Legendary Head Coach Buddy Pough starts his final season prowling the sidelines for South Carolina State. TC Taylor looks to replace Deion Sanders and begin a new legacy after one of the most successful two-season runs in recent HBCU football memory. The Bulldogs and Tigers are the first primetime game in what looks to be an exciting 2023-24 season. Here are some of the storylines underlining this epic season-opening matchup:
A New Era on Lynch Street
T.C. Taylor’s ‘prime’ directive isn’t just replacing the hall of fame personality that was posted up on those Jackson, Mississippi sidelines last season; It’s replacing the array of talent on both sides of the ball that departed with him. That’s going to be one of the biggest questions of this game, and the season as a whole. Will Virginia Tech transfer QB Jason Brown fill the void left by Shedeur Sanders? How much different will that high-powered JSU offense look without Sanders pulling the trigger? Is there a replacement for Sy’Veon Wilkerson’s presence in the backfield? There was an equal amount of turnover on the defensive side of the ball. Will the roster turnover change the defensive philosophy of Taylor’s staff? Lots of questions on both sides of the ball, and Saturday is the first opportunity to see those questions answered. Those answers will go a long way to determining JSU’s gridiron fortunes for the remainder of the season.
A Final Championship Run?
This may be Coach Pough’s final season at the helm of the Bulldogs, but this squad may be SCSU’s best chance to return to the top of the pecking order in the MEAC, as well as aspirations for a Celebration Bowl appearance at the end of the season. Shaq Davis is off to the NFL, but QB Corey Fields is back, and he’s poised for a potential breakout season. Combine that with a seasoned and effective offensive line and the Bulldogs have a real shot at a HBCU National Championship run. Jeblonski Green’s also back, and the defense looks to be a typical, tough, smashmouth group in the traditional Buddy Pough mold. In an ultra-competitive MEAC conference, that veteran presence on both sides of the ball might just make the difference in a run for the conference championship, and a Celebration Bowl berth.
Saturday is going to be a showcase for two of the more storied programs in all of HBCU FCS football. The outcome of the game is going to hinge on whether this new-look Jackson State squad can hold their own in the offensive and defensive trenches. Jason Brown is an unknown quantity at QB, though the talent to make an impact at the position. The game becomes a LOT more interesting if that quantity becomes known. It’s hard betting against SCSU’s blend of talent and experience coming back, and that’s going to be the factor that decides the game for the folks from Orangeburg. Final Score Prediction: Bulldogs – 25, Tigers – 14
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