Marshall Faulk's First Season at Southern University Features Key SWAC Matchups

The NFL Hall of Famer takes over as head coach, facing tough tests against Alabama State, Jackson State, and Prairie View A&M.

Published on Feb. 3, 2026

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Marshall Faulk's first season as the head football coach at Southern University will feature three key SWAC matchups that will be crucial in determining the Jaguars' success. The team opens the season against perennial SWAC contender Alabama State, then faces in-state rival Jackson State in the annual Boombox Classic, and finishes the stretch with a showdown against upstart Prairie View A&M, which has emerged as a SWAC power in recent years. Faulk, the NFL Hall of Famer, will look to make an immediate impact in his collegiate coaching debut and lead Southern back to SWAC championship contention.

Why it matters

Southern University is one of the blue-blood programs in HBCU football, but the Jaguars have struggled to consistently compete with the top teams in the SWAC in recent seasons. Faulk's arrival as head coach has generated significant buzz, and these three key matchups will be an early test of whether he can quickly turn the program around and establish Southern as a conference title contender once again.

The details

In Faulk's debut, Southern hosts Alabama State, which is led by star quarterback Andrew Body. A win over the Hornets would be a statement victory. The Jaguars then travel to Jackson State for the annual Boombox Classic, a fierce rivalry game against a program that has dominated the series in recent years. Finally, Southern hosts Prairie View A&M, which has emerged as a SWAC power under coach Tremaine Jackson and reached the Celebration Bowl in 2025. The Prairie View A&M matchup has often been a barometer for Southern's success in recent seasons.

  • Southern University opens the season against Alabama State on August 29.
  • Southern travels to Jackson State for the Boombox Classic on September 26.
  • Southern hosts Prairie View A&M on October 10.

The players

Marshall Faulk

A Pro Football Hall of Famer who is taking over as the new head football coach at Southern University, his first collegiate coaching job.

Andrew Body

The star quarterback for Alabama State University who returned to the team after entering the transfer portal.

Tremaine Jackson

The head coach of Prairie View A&M University, who led the Panthers to the Celebration Bowl in 2025 in his first season.

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What they’re saying

“To make the matchup even more interesting, star quarterback Andrew Body left the transfer portal and is returning to Alabama State with something to prove.”

— Randall Barnes, Author (clutchpoints.com)

“Perhaps Faulk can turn the tide on the rivalry and put Southern University back in the win column. But it won't be easy, as rivalry games are always the toughest to win, and Jackson State circled this game on their schedule.”

— Randall Barnes, Author (clutchpoints.com)

What’s next

If Faulk can lead Southern to victories in these three key SWAC matchups, it would go a long way towards establishing the Jaguars as a conference title contender in his first season as head coach.

The takeaway

Marshall Faulk's debut season at Southern University will be defined by how the Jaguars perform in three critical SWAC games against Alabama State, Jackson State, and Prairie View A&M. A strong start could propel Southern back to the top of the conference standings and validate Faulk's hiring as the program's new head coach.