Date/Time: Saturday, November 1 – 7:00 p.m. EST
Location: Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium
Broadcast: ESPN + | 96.1 JAMZ
Game Theme: Senior Day and Military Appreciation
Color to Wear: Green
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida A&M enters its showdown with Jackson State looking to make a statement — not just about who has the flashier stats, but who plays the more complete, disciplined, and battle-tested brand of football.
Jackson State boasts one of the nation's most productive offenses, but Florida A&M, with its balance, experience, and defensive discipline, has the formula to neutralize the Tigers' pace and physicality.
Offensive Breakdown
Quarterback Play: RJ Johnson's Efficiency vs. Jackson State's Secondary
FAMU's quarterback
RJ Johnson III continues to give the Rattlers a steady hand under center. He ranks 2nd in the SWAC in completion percentage (64.9%) and has quietly thrown for 1,420 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Johnson's 202.9 passing yards per game (43rd nationally) and 141.8 passer rating (44th nationally) reflect the type of efficiency that can frustrate a defense built to stop big plays rather than sustain long drives. Against a Jackson State defense allowing 224.1 passing yards per game (72nd nationally) and ranking 79th in passing efficiency defense (139.35), Johnson's ability to spread the ball to multiple targets could prove decisive.
- Key Stat: FAMU ranks 34th nationally in passing offense (239.7 YPG) — the highest passing rank of any SWAC team outside Alabama A&M.
- Supporting Cast:
Jackson State's secondary has struggled against layered route concepts and play-action looks — areas where FAMU's offense thrives.
The Ground Game: Complementary, Not Primary
While Florida A&M's rushing offense ranks just 86th nationally (125.6 YPG), the numbers don't tell the full story. The Rattlers use the run game to control tempo and set up passing efficiency rather than dominate yardage totals
.
Running back Thad Franklin Jr. averages 4.44 yards per carry and has scored 4 touchdowns, with
Jamal Hailey providing secondary support. Together, they help FAMU sustain drives and win time of possession — a key metric where the Rattlers rank 22nd nationally (31:41 per game).
Jackson State, though strong against the run (123.4 YPG allowed, 20th nationally), has been vulnerable to power formations and tempo shifts — exactly the kind of situational balance FAMU deploys effectively.
- Key Matchup: FAMU's methodical approach vs. JSU's aggressive front seven.
If the Rattlers can stay on schedule (2nd-and-6 or better), Johnson's play-action efficiency skyrockets — critical against a defense that thrives on pressure.
Efficiency and Situational Strengths
FAMU doesn't light up scoreboards, averaging 21.9 points per game (83rd nationally), but their efficiency in key moments stands out:
- 3rd Down Conversion: 44.0% (27th nationally) — a major strength that sustains drives.
- Red Zone Offense: 85.7% (43rd nationally) — one of the best in the SWAC.
- Fewest Penalties: 6.14 per game (70th nationally) — critical against a Jackson State team that's one of the nation's most penalized (9.57 per game, 123rd).
That discipline gap could quietly swing field position and possession time.
Defensive Breakdown
Stopping the Run — The First Priority
Jackson State's offense revolves around the run game. The Tigers rank 2nd nationally in rushing (256.9 YPG), powered by Ahmad Miller (77.0 YPG, 7.00 YPC) and Travis Terrell Jr. (53.9 YPG).
Florida A&M's rushing defense sits at 171.4 YPG (80th nationally) — not elite, but opportunistic. The Rattlers' defensive line must win early-down battles and force JSU quarterback JaCobian Morgan (150.8 passer rating, 11 TDs, 4 INTs) into predictable situations.
Where FAMU holds an edge is in front-seven versatility. The Rattlers' linebackers are among the most athletic in the SWAC, and their First Downs Defense (143 allowed, 31st nationally) underscores their ability to make stops when it counts.
Pass Defense: Containing Big Plays
Jackson State throws for 232.3 yards per game (41st nationally), but that's inflated by yards after contact and busted coverages. FAMU's secondary, led by Ah'mare Lee and Collier, allows just 211.1 passing yards per game — better than Jackson State's own pass defense.
The key lies in efficiency defense: FAMU holds opposing passers to a 137.6 rating (73rd nationally) — not shutdown level, but resilient. When the Rattlers get pressure, they disrupt rhythm; when they play zone, they make quarterbacks earn every yard.
