This week has been great for HBCU football’s visibility nationally. Three HBCU programs are ranked in this week’s ACA FCS Top 25 Coaches Poll, with two Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) programs and one Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) school making the poll. In what looks to be the biggest showdown in HBCU football this weekend, two of those ranked squads face off with high stakes on the line.
The No. 18-ranked Florida A&M Rattlers travel to the hostile confines of Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium to take on the #25-ranked Jackson State Tigers. The outcome of this game puts one team in the driver’s seat to capture that SWAC East Division crown, and a subsequent berth in the SWAC Championship game.
Both teams come into the game with similar records (JSU is 4-2, FAMU is 3-2). Both teams showcase offenses that can be potent factors in victory. The keys to the game may come down to which defense can make the most adjustments to stop the other teams’ offensive strengths. Let’s look at some factors that could determine who comes out on top in this game.
Florida A&M needs to be better at stopping the Run…
For all of Florida A&M’s offensive prowess this year, they’ve shown some kinks in their normally stout defensive scheme this season. More specifically, the Rattlers have had real issues stopping the run. They’ve got a tall task against arguably the most potent and balanced offense in the SWAC right now in Jackson State…