The SWAC men's and women's basketball tournaments will undergo a significant format change beginning with the 2027 season. Instead of the previous twelve‑team field, the conference will now feature only the top ten teams, reshaping how seeds progress through the bracket.
Redesigned Bracket and Seed Benefits
The first‑seed and second‑seed will receive byes directly to the semifinals, while the third and fourth seeds will skip the opening round to the quarterfinals, and the fifth and sixth seeds will advance to the second round.
The opening round will pit the seventh seed against the tenth seed and the eighth seed against the ninth seed, creating a fresh set of matchups that could alter early‑round dynamics.
Last season, Jackson State’s men entered as the seventh seed and defeated the ninth‑seed Grambling State before falling to the second‑seed Florida A&M in the quarterfinals. The women’s team, seeded fifth, received a bye through the first two rounds but was upset by the fourth‑seed Southern in their opening game.
Implications for Jackson State
If the new system had been in place, the JSU men would have been placed in the first round against the tenth seed Alabama State, while the women would have opened in the second round against either Florida A&M or Mississippi Valley State.
The 2026‑27 campaign will mark the third year for women’s coach Margaret Richards and the first year for men’s coach Trey Johnson, adding a narrative of transition for both programs.
Both teams have been searching for breakthroughs; the women have not captured a tournament title since 2024, and the men have not won since 2007, underscoring the significance of the upcoming changes.