SWAC West: Southern's title hopes hang by a thread

Southern University football finds itself in a precarious position with four games left on the schedule. The Jaguars hold a 3-5 overall record and are 1-3 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. This puts them tied for last place in the SWAC West division. The team entered the season with championship ambitions under first-year head coach Marshall Faulk. Those aspirations remain the stated goal, though the mathematical reality has shifted.

Faulk has avoided discussing the standings directly with his players. He focuses on practice, play-by-play execution, and small wins rather than divisional rankings. The Jaguars recently lost 24-21 to Texas Southern. Faulk told his team last week that they controlled their future. He plans to tell them tomorrow that they no longer have that control, but they must continue to play hard.

The Jaguars face Florida A&M at 2 p.m. Saturday at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. Florida A&M is 2-6 overall and 1-3 in the conference. A win is necessary to keep any chance of a division title alive. Four teams in the SWAC West currently lead Southern with two losses. This group includes reigning conference champion Prairie View, which beat Southern 28-14 earlier this season.

Players are aware of their standing. Safety Herman Brister said on Oct. 20 that the team keeps up with conference results. He noted that the division is up for grabs for anyone. Freshman Hunter Schnakenberg said on Tuesday that the team does not fixate on the standings. He emphasized playing their own style of football and executing their identity.

Defensive player Ckelby Givens returned from a two-game absence due to a concussion. He recorded six tackles in his return game. Givens said the team believes they still have a chance because other teams lose. He described the SWAC as unpredictable. Linebacker Tay James, who has 59 tackles and ranks fourth in the conference, agreed on the volatility. He stated the only option is to finish the season strong.

Offensive lineman Raul Aguilar said the practice atmosphere on Tuesday did not reflect a defeated team. The team follows a rule where the previous game takes a backseat after 24 hours. Running back Trey Holly has led vocal encouragement during huddles. Aguilar said Holly told the group to keep doing their thing and move on to the next game.

The Jaguars must win their remaining four games to realistically contend for the division title. The margin for error is nonexistent. The team will travel to Florida to play Florida A&M. The outcome of that game will determine how much control they retain over their fate in the SWAC West.