Southern at Jackson State 2026: Pepsi, Tradition, and Tiger Pride
There is something special about game day at Jackson State University. The music, traditions and sea of blue and white create an atmosphere that brings students, alumni, families and fans together. On Saturday, September 26, Brown Bottling Group and Pepsi will proudly join Tiger Nation for Southern at Jackson State 2026 in Jackson, Mississippi.
The Jackson State Tigers will welcome the Southern Jaguars for a highly anticipated SWAC matchup beginning at 6:00 p.m. This will be Jackson State’s first conference game of the 2026 season.
The history between these two programs makes the matchup even more exciting. The series is tied at 36 wins each dating back to 1958, but Jackson State enters the game having won the last seven meetings.
The game is also designated as Future Legends, Greek Night and White, giving JSU fans even more reasons to show their school spirit and be part of the experience.
For Brown Bottling Group, supporting this event means much more than providing refreshing beverages on game day. It means showing up for a university and community we are proud to serve. It means cheering alongside the fans, helping create memorable experiences and continuing to build a relationship that reaches far beyond the football field.
We are proud to be a beverage partner, but we are also proud JSU fans—and we are ready for another unforgettable game day!
Southern at Jackson State 2026: What Fans Need to Know
Matchup: Southern Jaguars at Jackson State Tigers
Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026
Kickoff: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Jackson, Mississippi
Game Designation: Future Legends / Greek Night / White
Television: ESPN Family of Networks
Radio: The Sipp.FM and WJSU 88.5 FM
Special Pepsi Experience: Pepsi Taste Challenge and additional activities
Visit the official 2026 Jackson State football schedule for the latest game and broadcast information.
Get Your Tickets for Southern at Jackson State
Ready to experience the excitement in person? Fans can check available ticket options through the official JSU Athletics ticket portal.
Purchasing through the official JSU ticket portal is the best way to receive ticket information directly from Jackson State Athletics. Availability may change as September 26 approaches, so fans are encouraged to secure their tickets early.
Watch the official JSU Athletics website and social media accounts for additional announcements about ticket availability, parking, stadium entry, game-day policies and other information fans may need before arriving.
What Should JSU Fans Wear?
The official color for the September 26 game is WHITE.
Tiger Nation is encouraged to fill the stands in white and create a strong show of support for the home team. A white JSU T-shirt, jersey, polo, sweatshirt or comfortable white top is a great place to start. Fans can add navy or light-blue hats, beads, pom-poms and other JSU accessories to complete their game-day look.
If you do not already own JSU apparel, a plain white shirt works, too. The most important part is joining Tiger Nation and helping turn the stadium into a sea of white.
Fans looking for new game-day apparel can visit the official JSU Tigers gear store.
Because this game is also Greek Night, members and supporters of Divine Nine organizations will bring even more color, history and energy to the evening. Whatever accessories you choose, make white the main color and wear it proudly in support of the Jackson State Tigers.
What Should JSU Fans Wear?
The official color for the September 26 game is WHITE.
Tiger Nation is encouraged to fill the stands in white and create a strong show of support for the home team. A white JSU T-shirt, jersey, polo, sweatshirt or comfortable white top is a great place to start. Fans can add navy or light-blue hats, beads, pom-poms and other JSU accessories to complete their game-day look.
If you do not already own JSU apparel, a plain white shirt works, too. The most important part is joining Tiger Nation and helping turn the stadium into a sea of white.
Fans looking for new game-day apparel can visit the official JSU Tigers gear store.
Because this game is also Greek Night, members and supporters of Divine Nine organizations will bring even more color, history and energy to the evening. Whatever accessories you choose, make white the main color and wear it proudly in support of the Jackson State Tigers.
Proud Partners—and Proud Fans—of Jackson State University
Our continued partnership with Jackson State University is built on more than products, deliveries or signs inside a stadium. It is built on relationships.
Brown Bottling Group has the privilege of serving communities throughout Mississippi, and we understand the important role schools and universities play within those communities. They educate future leaders, create opportunities, preserve traditions and bring people together.
