The Coach Prime era is over in Jackson Mississippi. But that doesn’t mean the foundation he helped build there won’t produce winning football, or that JSU won’t continue to be one of the marquee names in all of college football. Saturday night’s dominating 37-7 win over the South Carolina State Bulldogs in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Atlanta went a long way toward proving that, while also proving the Tigers could do a thing or two that Coach Prime’s teams couldn’t.

The Tigers are quite familiar with teams from the MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference). Unfortunately, they weren’t familiar with beating them. Despite producing a 23-3 record the last two seasons Jackson State was unable to defeat a team from the MEAC and win the Celebration Bowl in either season. Last season it was a loss to North Carolina Central. In 2021 it was a 31-10 loss to South Carolina State, the last time the teams met before Saturday night.

There’s no doubt revenge could have played a huge factor in how soundly the Tigers beat the Bulldogs. New head coach T.C. Taylor certainly had his team ready to play. All offseason the questions surrounding the departure of Deion Sanders and the really good players who left the team placed a lot of doubt on how good the Tigers could be going forward. The two-time defending SWAC champions had something to prove and they did just that.

Oh, by the way….

Speaking of the players who left the team. Probably the biggest question surrounding the players was who would replace Shedeur Sanders at QB. The two-time FCS Offensive Player of the Year decided to join his Dad at Colorado, obviously leaving a huge void. After a lenghty battle for the QB1 position Virginia Tech transfer Jason Brown finally won the job.

He seems to be the right choice.

Brown completed 26 of his 33 passes for 361 yards and 3 TD’s. The touchdowns went to three different receivers. A 35-yard pass to tight end Jency Riley, a 21-yard pass to tight end DJ Stevens, and 44-yarder to Andre Hunt. Brown’s stat line earned him MVP honors.

JSU also did a lot of damage on the ground, led by Irv Mulligan’s 109 yards rushing. It was Mulligan’s 46-yard run that got the scoring started in the first quarter. The Tigers finished with 499 yards of total offense.

For the Bulldogs it was a frustrating night where they looked totally outmatched all night. Their only score of the night came late in the 4th quarter with a 22-yard pass from QB Corey Fields Jr. to KeShawn Toney.

It was annouced earlier in the week that legendary head coach ‘Buddy’ Pough would retire at the end of the season. The loss to Jackson State was quite humiliating for South Carolina State who’s coming off an uncharateristically bad 3-8 record in 2022. Pough’s record (146-87 overall, 112-42 MEAC) over his 22 years as the Bulldogs head coach is totally the opposite of what his team produced last season.

Both teams are back in action next weekend. SCSU plays at Charlotte. Meanwhile, Jackson State gets ready for a huge showdown in the Orange Blossom Classic against SWAC Eastern division contender Florida A&M. That pivotal matchup takes place on Sunday.