1998 Southern Jaguars football team

1998 Southern Jaguars football
Black college national champion SWAC champion
Heritage Bowl, W 28–2 vs. Bethune–Cookman
Conference	Southwestern Athletic Conference
Ranking
Sports Network	No. 14
Record	9–3 (8–0 SWAC)
Head coach	Pete Richardson (6th season)
Home stadium	A. W. Mumford Stadium

1998 Southwestern Athletic Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 14 Southern $		8	–	0					9	–	3
Jackson State		7	–	1					7	–	4
Arkansas–Pine Bluff		6	–	2					8	–	3
Texas Southern		4	–	4					6	–	5
Grambling State		4	–	4					5	–	6
Alabama State		3	–	5					5	–	6
Alcorn State		3	–	5					5	–	6
Mississippi Valley State		1	–	7					1	–	10
Prairie View A&M		0	–	8					1	–	10
$ – Conference champion Alabama A&M was an affiliate member, so its games did not count in the official standings. Rankings from The Sports Network Poll

The 1998 Southern Jaguars football team represented Southern University as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) during the 1998 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Pete Richardson, the Jaguars compiled an overall record of 9–3, with a conference record of 8–0, and finished as SWAC champion. At the conclusion of the season, the Jaguars were also recognized as black college national champion.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 5	at No. 16 Northwestern State*	No. 12	Harry Turpin Stadium Natchitoches, LA	L 7–28	16,706	[1]
September 12	at Arkansas–Pine Bluff	No. 21	War Memorial Stadium Little Rock, AR	W 17–14	18,854	[2]
September 19	vs. Prairie View A&M	No. 18	Cardinal Stadium Beaumont, TX	W 37–7		[3]
September 26	Alabama State	No. 15	A. W. Mumford Stadium Baton Rouge, LA	W 34–27	21,808	[4]
October 3	Mississippi Valley State	No. 15	A. W. Mumford Stadium Baton Rouge, LA	W 42–13		[5]
October 10	at Alabama A&M*	No. 15	Louis Crews Stadium Normal, AL	L 27–33		[6]
October 17	Jackson State	No. 23	A. W. Mumford Stadium Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry)	W 33–28		[7]
October 24	at Alcorn State	No. 15	Jack Spinks Stadium Lorman, MS	W 29–28	23,000	[8]
November 7	No. 6 Florida A&M*	No. 13	A. W. Mumford Stadium Baton Rouge, LA	L 48–50		[9]
November 14	Texas Southern	No. 17	A. W. Mumford Stadium Baton Rouge, LA	W 20–14		[10]
November 28	vs. Grambling State	No. 15	Louisiana Superdome New Orleans, LA (Bayou Classic)	W 26–14	60,986	[11]
December 26	vs. No. 18 Bethune–Cookman*	No. 14	Georgia Dome Atlanta, GA (Heritage Bowl)	W 28–2	32,955	[12]
*Non-conference game Rankings from The Sports Network Poll released prior to the game

References

1. "Sweet revenge; Demon defense keys 28–7 win over Jaguars". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. September 6, 1998. Retrieved April 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "Southern University 17, Arkansas–Pine Bluff 14". The Shreveport Times. September 13, 1998. Retrieved April 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Prairie View loses its 80th straight". The El Paso Times. September 20, 1998. Retrieved April 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Hornets lose heartbreaker". The Montgomery Advertiser. September 27, 1998. Retrieved April 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "S.U. 42, MVS 13". Daily World. October 4, 1998. Retrieved April 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Hayes runs over Southern". The Montgomery Advertiser. October 11, 1998. Retrieved April 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Southern tops JSU in wild one". Hattiesburg American. October 18, 1998. Retrieved April 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Last-play field goal costs Alcorn State 29–28". The Clarion-Ledger. October 25, 1998. Retrieved April 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Last-minute field goal lifts FAMU to win". South Florida Sun Sentinel. November 8, 1998. Retrieved April 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Jaguars, Colonels win in close battles". Daily World. November 15, 1998. Retrieved April 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Southern beats Grambling in Bayou Classic". Pensacola News Journal. November 29, 1998. Retrieved April 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Southern has too much savvy for rookie Bethune–Cookman". Great Falls Tribune. December 27, 1998. Retrieved April 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.