a neutral-site clash against Alabama State in Birmingham, Alabama, and conclude with the Bayou Classic in the Caesars Superdome.
Faulk, a Pro Football Hall of Fame running back and College Football Hall of Famer, arrives after spending the previous season as the running backs coach at Colorado under Deion Sanders. He inherits a program that struggled mightily in 2025, finishing with a 2-10 overall record and a 1-7 mark in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play under former head coach Terrence Graves and interim head coach Fred McNair.
McNair, who completed the season for the Jaguars, will remain on staff as a senior advisor. The quarterback competition is ongoing, featuring returning signal-callers Ashton Strother and Wyatt McCauley, along with newcomer Christian Johnson, who transferred from Hutchinson Community College earlier in the summer.
Faulk emphasized the importance of preparation during fall camp, telling reporters after a recent practice, "The separation from the guys who are first in the conference to the guys who are last is the preparation. The separation is in the preparation. We got to make sure that we prepare right."
Key Analysis
The 2026 schedule presents a mix of challenges and opportunities for the Jaguars. After the season opener against Alabama State on Aug. 29 at the inaugural Birmingham Football Classic, Southern hosts Kentucky State on Sept. 5 and Louisiana Christian on Sept. 19, with a road trip to Houston on Sept. 12. The inclusion of lower-division opponents has sparked debate within HBCU football circles, as some critics argue that Division I teams should avoid such matchups, while administrators contend these games aid in preparation and revenue generation.
Conference play begins on Sept. 26 with a road game at Jackson State in the Boom Box Classic, followed by homecoming against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Oct. 3. The Jaguars then face back-to-back road contests at Prairie View A&M on Oct. 10 and at Texas Southern on Oct. 24, the latter rescheduled from Oct. 17 due to venue changes. Southern will also travel to Florida A&M on Oct. 31 before hosting Bethune-Cookman on Nov. 7 and Alcorn State on Nov. 14.
After an open date on Nov. 21, the Jaguars conclude the regular season against Grambling State in the 53rd Bayou Classic at the Caesars Superdome on Nov. 28. Notably, Alabama A&M, Florida A&M, and Mississippi Valley State will be ineligible for postseason play in 2026 due to NCAA Academic Progress Rate penalties, which could impact the competitive landscape in the Eastern Division.
With Faulk at the helm, Southern fans expect a marked improvement, but the team must demonstrate enhanced technique, discipline, and preparation to compete in a highly competitive SWAC West division. The season opener against Alabama State is set for a 3 p.m. ET kickoff on ESPNU, while the Bayou Classic will begin at 1 p.m. ET.
Originally reported by headtopics.