Jackson State football is part of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and is a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) . The SWAC instituted a divisional system for football in 1999, and Jackson State plays in the Eastern Division of the conference along with Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Alcorn State, and Mississippi Valley. Each season, the SWAC East and SWAC West divisional champions face off in the SWAC Championship Game. According to the conference standings on Fox Sports, as of October 8, 2023, Jackson State is 2-0 in conference play and 4-2 overall. The team is part of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, and their nickname is the Tigers.