# 2020 Texas Southern Tigers football team

The 2020 Texas Southern Tigers football team represented Texas Southern University a member of the West Division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) during 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led second-year head coach Clarence McKinney, the Tigers compiled an overall record of 1–2 with an identical mark in conference play, placing fourth teams in the SWAC's West Division. Texas Southern played home games at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.
On July 20, 2020, the SWAC announced that it would not play fall sports due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

## Preseason
### Recruiting class

Reference:
US college sports recruiting information for 2019 recruits :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40$^‡$ | Commit date |
| C'ing Blanton Wide Receiver | Fort Worth, TX | Southwest HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | - | Dec 18, 2019 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A |||||||
| Jalen Brown Quarterback | Austin, TX | Cedar Ridge HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | - | Dec 18, 2019 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: ESPN: N/A |||||||
| Michael Buchanan Jr. Linebacker | Houston, TX | Wheatley HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | - | Feb 5, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A |||||||
| Lance Clark Defensive Back | Houston, TX | Furr HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | - | Feb 5, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A |||||||
| Tzion Dixon Linebacker | Chino, CA | Don Lugo HS East Los Angeles College | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 230 lb (100 kg) | - | Dec 18, 2019 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A |||||||
| Isaac Garcia Long Snapper | Fort Worth, TX | Paschal HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | - | Feb 5, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A |||||||
| Xavier "Trey" Goynes Cornerback | Crowley, TX | Crowley HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | - | Dec 18, 2019 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A |||||||
| Isaiah Hamilton Cornerback | Channelview, TX | Channelview HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 171 lb (78 kg) | - | Dec 18, 2019 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A |||||||
| Terence Jackson Offensive Line | Beaumont, TX | United HS | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 260 lb (120 kg) | - | Dec 18, 2019 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A |||||||
| Jyrin Johnson Tight End | Gonzales, LA | East Ascension HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | - | Dec 18, 2019 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A |||||||
| Terry Petry Cornerback | Missouri City, TX | Ridge Point HS Missouri Blinn College | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | - | Dec 18, 2019 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A |||||||
| Gabe Smith Defensive End | Austin, TX | Lyndon B. Johnson HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | - | Dec 18, 2019 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A |||||||
| Mehdi Torrence Offensive Line | Houston, TX | Clear Brooks HS | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 330 lb (150 kg) | - | Dec 18, 2019 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A |||||||
| Javius Williams Linebacker | Dallas, TX | Skyline HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | - | Dec 18, 2019 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN: N/A |||||||

### Preseason polls

The SWAC will release their polls in July 2020.
West Division :
* Team
* Arkansas–Pine Bluff
* Grambling State
* Prairie View A&M
* Southern
* Texas Southern
East Division :
* Team
* Alabama A&M
* Alabama State
* Alcorn State
* Jackson State
* Mississippi Valley State

## Schedule

Texas Southern's origiinal 2020 schedule consisted of five home games, five away games, and one neutral site game. The Tigers were to travel to SWAC foes Prairie View A&M, Jackson State, Arkansas–Pine Bluff, and Alabama State. The Tigers were to host to SWAC opponents Houston Baptist, Alabama A&M, Grambling State, and Mississippi Valley State. Texas Southern were to travel to Arlington, Texas to compete against conference foe Southern in a neutral matchup at AT&T Stadium.
Due to the SWAC's postponement of the 2020 football season to spring 2021, games against Houston Baptist, New Mexico State, and Texas–Permian Basin were canceled. The SWAC released updated spring schedules on August 17.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| March 6 | 7:00 p.m. | at Prairie View A&M | Panther Stadium at Blackshear FieldPrairie View, TX (Labor Day Classic) | ESPN3 | L 19–20 | 0 |
| March 20 | 7:30 p.m. | Southern | BBVA StadiumHouston, TX | AT&TSN | L 23–51 | 0 |
| April 10 | | at Alcorn State | Jack Spinks StadiumLorman, MS | | W 2–0 (forfeit) | |
| All times are in Central time |||||||

## Game summaries
### At Prairie View A&M

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tigers | 0 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 19 |
| • Panthers | 10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 20 |
| Over/under |
| PVAMU −20.5 | 57 |
| Statistics | Texas Southern | Prairie View A&M |
| First downs | 17 | 18 |
| Total yards | 327 | 320 |
| Rushing yards | 148 | 82 |
| Passing yards | 179 | 238 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 31:23 | 28:37 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas Southern | Passing | Thaddeus Peyton | 16/21, 137 yards, 2 TDs |
| Texas Southern | Rushing | LaDarius Owens | 20 carries, 119 yards |
| Texas Southern | Receiving | Ke'Lenn Davis | 4 receptions, 43 yards |
| Prairie View A&M | Passing | TJ Starks | 10/21, 157 yards, 1 INT |
| Prairie View A&M | Rushing | TJ Starks | 6 carries, 27 yards |
| Prairie View A&M | Receiving | Kalen Riles | 3 receptions, 56 yards |

### Southern

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Jaguars | 9 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 51 |
| Tigers | 7 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 23 |
| Over/under |
| SOU −11.5 | 57 |
| Statistics | Southern | Texas Southern |
| First downs | 24 | 22 |
| Total yards | 460 | 383 |
| Rushing yards | 258 | 102 |
| Passing yards | 202 | 281 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 32:51 | 27:09 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Southern | Passing | Ladarius Skelton | 11/18, 174 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| Southern | Rushing | Ladarius Skelton | 14 carries, 71 yards |
| Southern | Receiving | Ethan Howard | 2 receptions, 56 yards, 2 TDs |
| Texas Southern | Passing | Jalen Brown | 21/37, 281 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Texas Southern | Rushing | Jacorey Howard | 14 carries, 59 yards, 1 TD |
| Texas Southern | Receiving | Ke'Lenn Davis | 3 receptions, 85 yards, 1 TD |