Jacksonville State football to add 2027 game against defending champions

Jacksonville State football has announced that they will be adding a game against defending national champions Indiana to their 2027 schedule. The news was first reported by IndyStar and confirmed by a program spokesman to The Gadsden Times on Tuesday, Oct. 6. The matchup is set to take place on the opening weekend of the 2027 college football season, on August 28, 2027.

Under the guidance of coach Curt Cignetti, Indiana has risen to prominence in college football, clinching their first national title in 2025. Jacksonville State, still in its fourth season at the FBS level, has participated in a bowl game each year. For the 2027 slate, Jax State will face South Alabama and travel to UAB. An additional nonconference game has yet to be announced.

Historically, Jax State is scheduled to travel to South Alabama in 2031 and Auburn in 2029. UAB will visit Jacksonville in 2028. North Dakota State will also make the trip to Jacksonville in 2029, marking the return of the 2026 matchup. The 2026 nonconference schedule was finalized in March following the cancellation of the series with San Jose State.

Home-and-home games have been arranged for 2028 and 2031 against Buffalo, while a trip to Ole Miss is set for 2031, according to FBSschedule.com. Maxwell Donaldson is the sports reporter covering Jacksonville State athletics, high school sports, the outdoors in Alabama, and more for The Gadsden Times and USA TODAY Network. He can be reached on Twitter/X as @_Max_Donaldson or via email at MDonaldson@usatodayco.com.