Category: SWAC

Daeshun Ruffin Is BACK at Jackson State

Brandon King

Reigning SWAC Player of the Year Daeshun Ruffin will return to Jackson State for the 2026–27 season, the school announced Thursday. Ruffin is coming off one of the most productive individual seasons in the country, averaging 23.3 points, 5.3 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 42.6% from the field and 84.3% from the free-throw line. His 23.3 points per game ranked fourth nationally during the 2025–26 season. He also scored at least 30 points eight times and became one of only three Division I players nationally…

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Marshall Faulk Responds to UAPB Coach Alonzo Hampton’s Homecoming Comments

Brandon King

Southern head coach Marshall Faulk has responded to UAPB head coach Alonzo Hampton’s comments surrounding Pine Bluff being selected as the Jaguars’ homecoming opponent. And Hampton’s point wasn’t simply about using homecoming as motivation. It was about what being selected as someone else’s homecoming opponent says about how that program views UAPB. Hampton pointed to UAPB repeatedly being picked near the bottom of the SWAC preseason projections and the Golden Lions’ history of appearing on opponents’ homecoming schedules. “When you sign up people for homecoming, I think you probably got…

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Grambling State QB RJ Johnson III Out; Jacobe Robinson Set to Start

Brandon King

Grambling State will be without starting quarterback RJ Johnson III for the foreseeable future due to an undisclosed health issue. According to the Ruston Daily Leader, Johnson will miss Saturday’s matchup with Alcorn State as the Tigers make another change at quarterback. Head coach Mickey Joseph confirmed that Jacobe Robinson will start, with Ashton Frye also expected to see action. Johnson did not play in Grambling State’s 21–14 loss to Prairie View A&M last Saturday. Robinson handled the majority of the snaps in that game, completing 9 of 18 passes…

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Florida A&M Men’s Basketball Set for 2026 Showdown in St. Pete

Brandon King

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida A&M men’s basketball is heading to St. Petersburg this November for the 2026 Showdown in St. Pete, giving the Rattlers another opportunity to compete on a national stage. The four-day event is scheduled for Nov. 11–14 at the McArthur Center on the campus of Eckerd College and features five NCAA Division I programs: Florida A&M, George Mason, Bradley, Kansas City and Coppin State. FAMU’s Showdown Opener The Rattlers will open the event on Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11, against Kansas City. Date Time Matchup Location Nov.…

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BREAKING: Senate Passes Protect College Sports Act, 77-22; Bill Now Heads to House

Brandon King

The U.S. Senate has taken a major step toward creating a national framework for college sports. The Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act, 77-22, on Monday, sending legislation designed to establish federal rules governing NIL, athlete compensation, transfers, eligibility and other aspects of college athletics to the House of Representatives. The bipartisan bill was introduced by Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and has advanced through the Senate after months of negotiations. Now comes the more uncertain part of the process: the House. The House is not…

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Senate Rejects $5 Million Salary Cap for College Coaches

Brandon King

The U.S. Senate has rejected an amendment that would have placed a $5 million annual salary cap on college coaches, leaving the issue of escalating coaching compensation outside the current version of the college sports legislation. The amendment was introduced by Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) as part of the debate surrounding the Protect College Sports Act. The proposal would have prohibited an institution from providing more than $5 million per year in compensation to a coach of a varsity sports team.  The proposed cap would have…

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Jackson State Cracks Two FCS Top 25 Polls After Southern Win

Brandon King

Jackson State is officially ranked in both major FCS Top 25 polls. The Tigers entered the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 at No. 25 and landed at No. 23 in the AFCA Coaches Top 25 following Saturday’s 35-17 victory over Southern in their SWAC opener. Jackson State is now 4-0 overall and 1-0 in SWAC play, making its first appearance in both rankings this season after receiving votes in the previous polls. TWO POLLS. ONE UNBEATEN TIGERS TEAM. Poll Jackson State AFCA Coaches Top 25 No. 23 Stats Perform FCS…

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Marshall Faulk Says Southern Is Forming the Wrong Kind of Identity After Jackson State Loss

Brandon King

Marshall Faulk isn’t just concerned about Southern’s latest loss — he’s concerned about what the Jaguars are becoming. After Southern fell 35-17 to Jackson State in Saturday’s BoomBox Classic, first-year head coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk said his team is beginning to form the wrong kind of identity. Jackson State jumped out to a 28-9 halftime lead and ultimately extended its winning streak over Southern to eight consecutive games. The Tigers finished with 355 total yards, while Nate Blount IV rushed for 135 yards and two…

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South Carolina State Defeats Bethune-Cookman 31-21, Improves to 5-0

Brandon King

South Carolina State remained unbeaten Saturday night, defeating Bethune-Cookman 31-21 at Daytona Stadium in Daytona Beach, Florida. The Bulldogs improved to 5-0 on the season, while Bethune-Cookman fell to 2-2. South Carolina State built a 24-7 halftime advantage, survived a second-half rally by the Wildcats and put the game away with a fourth-quarter touchdown. South Carolina State finished with 430 yards of total offense, including 282 rushing yards and 148 passing yards. Bethune-Cookman managed 238 total yards. How It Happened South Carolina State struck first when Josh Shaw scored on…

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Alabama A&M Pulls Away Late, Ends 47-Year Drought Against Florida A&M

Brandon King

image via AAMU Athletics Alabama A&M finally got Florida A&M off its back. The Bulldogs scored the final 17 points of the game to pull away from the Rattlers, 40–21, Saturday night at Bragg Memorial Stadium, earning their first victory over FAMU since 1979. The win also gave Alabama A&M its first 1-0 start in SWAC play since 2021.  Alabama A&M improved to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in SWAC play, while Florida A&M dropped to 1-4 and 0-1.  The victory snapped Florida A&M’s five-game winning streak in the series. The…

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