Northwest Mississippi Tops Hinds for Third Straight Title
Northwest Mississippi Community College edged Hinds Community College 33-29 in the MACC championship game at Ranger Field in Senatobia.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Football
Northwest Mississippi Community College defeated Hinds Community College 33-29 on Saturday in the MACC conference championship game, winning its third straight conference title. The victory earned Northwest a spot in the NJCAA Division I National Playoffs.
Why it matters
Northwest's three-peat is the first conference title run of that length since East Mississippi Community College accomplished it from 2016-18. The result also advances Northwest toward a national playoff bid, with only the top four teams in the country earning a berth.
The final score was 33-29, with Northwest having led 26-7 early in the fourth quarter before Hinds rallied. The source does not detail Northwest's playoff seeding or semifinal opponent.
The players
Northwest Mississippi Community College
A public two-year college in Senatobia, Mississippi, that competes in the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges conference and fields football teams in the NJCAA.
Hinds Community College
A public two-year college in Raymond, Mississippi, whose football program competes in the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges conference.
The details
Hinds scored an 18-yard touchdown pass on a four-play drive to cut the deficit to 26-21, then took a 29-26 lead after a Noah Gillon interception set up a 12-yard touchdown and a successful 2-point try. Gillon answered by finding Clydarrien Peters on a 24-yard pass in the end zone, and Northwest sacked Hinds quarterback Jaylon Ruffin on fourth-and-2 at the Northwest 22 to end the game.
Timeline
Saturday: Northwest defeated Hinds 33-29 in the MACC conference championship game at Ranger Field in Senatobia.
Nov. 20: NJCAA Division I National Playoff semifinal action begins.
Nov. 22: NJCAA Division I National Playoff semifinal action continues.
Season Trajectory
Northwest's third straight MACC title matches the 2016-18 three-peat by East Mississippi Community College, the only prior run of that length in the conference. The win also positions Northwest among the candidates for the NJCAA Division I National Playoffs, which admit only the top four teams in the country.
Northwest's national playoff chances now depend on how it performs in the semifinal rounds, which begin Nov. 20 and Nov. 22. Fans following Northwest should track those dates to see whether the team advances toward the national title.
The takeaway
Northwest's back-to-back-to-back title run reflects sustained program strength in a conference where few teams have repeated. Watching how the team handles national playoff pressure will show whether that consistency carries past the conference level.
What happens next
NJCAA Division I National Playoff semifinal action begins Nov. 20 and continues Nov. 22.
Further reading
For more on college teams across the state, explore Mississippi Football coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by SuperTalk Mississippi Media.
