The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced today the schedules for all 10 SWAC schools for the upcoming 2021 spring football season. The schedule includes one non-conference open date for each team and conference contests scheduled each week beginning in Week One.
Additionally, the league has designated a bye week for each team during the week of March 13 to ensure that fans and supporters have the opportunity to attend the Cricket Wireless Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments (March 9-13).
Each SWAC team will play six conference football games to include four games against division opponents and two games against non-division opponents. Each member institution will also have the option to play one non-conference game. The season will officially kickoff the weekend of February 27 with five league games set to be played.
Alabama A&M opens the season on Feb. 27 when it hosts Alcorn State. The Bulldogs only play once more at Louis Crews Stadium, on March 27 against Grambling State. The Magic City Classic is scheduled for April 17 in Birmingham at Legion Field.
Alabama A&M has road contests scheduled against Mississippi Vallley State, Prairie View A&M and Jackson State. The Bulldogs have two open dates, on April 3 and April 24.
The football season will culminate with the Cricket Wireless SWAC Championship Game. The game is scheduled to be played on Saturday, May 1.
"The 2019 edition of the Cricket Wireless SWAC Football Championship was an instant thriller broadcast live on ESPNU," said Tommy Henry, senior marketing manager at Cricket Wireless.
"We're excited to be back in the game for the upcoming season. We are proud to team up with SWAC once again so that we can continue to grow our relationship with SWAC members, while introducing our brand to students, alumni and fans."
The Cricket Wireless SWAC Football Championship will once again be played on the campus of the highest seeded team at the conclusion of regular season play. SWAC football teams are scheduled to begin preparation for the season with an eight-week training period beginning in January.
"The SWAC Council of Presidents and Chancellors, Sports Administrators Committee, COVID-19 Advisory Committee, along with our fall sports scheduling groups have worked tirelessly over recent months to get to the point where we are able to announce a significant part of the rescheduling of our fall sports," said SWAC Commissioner Dr. Charles McClelland.
"Collectively as a conference, we look forward to continuing on the path to a safe return to competition that we know all of our student-athletes, team staff, institutional administrators and supporters would like to see in the coming months. This schedule allows the needed flexibility for any additional adjustments that will need to be made once the NCAA releases its revised spring calendar. Clearly our plans in regards to the safe return to competition within our league will ultimately be dictated by the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic in the respective regions of our member institutions."
The SWAC will continue to work with local and state medical experts along with governmental officials to gather additional information, evaluate emerging data and advancements, while monitoring new developments regarding the pandemic. The Southwestern Athletic Conference will remain prepared to make any necessary adjustments identified to be in the best interest of the health, safety and wellness of our student-athletes.
A complete listing of the games scheduled to be played each week along with team-by-team schedules can be found below.
2021 SWAC Football Week-By-Week Schedule
DATE
GAME
WEEK ONE
February 27
Alcorn State at Alabama A&M
Southern at Alabama State
Mississippi Valley State at Jackson State
Texas Southern at Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Prairie View A&M vs. Grambling State (State Fair Classic)
WEEK TWO
March 6
Alabama A&M at Mississippi Valley State
Alabama State at Alcorn State
Jackson State at Grambling State
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Southern
Texas Southern at Prairie View A&M (Labor Day Classic)
WEEK THREE
March 13
Bye Week
WEEK FOUR
March 20
Alabama A&M at Prairie View A&M
Jackson State at Alabama State
Alcorn State at Mississippi Valley State
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Grambling State
Southern at Texas Southern
WEEK FIVE
March 27
Grambling State at Alabama A&M
Alabama State at Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Alcorn State at Southern
Prairie View A&M at Jackson State
WEEK SIX
April 3
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Mississippi Valley State
Grambling State at Texas Southern
WEEK SEVEN
April 10
Alabama A&M at Jackson State
Mississippi Valley State at Alabama State
Texas Southern at Alcorn State
Southern at Prairie View A&M
WEEK EIGHT
April 17
Alabama State vs. Alabama A&M (Magic City Classic)
Jackson State at Alcorn State
Mississippi Valley State at Texas Southern
Prairie View A&M at Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Grambling State vs. Southern (Bayou Classic)
WEEK NINE
April 24
Open Date
May 1
Cricket Wireless SWAC Football Championship