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FAMU football's James Colzie knows Jackson State is 'make-or-break' for SWAC title hopes
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- FAMU football's James Colzie knows Jackson State is 'make-or-break' for SWAC title hopes
It seems it's a formality for the annual matchup between Florida A&M football and Jackson State to have postseason implications.
It'll be more of the same this Saturday, Nov. 1, in the matchup between the Southwestern Athletic Conference foes and the last two Black College Football National Champions.
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Depending on other results across the SWAC, the FAMU versus Jackson State winner of the crucial Week 10 game could overtake the No. 1 spot in the league's East division standings entering the final month of games of the 2025 college football season.
Jackson State is No. 1 in the division, while FAMU is fourth, but within striking distance to rise.
"You're excited to be in this position. [Jackson State is] going to be excited, too," FAMU head coach James Colzie III previewed the matchup in his local media press conference on Oct 27.
"This is a make-or-break game for both teams."
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The Rattlers (3-4, 2-1 in SWAC) are fresh off securing their second straight victory this season, beating SWAC opponent Southern in a 43-35 shootout in Baton Rouge last Saturday, Oct. 25. It was FAMU's first time winning consecutive games after opening the season 1-4, the program's worst start since 2016.
Florida A&M Rattlers players walk interlocked before facing the Southern Jaguars in a Week 9 NCAA Southwestern Athletic Conference at A.W. Mumford Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2024.
Meanwhile, Jackson State (5-2, 3-1 in SWAC), the defending SWAC champion and Celebration Bowl winner, as well as the Black College Football National Champions, was upset by the Grambling State Tigers 26-24 in the inaugural Las Vegas HBCU Classic at Allegiant Stadium.
The loss knocked the Jackson State Tigers down to being ranked No. 20 in the Football Championship Subdivision Coaches Poll, after they had crept up to No. 11 last week.
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"They've been highly ranked all year and obviously stubbed their toe this past weekend," the FAMU coach said of Jackson State.
Jackson State boasts the SWAC's second-best offense of 12 teams, posting 33.6 points per game, only second to Alabama State's 41.9.
"It still boils down to what we do," Colzie explained. "You can't make too many mistakes against this football team because they've shown they have the ability to put 40-50 points on you."
The Tigers may have a new quarterback under center after JaCobian Morgan got injured versus Grambling State.
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The Preseason SWAC Offensive Player of the Year was seen on crutches and a walking boot as he watched the remainder of the game from the sideline. Morgan will visit doctors on Monday, Jackson State head coach T.C. Taylor said in Monday's SWAC coaches call.
After Morgan's injury, Taylor turned to freshmen quarterbacks Parker Stofa and Jared Lockhart to replace the graduate student, nicknamed 'Thee General.'
Stofa finished with six completions of 11 passing attempts for 84 yards. Lockhart went four of nine for 103 yards and a passing touchdown.
Despite that, Jackson State has the top rushing offense in the SWAC, posting 256.9 yards per game. Running back Ahmad Miller leads the way with 77 rushing attempts for 548 yards and has added three touchdowns.
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"Based on who's available quarterback-wise for them, you really feel they're really, really going to try to run the football against us," Colzie said.
FAMU football vs Jackson State set for another season-deciding matchup
Success for the Rattlers hinges on a low turnover rate and penalty count, as well as offensive and defensive success on third down, versus the Jackson State Tigers.
"T.C. is going to have them ready to go," Colzie said. "We definitely have our work cut out for us. We've got to be ready to play. If not, it can get tough on us early against this type of football team."
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From 2021 to 2023, FAMU and Jackson State faced each other in Miami's Orange Blossom Classic.
It became a traditional home-and-home SWAC game in the 2024 season. Jackson State hosted and beat FAMU 35-21 last year .
The Rattlers and Tigers will kick off at 7 p.m. on FAMU's Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium on ESPN+ and will also be on local radio airwaves via 96.1 JAMZ.
Jackson State Tigers' linebacker Jaeden Ward (8) tackles Florida A&M Rattlers' running back Thad Franklin, Jr. (23) during the game in Jackson, Miss., on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024.
"We got the best fans in the country. And for the most part, we haven't held up our end of the bargain. Being 2-2 at home is not something we thought we'd ever have to be talking about," Colzie said. "But you get a chance to get them here. We know what it was like last year going to them. You get that chance to play in front of the home crowd."
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Since FAMU joined the SWAC in 2021, the winner of the Rattlers versus Tigers game has gone on to win the league title and appear in the Celebration Bowl.
Jackson State has a 3-1 advantage over FAMU, having appeared in HBCU postseason play in 2021, 2022, and 2024, when it finally overcame the hump to win the Celebration Bowl on its third try.
The 2023 season saw the Rattlers prevail over the Tigers en route to FAMU's first SWAC Championship and Celebration Bowl.
"Exciting," Colzie said. "The implications are things that have always been a part of this football game. And lo and behold, it's a part of the football game again this weekend."
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Florida A&M (3-4, 2-1 in SWAC) vs Jackson State (5-2, 3-1 in SWAC)
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When: Saturday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. Eastern Time
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Where: Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida
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TV/Radio: ESPN+, 96.1 JAMZ
Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.
Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee .
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU football set for 'make-or-break' SWAC game vs Jackson State
