(STATS) – The party invitation hasn’t been reaching the mailbox of the Southwestern Athletic Conference offices in Birmingham, Alabama.
SWAC teams take on plenty of FBS opponents annually, but none has beaten one since Grambling State handled Oregon State 23-6 in 1985 in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Despite the lack of upsets from SWAC teams, the rest of the FCS level has posted as many as 16 FBS wins in a season.
As FCS programs seek to make their mark again this year, here’s a look at the games involving SWAC teams:
The Matchups (10) – Alabama State: UAB (Aug. 29) and Florida State (Nov. 16); Alcorn State: Southern Miss (Aug. 31); Arkansas-Pine Bluff: TCU (Aug. 31); Grambling State: UL-Monroe (Aug. 31) and Louisiana Tech (Sept. 7); Jackson State: South Alabama (Sept. 7); Prairie View A&M: Houston (Sept. 7); Southern: Memphis (Sept. 7); Texas Southern: Louisiana (Sept. 14)
Glamour Games – Prairie View A&M at Houston (Sept. 7) and Alabama State at Florida State (Nov. 16): Separated by less than an hour’s drive, Prairie View and Houston will meet for the first time. Former West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen has taken over at Houston. Alabama State is playing two FBS opponents for the second straight year. A familiar trip to Legion Field in Birmingham to face UAB isn’t as daunting as the visit to Doak Walker Stadium for a first-time meeting with Florida State.
Upset Alert – Jackson State at South Alabama (Sept. 7): South Alabama struggled to a 3-9 record in former Central Arkansas coach Steve Campbell’s first season last year. Meanwhile, Jackson State had an encouraging finish under interim coach John Hendrick, who earned the full-time job after the season.
Notable – Alabama A&M and Mississippi Valley State aren’t playing FBS programs this season. … Grambling State has a low travel budget for its first two games: UL-Monroe is 40 miles away and Louisiana Tech a mere six miles away. … Alcorn State is making the short trip west to meet up with Southern Miss, whose coach, Jay Hopson, posted a 32-17 record while guiding the Braves from 2012-15. … In facing TCU, Arkansas-Pine Bluff will be playing a Big 12 team for the first time. … In a pair of first-time meetings, Southern is facing Memphis and Texas Southern will take on Louisiana. Texas Southern has a new coach in Clarence McKinney.
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