JACKSON, Miss. -- Mississippi's Southwestern Athletic Conference teams all had one thing in common last season - they finished one game shy of representing the Eastern Division in the championship game.
Alcorn State, Jackson State and Mississippi Valley State finished just a step away at 6-5.
All have something in common this year, too - confidence that they'll be able to make that extra step into the league title game.
At Mississippi Valley State, the Delta Devils beat both teams that appeared in the SWAC championship game - winner Alabama A&M and Arkansas-Pine Bluff - yet were left at home after losing their season finale.
"It shows us how close we were," left tackle Thaddeus Coleman said. "We should've been there - five points away from being in the championship game. It really humbled me that (we were) right there."
Delta Devils coach Willie Totten quashed player discord and replaced half his coaching staff following the season. He must also replace quarterback Aries Nelson, who provided more than half the team's total offense last year. But he remains confident MVSU is ready to contend for a title.
"This is probably the best team I've had since I've been here," Totten said.
Paul Roberts will be the Delta Devils' answer at quarterback. He has some game experience after attempting 33 passes in six games last season.
"We're not asking him to take over the football game, and I know Aries Nelson last year was that type of quarterback," Totten said. "We don't want him to play like Aries Nelson. We want him to play like Paul Roberts."
At Jackson State, the Tigers will look to an experienced quarterback to lead them to the championship game.
Jimmy Oliver led Jackson State in passing (1,906 yards, 14 touchdowns, 12 interceptions) and rushing (673 yards and five touchdowns).
And with 16 other starters returning in coach Rick Comegy's second season, the Tigers can no longer be considered an easy win.
"It does feel good because you knew that people last year looked at you as a floor mat," receiver Chris Johnson said.
Despite the team's improvement under Comegy, the coach isn't ready to declare his rapid rebuilding job complete.
"I do think we gained some respect last year with the way we played and competed," he said. "But it's obvious the other teams in this conference aren't going to roll over and let us just take it from them. It's got to be earned."
At Alcorn State, the Braves will be trying to cash in on several years of high expectations that haven't been met.
Coach Johnny Thomas said Alcorn's failures are easily identified.
"We didn't tackle well when we had to tackle well," he said. "We didn't cover well when we had to cover well. We didn't take our man when we had to take our man. Those kinds of things."
Since going 0-11 in 2000, the Braves have had six straight winning seasons but have not been able to exceed seven wins. With 16 starters returning - eight on each side of the ball - the Braves have the experience to contend.
"This team has a lot to prove," Thomas said. "We had some guys in some positions that I think might have the talent, but haven't proved that they have the talent to make things happen."
One of the players the Braves are counting on to push them into the championship game is big-play receiver Tony Hughes. He said the team put in the effort in the offseason and is ready to contend.
"Alcorn this year is basically just getting it done," Hughes said.
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