Where Jackson State football ranks in 2026 preseason HBCU FBS coaches poll

[ASFN Admin]

Jackson State football will start the season ranked in the top five among HBCUs.

The Tigers landed at No. 4 in the preseason HBCU FCS coaches poll released on July 29. They ranked behind 2025 Celebration Bowl champion South Carolina State, 2025 SWAC champion Prairie View A&M and Alabama State.

Jackson State is coming of a 9-3 in which they finished second in the SWAC after losing 23-21 to Prairie View in the SWAC championship game.

JSU is predicted to finish second this season in the SWAC East and was ranked No. 3 in the preseason Black College Football Poll, which came out on July 9.

The Tigers aren't the only Mississippi team ranked in the coaches poll. Alcorn State made the list at No. 10 despite a 5-7 finish in 2025, and Mississippi Valley State, which went 2-10, received a vote.

Preseason HBCU FCS Coaches poll​

1. South Carolina State (12)
2. Prairie View A&M (2)
3. Alabama State (2)
4. Jackson State
5. North Carolina Central
6. Delaware State
7. Grambling State
8. Texas Southern
9. Bethune-Cookman
10. Alcorn State

Others receiving votes: Florida A&M (16); Arkansas-Pine Bluff (2); Mississippi Valley State (1); Morgan State (1), Norfolk State (1), North Carolina A&T (1), Tennessee State (1)

Jackson State football 2026 schedule​

• Week 0, Aug. 29: at Tennessee State (7:30 p.m. CT, ESPN+)
• Week 1, Sept. 5: vs. Edward Waters (6 p.m. CT, HBCUGO)
• Week 3, Sept 19: vs. Tuskegee (6 p.m. CT, SWAC TV)
• Week 4, Sept. 26: vs. Southern (6 p.m. CT, ESPN Networks)
• Week 5, Oct. 3: vs. Alabama A&M (Gulf Coast Challenge, Mobile) (4 p.m. CT, SWAC TV)
• Week 6, Oct. 10: at Grambling State (4 p.m. CT, SWAC TV)
• Week 7, Oct. 17: vs. Florida A&M (2 p.m. CT, ESPN Networks)
• Week 8, Oct. 24: at Bethune-Cookman (noon CT, SWAC TV)
• Week 10, Nov. 7: vs. Mississippi Valley State (2 p.m. CT, HBCUGO)
• Week 11, Nov. 14: at Alabama State (2 p.m. CT, ESPN Networks)
• Week 12, Nov. 21: at Alcorn State (2 p.m. CT, ESPN Networks)

Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at [email protected] and follow her on X @tiareid65.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Where Jackson State football ranks in 2026 preseason HBCU FBS coaches poll

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