Jackson State's passing attack, while explosive, has struggled when forced into long drives — and FAMU's defense thrives in those grind-it-out sequences.
Situational Defense: "Bend, Don't Break"
If FAMU has one glaring area for improvement, it's 3rd down defense (50.5%, 122nd nationally). However, the Rattlers offset that with red zone defense that stiffens late (88.5%, 97th nationally) and solid tackling fundamentals.
The matchup with JSU's red zone offense (78.8%, 84th nationally) could play directly into FAMU's hands. If the Rattlers can hold JSU to field goals early, it will shift game momentum — especially with kicker
Daniel Porto converting 85.7% of his field goals (11th nationally).
Hidden Factors: Special Teams and Discipline
Special teams could quietly tilt this game toward FAMU.
- Punting: FAMU's Bobby Engstler ranks 17th nationally (44.0 yards per punt), compared to JSU's 28.5-yard net average — a 15-yard swing in field position per exchange.
- Penalties: FAMU commits nearly 3.5 fewer penalties per game and 32 fewer penalty yards than Jackson State — an enormous margin in a possession-based contest.
- Turnovers: Both teams sit at an even turnover margin (0.00), but FAMU has lost only 4 turnovers all season (fewest in FCS), while Jackson State has lost 8.
Scouting Report: Jackson State
Jackson State comes in with one of the most statistically aggressive profiles in the FCS. The Tigers rank 6th nationally in total offense (489.1 yards per game) and 2nd in rushing offense (256.9 yards per game), built around a run game that wants to dictate physicality. Running backs Ahmad Miller (77.0 rushing yards per game, 7.0 yards per carry) and Travis Terrell Jr. (53.9 YPG) lead a ground attack that can overwhelm undisciplined fronts.
At quarterback, JaCobian Morgan has been efficient in structure: 150.8 passer rating (29th nationally) with 11 TDs to 4 INTs, averaging 197.2 passing yards per game. He's complemented by receivers like Ja'Naylon Dupree and Nate Rembert, who both average over 50 yards per game and can threaten vertically (16.7 and 16.5 yards per catch, respectively). The Tigers are capable of chunk plays: their yards per completion (14.02) ranks 12th nationally.
Defensively, Jackson State's strength starts in the box. They're allowing only 123.4 rushing yards per game (20th nationally) and are strong on money downs, holding opponents to just 36.4% on 3rd down (36th nationally) and 42.9% on 4th down (T-29 nationally). That front has also protected its own quarterback: JSU is 13th nationally in sacks allowed (1.14 per game) and top-20 in tackles-for-loss allowed.
But there are cracks FAMU can exploit:
- Pass Defense Vulnerability: Jackson State allows 224.1 passing yards per game (72nd nationally) and sits 79th in team passing efficiency defense (139.35). That lines up cleanly with one of FAMU's core strengths: controlled, efficient passing with RJ Johnson III and a deep receiver group.
- Penalty Discipline: Jackson State is one of the most penalized teams in the country — 9.57 penalties per game (123rd nationally) for 89.43 yards per game (125th nationally). Florida A&M, meanwhile, is one of the least penalized teams in the nation (6.14 penalties per game; tied 70th). That's not just a stat — that's hidden yardage, free first downs, and stalled Tiger drives.
- Red Zone Execution: For all their yardage, Jackson State doesn't always cash in. Their red zone offense sits at just 78.8% (84th nationally), and they've leaned on long strikes more than sustained finish. FAMU's defensive profile — "bend, don't break," force 3 instead of 7 — matches up well here.
- Ball Security / Field Position: FAMU has only 4 total turnovers lost (best in the SWAC and tied for 1st nationally), while Jackson State has doubled that (8). Combine that with the Rattlers' elite punting game (Bobby Engstler at 44.0 yards per punt, 17th nationally) versus Jackson State's bottom-tier net punting (28.52 yards, 123rd), and the Tigers are at risk of having to drive long fields all night.
The short version: Jackson State is explosive and front-loaded with talent. They want to land quick strikes and run downhill. But they are also undisciplined, penalty-prone, and less efficient in the red zone. Florida A&M is built specifically to punish that profile — by extending drives, forcing frustration, and winning the "hidden" phases of the game that don't make highlight reels but decide championships.
