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FAMU football vs Jackson State prediction, X-Factors for must-win Week 10 SWAC game
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- FAMU football vs Jackson State prediction, X-Factors for must-win Week 10 SWAC game
There will be some big-time football in the Capital City this Saturday, Nov. 1.
Florida A&M hosts Jackson State for a Week 10 game that has Southwestern Athletic Conference postseason implications .
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The Jackson State Tigers (5-2, 3-1 in the SWAC) are the No. 1 team in the SWAC East and hope to maintain that position as they look to repeat as Black College Football National Champions.
Meanwhile, the Rattlers (3-4, 2-1 in SWAC) are No. 4 but within striking distance to overtake the division's top spot with a win and based on other results across the SWAC.
The winner of the FAMU-Jackson State game has gone on to win the SWAC Championship and appear in the Celebration Bowl since the two teams first became division opponents in 2021.
The Tigers were Celebration Bowl runners-up in 2021, 2022, and won in 2024. The Rattlers won the 2023 Celebration Bowl.
Florida A&M Rattlers head coach James Colzie III looks onto the field during the Rattlers' NCAA Southwestern Athletic Conference Week 8 football homecoming game versus the Alcorn State Braves on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.
Led by second-year head coach James Colzie III, the Rattlers have won two straight games, most recently outlasting the Southern Jaguars 43-35 in Baton Rouge last week.
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The Tigers, coached by T.C. Taylor, hope to get back in the win column after losing their first Football Championship Subdivision game in over a calendar year, falling to Grambling State 26-24 in the inaugural Las Vegas HBCU Classic .
Jackson State is ranked 20th in the FCS Coaches Poll's top 25 standings.
Jackson State head coach T.C. Taylor runs onto the field after a college football game between Jackson State and Alabama State at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson, Miss., on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. Jackson State defeated Alabama State 38-34.
FAMU versus Jackson State kicks off on Tallahassee's Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium at 7 p.m. ESPN+ will broadcast the game, and extra commentary will be available on local airwaves via 96.1 JAMZ.
It's also Senior Night for Rattler football graduates.
Who will win Saturday's game to continue their chase for the SWAC and HBCU postseason?
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Let's predict FAMU versus Jackson State's winner and discuss X-Factors for each team to claim the victory.
Goldie Lawrence , FAMU Wide Receiver
Goldie Lawrence has been key to FAMU's surging offensive attack, which has averaged 38 points over the last two weeks against Alcorn State and Southern.
In those two outings, the redshirt sophomore has demonstrated his big-play ability, breaking away for two lengthy touchdowns.
Against Alcorn State , Lawrence took a reverse play for a 33-yard touchdown run. To follow, he had a 71-yard receiving touchdown from a pass from FAMU starting quarterback RJ Johnson III versus Southern.
Florida A&M Rattlers wide receiver Goldie Lawrence awaits a play during the Orange Blossom Classic Week 1 football game versus the Howard Bison at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.
"You guys got a chance to see Goldie Lawrence run the last couple of weeks," Colzie said.
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On the season, Lawrence has 15 receptions for 214 yards and two total touchdowns, one rushing, one receiving. He's on track to eclipse last season's production in his first season with the Rattlers after transferring from Florida State .
"He's a guy that's highly touted," Colzie said of Lawrence. "But once he gets the ball in his hands, you find out why he was a four-star recruit."
Jared Lockhart or Parker Stofa, Jackson State Quarterbacks
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 25: Jared Lockhart #11 celebrates his touchdown with Kobe Paul #5 of the Jackson State Tigers in the fourth quarter against the Grambling State Tigers in the Las Vegas HBCU Classic at Allegiant Stadium on October 25, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Grambling State Tigers defeated the Jackson State Tigers 26-24. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)
Who will run the Tigers' offense?
It might not be JaCobian Morgan.
Against Grambling State , Morgan left the game in the first quarter with an injury and never returned. He was seen watching the remainder of the game from the sidelines, on crutches and wearing a walking boot on his left leg.
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Jackson State coach Taylor hasn't named a starting quarterback for Saturday's game at FAMU.
The Tigers' quarterback options are freshmen Jared Lockhart and Parker Stofa , who both played in the loss versus Grambling State after Morgan's injury.
"They know now in these kinds of situations with freshmen QBs, they've got to be on their A-game," Taylor said. "They've got to be able to score points as well."
Stofa initially checked in for Morgan and completed six of 11 pass attempts for 84 yards. On the ground, he had five carries for 15 yards.
Lockhart then substituted in and went four for nine for 103 passing yards and a touchdown. He added seven rushing attempts for 44 yards and a rushing score.
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The Jackson State offense ranks second in SWAC scoring among 12 teams, averaging 33.6 points per game, which also places it 21st in the FCS out of 129 teams. Additionally, the Tigers average a SWAC-high of 489.1 yards, sixth in the FCS.
"Don't know what quarterback's going to show up. But still, the fact remains, T.C.'s going to have them ready to go," Colzie said. "They got a bunch of superstars on the offensive side."
FAMU football vs Jackson State special teams could play major role
If the Rattlers can't finish an offensive drive in the endzone, they know they have a nearly automatic kicker.
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Daniel Porto is 12 for 14 on field goals and has gone 11 for 13 on point after touchdowns.
He's been named the SWAC Specialist of the Week on two consecutive occasions after converting a combined seven of eight field goals and five for five on points after touchdowns. That includes 51 and 48-yard field goal makes.
Florida A&M Rattlers kicker Daniel Porto (36) kicks for the extra point. The Florida A&M Rattlers defeated the Albany State Golden Rams during the first home game of the season on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025.
FAMU's special teams coverage team has been vulnerable to allowing big returns and even giving up a punt return touchdown two weeks ago versus Alcorn State.
"You don't want to be able to get your back broken special teams-wise," Colzie said.
The Rattlers will be up against one of the top return men in the FCS this week, Jackson State's Travis Terrell Jr.
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According to his stats, opponents have avoided kicking to Terrell. The sophomore has five kick returns for 148 yards and just two punt returns for 24 yards.
Jackson State running back Travis Terrell Jr. (0) carries the ball during a college football game between Jackson State and Alabama State at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson, Miss., on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025.
FAMU should keep the trend going in minimizing Terrell's attempts to impact the game on special teams.
"They got one of the best returners in the country, with Travis Terrell back there returning punts and kicks," Colzie said.
Gerald Thomas, III Official Score Prediction: Jackson State 27, FAMU 21
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.
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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 vs Jackson State prediction, Tigers may not have JaCobian Morgan
