The Alcorn State Braves are the college football team of Alcorn State University. The Braves play in NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).
Contents
History
Classifications
1964–1969: NAIA
1970–1983: NAIA Division I
1965–1972: NCAA College Division
1973–1976: NCAA Division II
1977: NCAA Division I
1978–present: NCAA Division I–AA/FCS
Conference memberships
1921–?: Independent
c. 1928: Gulf Coast Athletic Association
?–1934: Independent
1935–1962: South Central Athletic Conference
1961–present: Southwestern Athletic Conference
Championships
Black college national championships
Alcorn State has won five Black college football national championships.
SWAC championships
Alcorn joined the Southwestern Athletic Conference SWAC in 1962. Since then, the Braves have won thirteen conference championships, nine outright and four shared.
Playoff appearances
NCAA Division I FCS
The Braves have appeared in the I-AA/FCS playoffs three times with an overall record of 0–3.
NCAA Division II
The Braves appeared in the Division II playoffs one time, with an overall record of 0–1.
Rivalry game
The Alcorn State Braves biggest rival is against the Jackson State Tigers in the Soul Bowl. The rivalry was previously named the Capital City Classic, but Alcorn ended the Classic in 2012 so that it could be brought back to Lorman, Mississippi.
College Football Hall of Fame members
Marino Casem
Steve McNair
Dennis Thomas
Alumni in the NFL
Over 50 Alcorn State alumni have played in the NFL, including:
Head coaches
Alcorn State has seen 21 head football coaches over its history. The program was most recently led by Fred McNair.
Future non-conference opponents
Announced schedules as of July 31, 2026