The SWAC is set to rewrite its postseason script beginning in 2027, trimming the basketball tournaments to the ten most competitive programs.
Under the new arrangement, the top two seeds will enjoy byes straight to the semifinals, while seeds three and four will skip the opening round to meet in the quarterfinals. Seeds five and six will also receive a first‑round bye, and the seventh and eighth seeds will battle the ninth and tenth seeds in a preliminary round.
The shift would have reshaped the recent run of Jackson State University’s squads. In the latest edition, the men’s team entered as the seventh seed, dispatching ninth‑seed Grambling State before falling to second‑seed Florida A&M in the quarterfinals. The women’s side, seeded fifth, opened with a loss to fourth‑seed Southern after a bye.
A new era for SWAC basketball
The 2026‑27 campaign will mark the third year for women’s coach Margaret Richards and the first for men’s coach Trey Johnson, both of whom are tasked with translating the new format into a competitive edge. Their early work has already sparked optimism among players and alumni.
Historically, the Tigers have not captured a SWAC tournament title since the women’s team last lifted the trophy in 2024 and the men’s since 2007, making the upcoming season a focal point for a program eager to break long‑standing droughts.