The 2020 Southern Jaguars football team represented Southern University in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Jaguars were led by eighth-year head coach Dawson Odums and played their home games at Ace W. Mumford Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana as members of the West Division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).
On July 20, 2020, the Southwestern Athletic Conference announced that it would not play fall sports due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which included the football program. The conference is formalizing plans to conduct a competitive schedule for football during the 2021 spring semester.
Preseason
Recruiting class Reference:
Preseason polls The SWAC will release their polls in July 2020.
+West Division 1 2 3 4 5 +East Division 1 2 3 4 5
Preseason all–SWAC teams
Offense
Defense
Schedule The 2020 schedule originally consisted of 5 home, 3 away, and 3 neutral site games in the regular season. The Tigers will travel to SWAC foes Alabama A&M, Alabama State, and Prairie View A&M. The Tigers will play host to SWAC foes Jackson State, Alcorn State, and Arkansas–Pine Bluff. The Tigers will play two neutral site conference games—the Dallas State Fair Showdown against Texas Southern at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, TX and the Bayou Classic against Grambling State at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA.
Due to the SWAC's postponement of the 2020 football season to spring 2021, games against Florida A&M, , Morehouse, and Tennessee State were canceled.
Southern's revised schedule, released by the conference on August 17, will feature six games; 2 home, 3 away, and 1 at a neutral site.
Schedule source:
Game summaries
At Alabama State
Statistics SouthernAlabama State First downs 12 22 Total yards 274 274 Rushing yards 139 125 Passing yards 135 149 Turnovers 3 3 Time of possession 23:44 36:16
Team Category Player StatisticsSouthern Passing Ladarius Skelton 10/22, 135 yards, 1 TD Rushing Ladarius Skelton 10 carries, 72 yards, 1 TD Receiving Gregory Perkins 1 reception, 59 yards, 1 TDAlabama State Passing Ryan Nettles 16/27, 149 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Ezra Gray 14 carries, 73 yards Receiving Michael Jefferson 5 receptions, 47 yards, 1 TD
Arkansas–Pine Bluff
Statistics Arkansas–Pine BluffSouthern First downs 20 23 Total yards 411 426 Rushing yards 188 134 Passing yards 223 292 Turnovers 0 4 Time of possession 30:26 29:34
Team Category Player StatisticsArkansas–Pine Bluff Passing Skyler Perry 22/37, 223 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Skyler Perry 8 carries, 58 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Tyrin Ralph 7 receptions, 86 yardsSouthern Passing John Lampley 20/33, 238 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs Rushing Jarod Sims 11 carries, 55 yards, 1 TD Receiving Brandon Hinton 3 receptions, 60 yards
At Texas Southern
Statistics SouthernTexas Southern First downs 24 22 Total yards 460 383 Rushing yards 258 102 Passing yards 202 281 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 32:51 27:09
Team Category Player StatisticsSouthern Passing Ladarius Skelton 11/18, 174 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Ladarius Skelton 14 carries, 71 yards Receiving Ethan Howard 2 receptions, 56 yards, 2 TDsTexas Southern Passing Jalen Brown 21/37, 281 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Jacorey Howard 14 carries, 59 yards, 1 TD Receiving Ke'Lenn Davis 3 receptions, 85 yards, 1 TD
At Jackson State
Statistics SouthernJackson State First downs 26 16 Total yards 474 309 Rushing yards 294 66 Passing yards 180 243 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 42:49 17:11
Team Category Player StatisticsSouthern Passing John Lampley 9/14, 116 yards, 1 TD Rushing Jerodd Sims 17 carries, 79 yards Receiving Ethan Howard 4 receptions, 54 yardsJackson State Passing Jalon Jones 17/29, 243 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Tyson Alexander 8 carries, 38 yards Receiving Daylen Baldwin 3 receptions, 91 yards, 1 TD
Vs. Grambling State
Statistics Grambling StateSouthern First downs 13 19 Total yards 208 520 Rushing yards 143 232 Passing yards 65 288 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 25:51 34:09
Team Category Player StatisticsGrambling State Passing Elijah Walker 9/14, 65 yards, 1 TD Rushing Lyndemian Brooks 9 carries, 71 yards Receiving Raylon Richardson 3 receptions, 51 yards, 1 TDSouthern Passing John Lampley 8/11, 143 yards, 1 TDs Rushing Ladarius Skelton 7 carries, 76 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Ethan Howard 5 receptions, 80 yards
References