Marshall Faulk takes over as Southern University football head coach for 2026 season

Former NFL MVP and Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk was hired in December as the 22nd head coach of the Southern University Jaguars, marking his first head‑coaching role at an HBCU. Faulk began fall camp in August 2026 and acknowledged feeling uneasy about the transition, citing the need for support from the athletic director and university leadership.

The Jaguars' 2026 schedule was released, opening with a neutral‑site game against Alabama State at Legion Field in Birmingham on Aug. 29, followed by matchups against Kentucky State, Houston, and other SWAC opponents. A quarterback competition involving Ashton Strother, Wyatt McCauley and transfer Christian Johnson continues as the team prepares for its first season under Faulk's leadership.