BATON ROUGE, LA — Southern University returns home to A.W. Mumford Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, looking to regain its footing when the Jaguars host an in-state opponent, Louisiana Christian University, in the Gold Game.
Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on the Bluff. Southern's official schedule lists the match-up for A.W. Mumford Stadium, where the Jaguars won their home opener earlier this month.
For head coach Marshall Faulk and the Jaguars, Saturday is a chance to respond. Southern enters the match-up at 1-2 after a difficult 77-6 road loss to No. 22 Houston. The Cougars controlled the game from the opening quarter and handed the Jaguars their most lopsided defeat of the young season. Southern had previously earned Faulk's first victory as a head coach with a 34-15 win over Kentucky State at A.W. Mumford Stadium. Now the Jaguars return to familiar surroundings before beginning SWAC play at Jackson State on Sept. 26.
Jaguars Look to Reestablish Their Identity
The Houston result was not what the Jaguars wanted, but Southern showed signs of what it wants to become in its victory over Kentucky State.
Running back Trey Holly carried 21 times for 99 yards and two touchdowns in that win, while quarterback Christian Johnson completed 15 of 28 passes for 200 yards and two scores. The Jaguars finished with 372 yards of offense and repeatedly stopped Kentucky State in critical situations, turning the Thoroughbreds away on downs four times.
Getting that version of Southern's offense back on the field will be important Saturday. Faulk and his staff will want to establish the running game, create manageable situations for Johnson and avoid giving Louisiana Christian additional possessions through turnovers or short fields.
Defensively, Southern has playmakers who can change the game. Veteran defensive end Ckelby Givens provides pressure off the edge, while the Jaguars will need a disciplined effort against an LCU offense that has demonstrated it can produce explosive plays.
Louisiana Christian Is No Ordinary Lower-Division Opponent
Southern cannot afford to overlook the Wildcats. Louisiana Christian entered 2026 after winning a share of the 2025 Sooner Athletic Conference championship and receiving votes in the final NAIA coaches poll. The Wildcats deliberately placed two NCAA Division I road games on their 2026 schedule — Northwestern State and Southern. And they have already demonstrated that they can beat a Division I opponent. LCU opened the season on the road, defeating Northwestern State 42-37. The Wildcats followed that by overwhelming Langston 70-14, piling up 640 yards of total offense, including 390 on the ground.
Quarterback Bryce Perkins threw for 250 yards and three touchdowns against Langston, while running backs Datlan Cunningham and Darius Johnson both surpassed 100 rushing yards. That production should have Southern's attention.
LCU's ability to run the football could make Saturday's match-up particularly important along the line of scrimmage. If the Wildcats can stay ahead of the chains and control possession, they could make things uncomfortable for the home team.
What to Watch
The biggest question is how Southern responds after Houston. The Jaguars faced an FBS opponent with superior depth and talent last week. Saturday brings a much different challenge — and one Southern will be expected to handle at home.
But Louisiana Christian arrives with confidence, an experienced offense and evidence that the Wildcats aren't intimidated by playing a Division I program on the road. For Southern, that makes a fast start especially important.
The Jaguars don't want to allow LCU to hang around, build confidence, and turn the fourth quarter into a one-possession game. Establishing Holly and the running attack early could help Southern control the tempo while taking pressure off Johnson.
Southern's defense, meanwhile, has to contain Cunningham and the Wildcats' ground game without surrendering explosive opportunities through the air. Special teams and turnovers could also become decisive. LCU's defense has shown it can create points of its own, including an interception return for a touchdown against Langston.
A Chance to Build Momentum Before SWAC Play
Saturday is more than another non-conference game for Southern. It is the Jaguars' final tune-up before the schedule turns toward conference competition, beginning with a Sept. 26 road trip to Jackson State.
Faulk's first season is still in its early stages, and the Jaguars have already experienced both sides of the spectrum — the celebration of his first victory and the adversity of a difficult FBS road loss.
Back inside A.W. Mumford Stadium, with the Human Jukebox and Southern faithful surrounding them on the Bluff, the Jaguars have an opportunity to put Houston behind them, earn their second home victory and carry some momentum into the heart of the SWAC schedule. Louisiana Christian, however, arrives in Baton Rouge with every reason to believe it can spoil those plans.
Game: Louisiana Christian at Southern University
Date: Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026
Kickoff: 6 p.m. CT
Location: A.W. Mumford Stadium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Game designation: Gold Game