Jackson State University is a powerful example of that community impact. JSU students, faculty members, staff, alumni and supporters carry tremendous pride in their university. That pride fills the stadium on game day, but it is also present in classrooms, workplaces, neighborhoods and communities throughout Mississippi and across the country.
Brown Bottling Group and Pepsi are honored to stand alongside Tiger Nation. We want JSU fans to know that we are not simply attending the game as a beverage company. We are there as partners, neighbors and fans who are excited to be part of the experience.
When the Tigers take the field, we are cheering with the JSU community.
JSU Traditions That Make Game Day Unforgettable
A Jackson State football game is much more than four quarters of football. It is a celebration shaped by generations of students, alumni, families and fans.
From the first tailgate of the day to the final note played by the band, JSU traditions create an experience that belongs uniquely to Tiger Nation.
The Sonic Boom of the South
No JSU game day would be complete without the sound and showmanship of the Sonic Boom of the South.
Jackson State’s marching band was officially dubbed the Sonic Boom of the South in 1971. The band adopted “Get Ready” as its theme in 1974, and its famous Tiger Run-On became another signature tradition several years later.
The Sonic Boom’s powerful sound, precision and unmistakable style have made the band an essential part of the JSU football experience. Its halftime performances are often every bit as anticipated as the game itself.
For many fans, the excitement does not end when the fourth-quarter clock reaches zero. The traditional fifth-quarter band performances give fans another reason to remain in their seats and enjoy the music, energy and friendly competition.
When the Sonic Boom takes the field, Tiger Nation gets ready.
Tailgating and Community
Tailgating is another cornerstone of JSU football culture. Hours before kickoff, the areas surrounding the stadium come alive with food, music, school colors and generations of fans reconnecting with one another.
Students, alumni groups, families, longtime supporters and Divine Nine fraternities and sororities all contribute to the atmosphere. Some fans arrive to prepare favorite recipes, while others come to visit friends, take photographs and enjoy the excitement before heading inside.
The tailgate is where stories are shared, friendships are renewed and younger generations learn what being part of Tiger Nation means.
It is one more example of how JSU football brings people together and strengthens the sense of community surrounding the university.
Wavee Dave
Fans should also be on the lookout for one of JSU’s most recognizable game-day personalities: Wavee Dave.
The Wavee Dave legacy began in the early 1980s with JSU student David Chambers. Known for animated end-zone antics—including riding a unicycle—and memorable outfits, Wavee Dave became a beloved part of Jackson State football and basketball games.
Over the years, the role has been passed to other JSU students who continue the tradition of entertaining children, engaging the crowd and keeping Tiger fans cheering.
Whether dressed in blue and white, a tuxedo or another unforgettable outfit, Wavee Dave represents the fun, personality and creativity that make a JSU game unlike any other.
Remembering the Iron Thirteen
The strength and determination associated with Jackson State football can be traced back more than a century.
In 1920, the football season was in danger of not happening after JSU was left without a head coach and only a small number of players reported for practice. The remaining students refused to give up. They continued practicing until their number reached 13, selected a coach and created their own plays.
Those players became known as the Iron Thirteen.
The team went on to win every scheduled game that season and remained undefeated for three years. Their determination established an enduring example of resilience, teamwork and Tiger pride.
More than 100 years later, the Iron Thirteen legacy remains a reminder that JSU football has always been built on perseverance and a refusal to quit.
Take the Pepsi Taste Challenge at JSU
Football will not be the only friendly competition taking place when Southern visits Jackson State. PepsiCo will join the game-day celebration with the Pepsi Taste Challenge, giving fans an opportunity to put their taste buds to the test.
The Pepsi Taste Challenge invites participants to sample beverages without allowing the labels to influence their decision. Fans choose the taste they prefer before discovering which beverage earned their vote. It is simple, fun and always creates plenty of surprised reactions and friendly debate.
Whether you have always been Team Pepsi or simply want to discover what your taste buds decide, make plans to stop by the Pepsi experience during the Southern at Jackson State game.
