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Friday, January 9, 2026

Diddy To Donate $1M to Jackson State Football Post Coach Prime

  • The hip-hop icon’s support comes as the HBCU program moves forward without former head coach Deion Sanders.
  • Jackson State-South Carolina State opens the season on ABC.
Jackson State-South Carolina State opens the season on ABC.
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Sean “Diddy” Combs will be in Atlanta to attend Saturday’s season-opening college football matchup between Jackson State and South Carolina State and present a $1 million check to Jackson State University’s football program.

The music mogul’s check will come as Jackson State begins its first season since former head coach Deion Sanders left the HBCU school after three seasons for Colorado’s head coaching gig. Sanders led Jackson State to a SWAC title and a 12-1 record. Diddy’s check on Saturday will be presented at the MEAC/SWAC Challenge between the Jackson State Tigers and South Carolina State Bulldogs. 

The MEAC/SWAC Challenge is organized by ESPN’s John Grant, who outlined Diddy’s plans on the Tiger Talk podcast.  Grant revealed Diddy will speak to the team before the game.

Combs attended Howard University, an HBCU, in the 1980s. He initially said he would donate $1 million to Jackson State during his acceptance speech for a lifetime achievement award at the 2022 BET Awards. He is moving forward with his promise as T.C. Taylor begins his first season running the Tigers’ football program as head coach.

The MEAC/SWAC Challenge will be broadcast on Saturday on ABC. ESPN platforms will air nearly 90 HBCU football games this season, including nearly 60 games streamed on ESPN+.

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