HUNTSVILLE, Ala. | The Alabama A&M University football team will be seeking its third straight victory this weekend as the Bulldogs meet Jackson State in the annual Gulf Coast Challenge. Kick off for the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) game is set for 3 p.m. from Ladd-Peebles Stadium. 

Alabama A&M (3-2 overall, 1-1 SWAC) started out of the gate slowly this season, but after a sluggish performance at Southern, the Bulldogs have rattled off two consecutive victories. AAMU got back into the win column with its first conference win, a 31-24 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. More impressively, the Bulldogs steamrolled previously undefeated Tuskegee, 58-3, last Saturday in its homecoming game. 

Quincy Casey is one of the main reasons for the turnaround success. The quarterback has tossed seven touchdowns to just one interception. He isn't the only success on the offense as the receiving corps and running backs have continued to improve as well as the offensive line. 

Jackson State (3-2, 1-1) enters the game fresh off a bye last week. The Tigers held off Bethune-Cookman, 22-16, in the W.C. Gorden Classic on Sept. 23. JSU led 2-0 after one quarter, but trailed 9-8 at the break. However, the Tigers outscored the Wildcats, 14-7 over the final two periods to pick up its first conference win. 

The game will be streamed live on ESPN+. Tickets for the game are still available at: www.thegulfcoastchallenge.com 

LAST MEETING 
These two teams are certainly no stranger to each other, being divisional opponents. 

Jackson State remained unbeaten in a 27-13 victory last season at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. 

A Victor Barbosa 30-yard field goal gave the Bulldogs an early 3-0 lead, but Travis Hunter caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Shedeur Sanders, which capped a 5-play, 44-yard drive as JSU took a 7-3 lead with 8:33 remaining in the opening quarter. 

A Donovan Eaglin 1-yard touchdown run gave Alabama A&M a 10-7 advantage with just under three minutes to play. 

However, Jackson State outscored Alabama A&M, 20-3 over the next three quarters to capture a 27-13 victory. 

SERIES HISTORY 

• Alabama A&M and Jackson State will be meeting for the 34th time
• The Tigers hold a 19-14 advantage in the series
• The two programs began the series in 1948
• The first SWAC meeting between the two teams began in 1999

THREE KEYS TO THE GAME

• Alabama A&M must protect the quarterback
• AAMU needs to win the turnover battle
• The Bulldogs must avoid committing a ton of penalties

ALABAMA A&M NATIONAL STATISTICS 

• The Bulldogs are second in the country in punt returns 
• Alabama A&M ranks third in the nation in blocked kicks  
• AAMU is fourth in 4th down conversion percentage defense 
• The Bulldog defense is fourth in passes intercepted 
• Alabama A&M ranks sixth in the FCS in turnovers gained 
• Jamarion Ellis ranks third in the country in fumbles recovered 
• Terrell Gardner is second in punt returns touchdowns, third in punt returns and fifth in combined kick returns 

JACKSON STATE NATIONAL STATISTICS 

• The Tigers are tops in the FCS in blocked punts allowed 
• JSU is third in blocked kicks 
• Matt Noll is tops in the nation in punting 
• Jaheem Hazel ranks third in the country in block kicks 

• Alabama A&M takes to the road and will visit Grambling State
• The Tigers currently are in the top spot in the SWAC West
• Grambling State will be holding its Homecoming game
• GSU holds a 21-7 lead in the all-time series
• Alabama A&M won the 2022 game in Louis Crews Stadium, 37-31, in double-overtime
• Grambling State plays at Alcorn State this Saturday

For complete coverage of Alabama A&M Athletics, check out the official homepage at www.aamusports.com. Remember to follow us on social media: Instagram (@aamuathletics) and Twitter (@_aamuathletics).