THE HILL | The Alabama A&M University football team carries a four-game winning streak into Mobile, Ala., on Saturday as the Bulldogs square off against nationally ranked Jackson State in the annual Gulf Coast Challenge. Kickoff for the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) matchup is set for 4 p.m. at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, with the game streaming live on SWAC TV.
 
Saturday will mark the 32nd meeting between Alabama A&M and Jackson State, with the Tigers holding a 19-12 advantage in the all-time series. Jackson State won last year's meeting, 57-24, in Mobile.
 
Alabama A&M (4-1, 1-0 SWAC) enters the contest after a 40-21 road victory over Florida A&M in its conference opener. The Bulldogs scored the final 17 points and piled up more than 500 yards of total offense while earning their first victory over the Rattlers since 1979.
 
Freshman running back Byron Perrilliat turned in a career performance against Florida A&M, rushing for 223 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. Perrilliat's performance earned him SWAC Offensive Player of the Week, FCS National Freshman Player of the Week and HBCU Co-Player of the Week honors.
 
Jackson State (4-0, 1-0 SWAC) enters Saturday unbeaten after defeating Southern, 35-17, in its conference opener. The Tigers moved into the AFCA FCS Coaches Top 25 at No. 23 following the victory.
 
The game will air live on SWAC TV, with James Verrett (play-by-play), Stan Becton (analyst) and Thai Floyd (sideline) on the call. Fans can also listen on WJAB 90.9 FM, with Chauncy Sanders handling play-by-play, Brian Howard serving as analyst, while Maurice Brooks will handle pregame and postgame duties.
 
ABOUT THE GAME
• Alabama A&M and Jackson State meet for the 32nd time, with JSU leading the all-time series, 19-12.
• Saturday marks the fifth consecutive season the Bulldogs and Tigers will meet in the Gulf Coast Challenge at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
• Alabama A&M enters the game riding a four-game winning streak after victories over Miles, Tennessee State, Bowie State and Florida A&M.
• Both teams enter the matchup 1-0 in SWAC play.
• Jackson State has won the past four meetings in the series.
• Alabama A&M will be seeking its first Gulf Coast Challenge victory since defeating Tuskegee, 45-35, in 2021.
• The matchup is part of the ninth annual Gulf Coast Challenge in Mobile.
 
ALABAMA A&M AT A GLANCE
• Alabama A&M is 4-1 overall and 1-0 in SWAC play after defeating Florida A&M, 40-21.
• The Bulldogs have won four consecutive games since dropping their season opener to Howard in the Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge.
• Freshman running back Byron Perrilliat rushed for a career-high 223 yards and two touchdowns against Florida A&M, averaging 13.9 yards per carry.
• Perrilliat's 223 rushing yards were the most by an Alabama A&M player since 2019.
• Quarterback Cornelious Brown IV threw three touchdown passes against Florida A&M, including two to Jaylan Bean.
• Bean finished with five receptions for 93 yards and two touchdowns in the victory.
• Linebacker DJ Barber led the Bulldogs with 14 tackles and forced a fumble against the Rattlers.
• Alabama A&M held Florida A&M to 173 yards of total offense and just two rushing yards.
• The Bulldogs are 1-0 in conference play for the first time since 2021.
 
JACKSON STATE AT A GLANCE
• Jackson State enters Saturday 4-0 overall and 1-0 in SWAC play.
• The Tigers are ranked No. 23 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Top 25 after their 35-17 victory over Southern.
• Running back Nate Blount IV rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries against Southern.
• Quarterback Jared Lockhart completed 12 of 18 passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns while adding a rushing score against the Jaguars.
• Nate Rembert caught five passes for 87 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown reception.
• Jackson State rushed for 190 yards and averaged 5.8 yards per carry against Southern.
• The Tigers' defense recorded three sacks and held Southern to 165 passing yards.
• Jackson State scored on all four of its trips inside the red zone against Southern.
 
SERIES HISTORY
• Alabama A&M and Jackson State will meet for the 32nd time.
• Jackson State leads the all-time series, 19-12.
• The series dates back to 1948.
• Jackson State has won four consecutive meetings.
• The Tigers defeated the Bulldogs, 57-24, in the 2025 Gulf Coast Challenge.
• Alabama A&M is seeking its first Gulf Coast Challenge victory since 2021.
 
THREE KEYS TO THE GAME
• Control the line of scrimmage and establish the running game against a physical Jackson State front.
• Protect the football and capitalize on opportunities created by the defense.
• Limit explosive plays and force Jackson State to sustain long scoring drives.
 
LOOKING AHEAD TO WHAT'S NEXT
• Alabama A&M returns to Louis Crews Stadium on Oct. 10 to face Bethune-Cookman.
• Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the Breast Cancer Awareness Game/Pink Out.
• The game will begin a stretch of three consecutive October contests in the state of Alabama, including Homecoming against Grambling State and the Magic City Classic against Alabama State.
 
For complete coverage of Alabama A&M Athletics - the Rocket City's only Division I program - visit aamusports.com. Follow the Bulldogs on Instagram (@aamuathletics), Facebook (aamubulldogathletics), X (@_aamuathletics) and TikTok (@aamuathletics).