STWF Sports| BATON ROUGE, La.| September 6, 2026 — Southern University returns home Saturday night looking to turn a promising season-opening performance into its first victory of 2026 when the Jaguars host Kentucky State in the Pete Richardson Classic.
Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. at A.W. Mumford Stadium and Pete Richardson Field, where Southern will make its home debut under first-year head coach Marshall Faulk. The Jaguars have designated the game as a White Out, adding to the atmosphere surrounding Faulk’s first appearance on the sideline in Baton Rouge.
Southern enters the matchup at 0-1 after falling 30-17 to Alabama State in the inaugural Birmingham Football Classic on Aug. 29.
The Jaguars showed encouraging signs in that opener, particularly in the first half. Southern built a 17-13 halftime lead and finished with 335 yards of total offense, including 174 through the air and 161 on the ground.
Southern’s Determination to Win at Home
Quarterback Christian Johnson was responsible for much of that production, completing passes for 174 yards while also leading Southern with 81 rushing yards. Johnson scored on a 1-yard run in the second quarter, while Mike Franklin provided one of the Jaguars’ biggest offensive moments with a 29-yard touchdown run in the opening period.
The challenge for Southern this week will be sustaining that production for four quarters. Alabama State held the Jaguars scoreless in the second half and closed the game with 17 unanswered points.
Kentucky State arrives in Baton Rouge with confidence after an impressive season-opening performance.
The Thorobreds defeated Central State 41-14 after overcoming an early 14-3 deficit. Kentucky State responded by scoring 38 unanswered points and shutting out its rival over the final two quarters.
The Thorobreds generated 472 yards of offense, including 282 passing and 190 rushing, while controlling possession for more than 39 minutes. Kentucky State was also efficient in scoring territory, converting all six of its red-zone opportunities into points.
Southern’s secondary will have to pay close attention to wide receiver Darius Cyprian. The junior opened the season with six catches for 98 yards after entering 2026 as a BOXTOROW HBCU preseason All-American. He is coming off a 2025 season in which he recorded 42 receptions for 903 yards and eight touchdowns.
Kentucky State also brings the confidence of a breakthrough 2025 campaign. The Thorobreds finished 9-3, posted a 7-1 record in Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play and earned the first NCAA Division II playoff appearance in program history.
For Southern, Saturday represents more than an opportunity to even its record.
It will be the Jaguars’ first chance to establish a home-field identity under Faulk, the Pro Football Hall of Fame running back who took over the program after serving on Colorado’s coaching staff in 2025.
The setting also carries historical significance. The Pete Richardson Classic honors the former Southern head coach who led one of the most successful stretches in program history and helped strengthen the Jaguars’ championship tradition.
Southern showed in Birmingham that it has the ability to create explosive plays and establish balance offensively. The next step is improving execution in critical situations, extending drives and finishing possessions.
Kentucky State, meanwhile, will attempt to carry its Week 1 momentum into a difficult road environment against an FCS opponent.
With Jaguar Nation back inside A.W. Mumford Stadium, Southern has an opportunity to deliver Faulk his first collegiate head-coaching victory while beginning a new chapter on The Bluff.
Kentucky State (1-0) at Southern (0-1)
When: Saturday, Sept. 5, 6 p.m.
Where: A.W. Mumford Stadium and Pete Richardson Field, Baton Rouge, La.
Event: Pete Richardson Classic
Promotion: White Out
