THE HILL | The Alabama A&M University football team is seeking its first victory in the Gulf Coast Challenge since 2021 as the Bulldogs take on 17^th-ranked Jackson State on Saturday in the annual game. Kickoff for the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) game is set for 2 p.m. from Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala.
 
Saturday's game will mark the 31^st time meeting as Jackson State owns an 18-12 record in the series, which begin in 1948.
 
Alabama A&M (3-2 overall, 0-1 SWAC) is coming off a 41-34 road loss to Bethune-Cookman a week ago, while Jackson State (3-1, 1-0) continues to roll, scoring 31 unanswered points in defeated Southern, 38-13, last Saturday.
 
"Last week we didn't execute when we needed to and we will need to do so this week against a very good Jackson State football team," Alabama A&M head coach Sam Shade said. "We are excited about going down to Mobile this week and having the opportunity to play in front of a really good crowd. I told the team that not all is lost after falling to Bethune-Cookman. We've just got to take it one game at a time and it starts right here against Jackson State."   
 
The game will air live on HBCU GO as James Hadnot (play-by-play) and John Kelley (analyst) will have the call, and fans can tune into WJAB (90.9 FM) as Maurice Brooks (play-by-play), Thai Floyd (analyst), Evan Hayes (pregame and postgame) and Chauncy Sanders (pregame and postgame) will bring you all the action.
 
ABOUT THE GAME

• Saturday marks the annual showdown between Alabama A&M and Jackson State in the Gulf Coast Challenge
• Jackson State also has won the past four matchups, including the last three in the Gulf Coast Challenge
• The Bulldogs will be facing their first ranked opponent of the season
• Jackson State has not dropped a conference game since the end of the 2023 season
• Alabama A&M head coach Sam Shade is seeking its first SWAC win of the season 

 
BULLDOGS AT A GLANCE

• Alabama A&M is coming off a 41-34 road loss to begin conference play last weekend
• The Bulldogs got 355 passing yards from Eric Handley in the loss
• Kicker David Faulk went 2-for-2 on field goals and 4-of-4 in extra point attempts
• Faulk booted a career-best 45-yard field goal in the first quarter at BCU
• The Bulldogs have scored in the opening quarter in 10 straight games, dating back to Nov. 2, 2024
• AAMU is averaging 30.8 points and 397.2 total yards per game

 
TIGERS AT A GLANCE

• Jackson State enters on a nine-game conference win streak after scoring 31 unanswered points in a 38-13 victory at Southern
• Quarterback JaCobian Morgan threw for 337 yards and a pair of touchdowns in being named the SWAC Offensive Player of the Week and HBCU National co-Player of the Week
• Jackson State was named the FCS HBCU National Team of the Week after the victory over the Jaguars
• The Tigers are ranked #17 in the AFCA Coaches and STATS Perform Top 25 polls
• Jackson State ranks fourth in the nation in rushing offense at 249.3 yards per game
• The Tigers are averaging 29.0 points and 457.5 total yards per game

 
SERIES HISTORY 

• Alabama A&M and Jackson State will meet for the 31^st time
• The Tigers lead the all-time series, 18-12
•  In the last 10 meetings, the series is tied at 5
• Jackson State has won the past three meetings in the Gulf Coast Challenge
• Alabama A&M is 2-4 all-time in the Gulf Coast Challenge, with the last win coming in 2021 to Tuskegee

 
THREE KEYS TO THE GAME

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

 
LOOKING AHEAD TO WHAT'S NEXT

• The Bulldogs turn their attention to the 2025 Homecoming game versus Mississippi Valley State
• This will be the 37^th meeting in the series, which began in 1971
• AAMU is 26-10 in the all-time series
• The Bulldogs have won two straight in the series and 8-2 over the last 10 meetings
• Alabama A&M has outscored Mississippi Valley State, 1,034-583 in the previous 36 meetings

 
PURCHASE TICKETS

• With the 2025 Homecoming Game right around the corner, now is the time to purchase tickets. Get your tickets today to guarantee your seat to the biggest day on The Hill. To purchase tickets, visit aamusports.com or call the ticket office at: 256.372.7255 or 256.372.7254.

 
For complete coverage of Alabama A&M Athletics – Huntsville's only Division I program - check out the official homepage at www.aamusports.com. Remember to follow us on social media: Instagram (@aamuathletics), Facebook (aamubulldogathletics), Twitter (@_aamuathletics) and TikTok (aamuathletics).