JACKSON, Miss. | Alabama State hits the road for the first time since August, traveling to Jackson State in a key Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) contest Saturday afternoon.
The game is set to kick at 2 pm at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, with pregame set for 1:30 pm on the Hornet Sports Network.
Alabama State (2-3, 1-1 SWAC) looks to rebound this weekend following a loss to Alcorn State last weekend at home and have not been on the road since a season-opening loss at UAB on August 29. Meanwhile, Jackson State (1-4, 0-0 SWAC) will play their SWAC opener, and enter the game following a non-conference loss to Grambling State at home last week.
The two teams met last season with Jackson State winning the contest 20-2 at ASU Stadium, while the Hornets capture a 13-3 victory on the road in 2017.
The Series
Jackson State leads the all-time series 28-14-1, having won the last meeting in Montgomery. The Tigers have won just once in the last five meetings.
Alabama State has won six of the last nine meetings in the series that dates to 1965.
The two teams met in back-to-back years (1965-66), before taking off until 1976. They have played each year since, alternating sites.
Game Notes
Since 1999, Jackson State and Alabama State have combined to play in SWAC Championship nine times. Alabama State has represented the division four different times (2001, 2003, 2004, 2010) and Jackson State five different times (1999, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013).
Five of the last eight meetings in the series have been decided by eight points or less, including games in 2015 and 2016 – both wins by the Hornets.
Alabama State and Jackson State have a tie that runs deep in the coaching world as Houston Markham, Jr. served in roles at both institutions. He served as the offensive coordinator at Jackson State before coming to Alabama State as the head coach.
Michael Jefferson has caught 23 passes heading into the sixth game of the season. He is just 25 catches short of the top 12 all-time in a single season, as Reggie Brown (1990) and T.C. McWilliams (2012) each caught 48.
Alabama State ranks first in FCS football in passing yards allowed this year at 138.6 yards per game, and in the top in six other team categories.
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