The 37th annual Southern Heritage Classic was a game Memphis will remember for a long time.
The double-overtime thriller on Sept. 12 was loaded with too many highlights, penalties and contentious plays to track.
The unforgettable part: Alcorn State (2-1, 1-0 SWAC) won the coveted midseason bowl in its second appearance, defeating conference opponent Arkansas-Pine Bluff 53-51. Alcorn State coach Cedric Thomas said he wants to be a part of the SHC every year.
“I’d give up a home game every single year if I had to,” Thomas said. “I love it. The environment, the community of what this game stands for in this city. If I can take a home game every single year, I’ll do it.”
It wasn’t until 20 minutes after the game ended that both marching bands packed
up their gear. As celebrations continued on the field, a SWAC rivalry continued to be amplified by the neutral-site affair that once was dominated by Jackson State and Tennessee State.
In 2025, Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-2, 0-1) knocked off Alcorn State 24-20 in the SHC, an event that is a growing tradition among two untraditional participants as 21,881 fans witnessed a spectacle at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
For Alcorn State linebacker Mahamadou Diarra, a Memphis native and Whitehaven High School graduate, winning the game meant a lot more than getting one over on a conference foe.
“We were here last year, and we lost,” Diarra said. “I had a burden on my shoulders. We had to come down here and get the win, and now we’re gonna have a party bus back to Lorman (Mississippi).”
The senior had family in the stands to watch him make three tackles. Lifting the midseason trophy was something Diarra said he was proud of.
“Me being the hometown kid, I have to show out for my coach today,” he said. “Our goal was to execute, and I feel like we did that pretty well.”
Alcorn State’s game-winning field goal attempt is blocked as time expires
— Ryan Myers (@RyanMyers_23) September 13, 2026
The Southern Heritage Classic tied 38-38 after regulation we’re going to overtime pic.twitter.com/YdsT0PKwgO
While the Braves' defense had difficult moments, their offense was nearly picture-perfect. Junior quarterback Jaylon Tolbert started in both the 2025 and 2026 SHC games for Alcorn State. His 485 yards passing and five touchdowns were enough to win him the game MVP award.
“This is HBCU culture,” Tolbert said. “It’s where we come from. It’s where we grew up around. It’s amazing to see everybody around here . . . I feel like it’s great if we get to come back and get a trophy every year.”
Tolbert, a Fort Lauderdale, Florida native and former Howard player, relished the opportunity to come back to Memphis. The team had gone over film from the 2025 SHC with its eye on taking the trophy.
“They came in here and it was their championship,” Tolbert said. “We played like it’s our championship. As you can see, it was a championship-type game.”
From 1994 until 2022, the Southern Heritage Classic was a matchup between Jackson State and Tennessee State. However, 2026 marked the second consecutive UAPB vs. Alcorn State game, and the fourth appearance for UAPB.
This new era of the SHC feels like it could be here to stay.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: What winning the Southern Heritage Classic means to Alcorn State
