The Road to the SWAC Championship 2022 is in the fourth quarter with about two minutes to go in regulation and we might need overtime in the SWAC West. There are a few teams in the SWAC West Division that still have a chance at the Black College National Championship.
To qualify for the seventh edition of the Celebration Bowl a team must first win the SWAC championship.
*Conference record
JACKSON STATE TIGERS (11-0) *(8-0)
The JSU Tigers were the clear favorite to return back to the Celebration Bowl after their tough defeat against the South Carolina State Bulldogs of the MEAC.
Jackson State has clinched 1st place in the SWAC East Division
Their remaining game is against the SWAC West winner on December 3rd 2022 at 3pm EST,
The JSU Tigers have been dominant all year long and they clinched the SWAC East Division. They won the regular season finale against the Alcorn State Braves on the road 24-13 to complete an undefeated regular season heading into the SWAC Championship. QB Shedeur Sanders returned this week after an injury had him leave early last week and stand out Travis Hunter accounted for 14-points with a touchdown pass and an interception return for a touchdown.
FLORIDA A&M RATTLERS (9-2) *(7-1)
The FAMU Rattlers have clinched 2nd place in the SWAC East Division.
The Rattlers did not make the playoffs although they deserved a spot
The FAMU Rattlers have clinched second place in the SWAC East Division. They have beaten the Bethune Cookman Wildcats 41-20 to continue their winning ways after a rocky start to the season. The FAMU Rattlers have won nine straight games and had a resilient season.
PRAIRIE VIEW PANTHERS (6-5) *(5-3)
The Panthers are currently in 1st place in the SWAC West Division
The Panthers were upset by the Mississippi Valley Devils 27-7 which opened the door for the Southern Jaguars.
The Panthers needed to win their remaining game to secure a spot in the SWAC championship game. Since they lost, the Southern Jaguars can win the SWAC West if they beat the Grambling State Tigers at the Bayou Classic on November 26, 2022 at 2pm.
If the Southern Jaguars were to lose the Bayou Classic the Panthers would clinch the SWAC West Division and travel to play the Jackson State Tigers on December 3rd, 2022.
SOUTHERN JAGUARS (6-4) *(4-3)
The Jaguars are currently in 2nd place in the SWAC West Division.
To end the regular season, they will travel to play Grambling Tigers (3-7) on November 26th at 2:00 EST
The Jaguars need to win their remaining game and they needed the Prairie View Panthers to lose their remaining game and they also needed the Texas Southern Tigers to lose their last remaining game.
Both the Panthers and the TSU Tigers lost their last game to open the door for the Southern Jaguars. The Jaguars (if they were not motivated enough) have the opportunity to beat their in-state rival Grambling State University Tigers and earn a return trip to Jackson State University.
The Jaguars hold the tiebreaker against the Panthers based on their 45-13 win on October 8th, 2022. The TSU Tigers holds the tiebreaker against the Jaguars based on their 24-0 victory on September 17th, 2022.
TEXAS SOUTHERN TIGERS (5-6) *(4-4)
The TSU Tigers are currently in 3rd place in the SWAC West Division.
To end the regular season, they traveled to play Alabama A&M Bulldogs (4-7) on November 19th at 2:00pm EST
The TSU Tigers had a chance with several tiebreaker situations to make it to the SWAC championship game.
The MVSU Delta Devils upset the Prairie View A&M Panthers to crack the door open for the Tigers. They still had to win against the Bulldogs and with a 20-3 lead in the fourth quarter it looked like that would happen, but Alabama A&M caught fire in the last 11 minutes of the fourth quarter and scored three touchdowns. The Bulldogs shocked the TSU Tigers and kept them from a possible championship appearance with a 24-20 loss.
The TSU Tigers holds the tiebreaker against both the Southern Jaguars with a 24-0 victory on September 17, 2022 and the Alcorn State Braves with a 34-27 victory on October 22, 2022. The Panthers have a two-game lead with none to play based on the TSU Tigers record and a 40-23 loss to Prairie View on September 3, 2022.
ALCORN STATE BRAVES (5-6) *(4-4)
The Braves are currently in 4th place in the SWAC West Division.
To end the regular season, they hosted the Jackson State Tigers (10-0) on November 19th at 3:00pm EST
The Braves had an outside chance of winning the SWAC West Division, but things had to align and for a second it did. The MVSU Delta Devils beat the Prairie View Panthers. The TSU Tigers lost to the Alabama A&M Bulldogs. The Braves needed to however beat the JSU Tigers, and they almost did but ultimately, they fell short and so did their opportunity to win the SWAC West Division.
The Braves had an outside chance at winning the SWAC West by winning their last game and having the Southern Jaguars, the TSU Tigers and Prairie View Panthers all lose their remaining games.
To see how we got here in the last few weeks or check to out the 2022 NCAA FCS Playoffs
The Road to the SWAC Championship Part 1
The Road to the SWAC Championship Part 2
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