Fresh off a 9–3 campaign and a SWAC title push a year ago, Jackson State will welcome a new name to town as part of a home-heavy 2026 schedule built around four marquee classics and five dates at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
The Tigers will debut the Hope Labor Day Classic on Sept. 5 against Edward Waters, a historic first matchup that also kicks off a two-game classics stand in Jackson.
The Tigers finished 5-5 in 2025 under head coach Brian Jenkins.
Since 2022, EWC has played HBCU Division I opponents that included Bethune-Cookman, Alcorn State, and North Carolina A&T.
The date with Edward Waters comes one week after Jackson State opens its season on the road in Week Zero at the John Merritt Classic against longtime rival Tennessee State in Nashville on Aug. 29.
The Tigers and TSU have met 47 times since 1975, but this will be their first showdown since 2022, when Jackson State claimed a 16–3 win in Memphis. The early-season neutral-site showcase gives way to a new Labor Day weekend tradition back home as JSU looks to draw fans for a rare first-time opponent on its own turf.
Following the Hope Labor Day Classic, Jackson State will stay put after an open week to welcome Tuskegee on Sept. 19 in the W.C. Gorden Classic for the second straight year.
Jackson State schedule features solid opponents
The Tigers own a 3–1 edge in the brief series and are coming off a shutout of the Golden Tigers last season, adding another layer of expectation to the September home stand.
Together, the Hope Labor Day Classic and W.C. Gorden Classic position Jackson State to build early momentum in front of its home crowd before diving into the grind of Southwestern Athletic Conference play.
JSU’s third consecutive home game will double as its SWAC opener when Southern visits Jackson on Sept. 26, renewing one of the league’s most storied rivalries.
The series has been deadlocked at 36–36 since 1958, though Jackson State has seized control in recent years, winning the last seven contests.
With a new classic on the schedule and old rivals still looming, the 2026 home docket offers a blend of tradition and novelty that underscores Jackson State’s continued push to remain a central draw in HBCU football.
