Venue & Kickoff
Location: A.W. Mumford Stadium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM CT
Broadcast: ESPN+
Capacity: 28,500
Weather Forecast (Baton Rouge, LA – Kickoff)
Conditions: Mostly clear, humid
Temperature: ~84°F at kickoff, upper 70s by the 4th quarter
Wind: Light SE at 4–6 mph
Precipitation: <10%
Impact: Minimal; humidity could test depth in the second half
Injury Report
Alabama State
No major injuries reported after Week 1 win over Tuskegee
Southern
No significant injuries reported after Week 1 win over Prairie View A&M
Team Records & Recent Form
Alabama State: Opened with a 34–6 win over Tuskegee; QB Kareem Keye 14/22, 183 yds, 2 TD; RB Ja’Won Howell 92 rush yds, 1 TD; defense allowed just 198 total yds.
Southern: Beat Prairie View 9–6 in a defensive slugfest; QB Noah Bodden 12/21, 144 yds; RB Karl Ligon 77 rush yds; defense forced 2 turnovers.
Key Player Matchups
QB Kareem Keye (ALST) vs. Southern Secondary
Keye: Efficient opener; Southern allowed 144 pass yds in Week 1.
RB Ja’Won Howell (ALST) vs. LB Ja’Kobi Williams (SOU)
Howell: Power back; Williams: Defensive leader, 8 tackles in opener.
WR Kisean Johnson (ALST) vs. CB Chase Davis (SOU)
Johnson: Deep threat; Davis: Physical press corner.
QB Noah Bodden (SOU) vs. Alabama State Pass Rush
Bodden: Needs to improve 3rd-down efficiency; ALST had 4 sacks vs. Tuskegee.
RB Karl Ligon (SOU) vs. ALST Front Seven
Ligon: 4.8 YPC in opener; ALST allowed just 2.9 YPC in Week 1.
Series History
All-Time: Southern leads 10–4 since 2005
Last Meeting: Alabama State 14–10 (2023, Montgomery) — Hornets held Jaguars scoreless in 2nd half.
Trend: Southern won 5 straight from 2013–2021; Alabama State has taken 2 of last 3.
Betting Trends
Alabama State: UNDER in last 5 games; 5–1 SU in last 6; 0–6 SU last 6 at Southern
Southern: UNDER in last 6 home games; 4–8 SU in last 12 vs. ALST; 6–0 SU last 6 home vs. ALST
Last 4 meetings have gone UNDER
Game Outlook
This is a key early SWAC measuring stick. Southern’s home-field advantage and defensive front will test Alabama State’s run game, while the Hornets’ pass rush aims to disrupt Bodden. Expect a physical, field-position battle where turnovers could decide the outcome.
Game Odds
Alabama State Hornets 45.5
Southern Jaguars – 3.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 5, 2025
