Since 1999, the SWAC has used a conference championship game to crown its champion. Here's what you need to know for the 2024 SWAC Football Championship.
Update: Jackson State won the 2024 SWAC title, it's third in four years.
When is the 2024 SWAC Championship?
The 2024 SWAC Championship is on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. It will feature the divisional champions from the East and the West. The title game will air at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Who is playing in the 2024 SWAC Championship?
The winner of the SWAC East division — Jackson State — will play the winner of the SWAC West division — Southern — for the SWAC title. Both teams clinched their divisions on Nov. 16.
Where is the 2024 SWAC Championship?
The 2024 SWAC Championship Game host will be Jackson State. The game will be played at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson, MS.
The SWAC Championship is played at the home stadium of either the SWAC East or SWAC West division champion. The division champion with the best conference record hosts the championship game.
In the event a tiebreaker is needed, here are the procedures, :
- Head-to-Head Competition
- Overall conference record versus common divisional and non-divisional opponents
- Record versus divisional opponents
- Football Championship Subdivision Coaches Poll (FCS) ranking
- NCAA FCS Simple Ratings System
- Best point differential between the tied teams, common head-to-head match ups
- Best point differential between the tied teams common head-to-head match ups, against teams with the best overall (divisional and non-divisional) record and proceeding through other common non-divisional teams based on their order of finish
- Coin flip
What are the SWAC football standings?
Click or tap here to view the latest SWAC football standings.
What division has won the most SWAC championships?
The SWAC West leads the SWAC East, 13-11, in SWAC title games, not including Texas Southern's vacated 2010 title. The SWAC East has won the last six SWAC football championships.
Alcorn State joined the West division in 2021 but was previously in the East division.
SWAC Championship Game history
Here's the list of recent SWAC conference champions since the title game. Since the title game has existed, Grambling State has won the most SWAC Championships with eight. Overall, Grambling State leads all SWAC schools with 25 football titles.
| Wins | Appearances | PCT | School |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 10 | .800 | Grambling State |
| 4 | 6 | .667 | Alcorn State |
| 3 | 8 | .375 | Southern |
| 3 | 7 | .429 | Jackson State |
| 2 | 7 | .286 | Alabama A&M |
| 1 | 4 | .250 | Alabama State |
| 1 | 3 | .333 | Arkansas–Pine Bluff |
| 1 | 3 | .333 | Prairie View A&M |
| 1 | 1 | 1.000 | Florida A&M |
| 1 | 1 | VACATED | Texas Southern |
| 0 | 0 | .000 | Bethune-Cookman |
| 0 | 0 | .000 | Mississippi Valley State |
| YEAR | CHAMPION | Loser | Score | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Florida A&M | Prairie View A&M | 35-14 | Bragg Memorial Stadium Tallahassee, FL |
| 2022 | Jackson State | Southern | 43-24 | Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS |
| 2021 | Jackson State | Prairie View A&M | 27-10 | Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS |
| 2020-21 | Alabama A&M | Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 40-33 | Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS |
| 2019 | Alcorn State | Southern | 39-24 | Jack Spinks Stadium Lorman, MS |
| 2018 | Alcorn State | Southern | 37-28 | Jack Spinks Stadium Lorman, MS |
| 2017 | Grambling State | Alcorn State | 40-32 | NRG Stadium Houston, TX |
| 2016 | Grambling State | Alcorn State | 27-20 | NRG Stadium Houston, TX |
| 2015 | Alcorn State | Grambling State | 49-21 | NRG Stadium Houston, TX |
| 2014 | Alcorn State | Southern | 38-24 | NRG Stadium Houston, TX |
| 2013 | Southern | Jackson State | 34-27 | NRG Stadium Houston, TX |
| 2012 | Arkansas-Pine Bluff | Jackson State | 224-21 | Legion Field Birmingham, AL |
| 2011 | Grambling State | Alabama A&M | 16-15 | Legion Field Birmingham, AL |
| 2010 | Texas Southern (Vacated) |
Alabama State | 11-6 | Legion Field Birmingham, AL |
| 2009 | Prairie View A&M | Alabama A&M | 30-24 | Legion Field Birmingham, AL |
| 2008 | Grambling State | Jackson State | 41-9 | Legion Field Birmingham, AL |
| 2007 | Jackson State | Grambling State | 42-31 | Legion Field Birmingham, AL |
| 2006 | Alabama A&M | Arkanasas-Pine Bluff | 22-13 | Legion Field Birmingham, AL |
| 2005 | Grambling State | Alabama A&M | 45-6 | Legion Field Birmingham, AL |
| 2004 | Alabama State | Southern | 40-35 | Legion Field Birmingham, AL |
| 2003 | Southern | Alabama State | 20-9 | Legion Field Birmingham, AL |
| 2002 | Grambling State | Alabama A&M | 31-19 | Legion Field Birmingham, AL |
| 2001 | Grambling State | Alabama State | 38-31 | Legion Field Birmingham, AL |
| 2000 | Grambling State | Alabama A&M | 14-6 | Legion Field Birmingham, AL |
| 1999 | Southern | Jackson State | 31-30 | Legion Field Birmingham, AL |
🏆: Complete HBCU football championship history
Who will the SWAC champion play in the Celebration Bowl?
The winner of the SWAC Championship game advances to play in the Celebration Bowl against the MEAC Champion. The 2024 MEAC Champion is South Carolina State. Click or tap here for more information on the 2024 Celebration Bowl.
🏈: Recapping the 2024 HBCU football season
📲 B/R:
📚 Football History: Top MEAC/SWAC Challenge moments | Individual stars | | Recapping 2022 | Recapping 2021
Championships: Jackson State wins 2024 Celebration Bowl | Tennessee State, NC Central win tennis title | Football title history | Track champions
🏟 Classics: Every HBCU Football Classic's history | Florida Classic | Bayou Classic | Can't miss atmospheres
🏀 HBCU hoops: Pac-12/SWAC series |1980s Alcorn State | NBA draft picks | Hall of Famers
👀 March Madness: Men's history | Women's history | Two HBCU wins in 2021 | HBCU vs. HBCU | Tournament upsets
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