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Jackson State is one well-known team notably missing from the FCS playoff bracket. The team, ranked fifth, is not a part of this year's typical playoff structure. This has kept many football fans from wondering why the Tigers did not make it to the FCS playoffs even after going unbeatable this season.
The Tigers have won 20 of their last 22 games, becoming one of the most prominent teams in the SWAC since Deion Sanders became the program's head coach. There is a reasonable explanation for why they did not make it to the FCS playoffs even after winning the SWAC.
The Tigers had an undefeated season with an 11-0 record in 2022. As they won the SWAC, they represented the conference at the 2022 Celebration Bowl rather than playing in the FCS playoffs. This is the second straight year the Tigers have made it to the Celebration Bowl.
In the Celebration Bowl, Jackson State played MEAC champions North Carolina Central (9-2). The game was scheduled for December 17 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. The Eagles defeated the Tigers 41-31 in overtime to win the Celebration Bowl 2022, thus spoiling Jackson State's perfect season.
How did the Tigers make it to the Celebration Bowl?
The Celebration Bowl is the preferred postseason destination for HBCU teams from the MEAC and the SWAC. Instead of playing in the FCS playoffs, which can necessitate spending money on the NCAA's home game bid procedure, the MEAC and SWAC will compete in the Celebration Bowl, an exhibition game with a $2 million prize split evenly by the two conferences.
Each year, the SWAC champion represents the conference at the Celebration Bowl instead of playing in the FCS playoffs. The Tigers were the SWAC champions selected to play in the Celebration Bowl this season.
A few other conferences do not take part in the FCS playoffs. The Ivy League, for instance, abstains from playing in part because the postseason may conflict with the end-of-season test schedule.
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Can Jackson State play in FCS playoffs?
The Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, which decide the Division I FCS national championship, are open to all FCS conferences. The Tigers might win the FCS national title if they fail to win their conference and obtains an at-large bid to the FCS playoffs.
