Southern University and A & M College Athletics

Southern University competes in NCAA Division I, where athletic scholarships and serious competition define the sports culture. The Jaguars field 14 varsity teams with 355 total athletes, meaning about 6.7% of the 5,323 students compete at the varsity level. The university awards $3.4 million in athletic scholarships annually. Southern belongs to the Southwestern Athletic Conference and maintains a heated rivalry with Grambling State University, particularly in football during the annual Bayou Classic. The Human Jukebox marching band draws as much attention as the teams themselves, representing the school's rich musical and athletic traditions. Football games become major social events that unite the campus and broader HBCU community. The athletic program serves as a source of pride and school spirit for this historically black institution.