Jackson State Falls to Bethune-Cookman in Close Contest

Jackson State University football players lost 24-21 to Bethune-Cookman University on Saturday in Daytona, Florida. The defeat marks the second road loss for the Tigers during the 2026 campaign.

The team entered the game with a 6-2 overall record and a 3-2 mark in Southwestern Athletic Conference play. Prior to this contest, the Tigers had rebounded from a loss at Grambling State University by defeating Florida A&M University at home the previous week.

Bethune-Cookman established a 14-point lead early in the first quarter. Quarterback Tyler Jefferson completed two touchdown passes to build that advantage. The Tigers managed time of possession in the first quarter but failed to score on their first three offensive drives. A missed field goal, a botched punt return, and a completed punt prevented the visitors from gaining points during that span.

Head coach T.C. Taylor described the first half performance as sleepwalking. He stated, "We been kind of sleepwalking in the first half and it finally caught up with us." Taylor noted that the coaching staff must find ways to generate a faster start rather than relying on halftime adjustments.

The teams remained closely matched in total yardage and time of possession for the majority of the contest. Bethune-Cookman scored twice on three trips into the red zone, while Jackson State scored once on three opportunities. The Tigers limited their special teams errors to a single 10-yard penalty for the game.

Taylor acknowledged the difficulty of the matchup against Coach Woodie Raymond's staff. He said, "It was a great battle in Daytona.. Hats off to Coach Woodie (Raymond) and that staff, they did a great job of taking away the running game and causing turnovers." The loss keeps the Tigers in a tight race with other SWAC East teams.

Jackson State will observe a bye week before returning to Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. The team will host Mississippi Valley State University at 2:00 PM on November 7.