Fans can also look forward to additional Pepsi activities and game-day experiences. Information about the activation location, hours, featured products, prizes and participation requirements will be added as those details are officially confirmed.
Bring your Tiger pride, invite your friends and get ready to find out which taste wins your vote!
Future Legends, Greek Night and a Sea of White
The September 26 game is designated as Future Legends, Greek Night and White, adding even more excitement to the matchup between Southern and Jackson State.
The evening will bring together current students, alumni, families, Greek organizations, young fans and longtime supporters. It will be a celebration of the people and traditions that make the JSU community special.
Future Legends gives young fans an opportunity to experience Tiger pride and see the traditions they may one day help carry forward. Greek Night celebrates the history, service, fellowship and unmistakable energy of Greek life within the JSU community.
The White game gives everyone in the stadium a simple way to come together visually in support of the Tigers.
From the energy in the stands to the pride displayed throughout Jackson, the game will provide another opportunity for Tiger Nation to show what it means to support JSU.
Supporting Mississippi Schools Means Showing Up
At Brown Bottling Group, supporting Mississippi schools means much more than placing products in coolers or making deliveries. It means being present for the moments that matter.
Those moments can happen beneath the Friday-night lights at a local high school, during a campus celebration, inside a packed gymnasium or in the stands at a major college football game. They are the moments when classmates become teammates, families create new traditions and entire communities come together to cheer for something they share.
We are proud to provide beverage choices that help serve students, faculty members, staff and visitors. However, providing products is only one part of what it means to be a community partner.
Real partnership requires consistency. It means listening to the needs of the schools we serve, working alongside campus teams, supporting special events and taking pride in the success of the people and communities around us.
Southern at Jackson State 2026 gives Brown Bottling Group and Pepsi another opportunity to put that commitment into action. We are excited to meet fans, share the Pepsi Taste Challenge and help add even more energy to an already exciting game day.
This is what supporting Mississippi schools looks like to us: building relationships, participating in traditions and celebrating alongside the communities we are fortunate to serve.
More Than a Beverage Company
Brown Bottling Group is proud to bring beloved beverage brands to the Mississippi communities we serve, but our commitment does not end when a delivery is complete.
We believe being a local partner means becoming part of the community. It means supporting schools, attending community events, celebrating local achievements and building lasting relationships with the people behind the organizations we serve.
Our team members live, work and raise their families in many of the same communities as the people we meet on game day. When local schools succeed, our communities become stronger. When students receive opportunities to learn, compete and grow, all of Mississippi benefits.
That is why events such as Southern at Jackson State matter to us.
They give us an opportunity to connect with people face to face, celebrate shared traditions and demonstrate that our support is about more than the beverages being served. We want students, alumni and fans to see Brown Bottling Group and Pepsi as familiar faces who are proud to participate in the life of their community.
Get Your Tickets, Wear White and Get Ready
September 26 will be here before we know it. Make plans now to be part of Southern at Jackson State:
- Check ticket availability through JSU Athletics.
- Wear white to support the Jackson State Tigers.
- Arrive early and enjoy the JSU tailgating atmosphere.
- Visit the Pepsi experience and take the Pepsi Taste Challenge.
- Stay for the Sonic Boom of the South and the complete JSU game-day experience.
Fans who cannot attend can look for coverage through the ESPN Family of Networks or listen through The Sipp.FM and WJSU 88.5 FM. Check the official JSU Athletics schedule closer to game day for final broadcast details and any scheduling updates.
Follow JSU for Official Game-Day Updates
Follow Jackson State Athletics for the latest ticket information, schedule updates, parking announcements, stadium instructions and Tiger news:
- Facebook: Jackson State Tigers
- Instagram: @GoJSUTigers
- X: @GoJSUTigers
- Website: GoJSUTigers.com
You can also follow Brown Bottling Group on Facebook and Instagram at @brownbottling for Pepsi activation details, event reminders, photographs, videos and game-day updates.
We will update this article after the game with the final score, winner announcements, Pepsi Taste Challenge results and photographs from the event.
