Latest Craveworthy Brands Campus Opening Marks Big Chicken’s Fourth University Location, Bringing BIG Flavor, BIG Fun and BIG Love to Mississippi
JACKSON, Mich., Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Class is officially in session for Big Chicken at Jackson State University (“Jackson State”). The award-winning chicken concept founded by basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal and part of the Craveworthy Brands (“Craveworthy”) portfolio is now serving the Tiger community at the Legacy Food Court through a dining partnership with SodexoMAGIC.
Home to more than 6,000 students, Jackson State is a nationally recognized R2 research institution with more than 90 academic programs and a storied Division I athletics program. Its vibrant community, deep-rooted Tiger pride and celebrated game-day traditions make the campus a natural fit for Big Chicken’s larger-than-life personality and give the Brand an opportunity to become part of the everyday rhythm of university life.
Designed to keep pace with campus living from morning through late night, Big Chicken Jackson State offers a BIG lineup inspired by O’Neal’s home-cooked childhood favorites.
Fueling Tiger Life
Big Chicken’s menu at Jackson State features:
- BIG Breakfast: Chicken and Biscuit, Sausage, Egg & Cheese Biscuit and Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit, plus hash browns
- Signature Sandwiches: The Original, Uncle Jerome’s Nashville Hot, The Pit Boss, The Ultimate and Shaq Attack
- Chicken Favorites: Shaq Snacks like The Smokehouse and The Hot Shot, crispy tenders and tender plates
- Bold Sides & More: Crinkle-cut fries, onion rings, cheese curds, creamy coleslaw, mac and cheese and salads with fried or grilled chicken
- Hand-Spun Shakes: Chocolate, vanilla, cookies and cream and strawberry
“The opening of Big Chicken at Jackson State marks an exciting milestone for our dining program and for the campus community,” said Regional Vice President of SodexoMAGIC, Murat Bora. “We’re proud to introduce a nationally recognized brand that delivers exceptional flavor, quality and guest experience. This partnership reflects our commitment to bringing innovative dining options to our students, and we’re excited to welcome everyone to experience Big Chicken for themselves.”
“Everything we do is centered around enhancing the campus experience for our students, faculty, staff and visitors. A big part of that mission includes providing high quality, delicious dining options, so we’re thrilled to be the first HBCU to offer this award-winning concept founded by basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal,” said Jackson State President, Denise Jones Gregory, Ph.D. “We’re proud to continue our partnership with SodexoMAGIC and welcome Craveworthy to bring new food options that represent our vision to provide a more diverse, modern and engaging dining experience for the Jackson State community.”
“Jackson State has the kind of energy and school pride that Big Chicken was made for,” said Gregg Majewski, CEO of Craveworthy. “This is a campus that shows up BIG, from Tiger athletics and the Sonic Boom to the incredible sense of community you feel everywhere you go. We’re bringing great food and a ton of personality to a campus that has plenty of its own. I can’t wait to see Big Chicken become part of the Jackson State experience, whether it’s breakfast before class, lunch with friends or Shaq Snacks on the way to a game.”
The Jackson State opening builds on Craveworthy’s growing presence across college campuses and other nontraditional venues. Earlier this month, Big Chicken opened at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta as part of Crave Kitchen Georgia Tech, joining six additional Craveworthy concepts inside the John Lewis Student Center.
Big Chicken now has more than 40 locations open and dozens more in development across North America and beyond, with a footprint spanning traditional restaurants, college campuses, arenas, airports and cruise ships.
Big Chicken Jackson State will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET in the Legacy Food Court at 1400 John R. Lynch St.
To learn more about Big Chicken, visit www.bigchicken.com. Follow the Brand on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and TikTok to stay up to date on menu launches and other BIG updates. To learn more about Jackson State, visit https://www.jsums.edu/. To learn more about SodexoMAGIC, visit https://sodexomagic.com/.
ABOUT BIG CHICKEN
Founded in 2018, Big Chicken fuses craveable comfort food with today’s bold, modern flavors. Named as Fast Casual’s Top Mover & Shaker and backed by a dream team of partners including Craveworthy Brands, JRS Hospitality and Authentic Brands Group, the concept offers a glimpse into Founder Shaquille O’Neal’s home-cooked childhood favorites and larger-than-life personality through its all-star lineup of stacked chicken sandwiches, signature sides and hand-spun shakes. With several traditional locations currently open and in development, Big Chicken offers entrepreneurs the chance to bring BIG Fun, BIG Flavor and BIG Love to communities across the U.S. and abroad. To learn more about Big Chicken, visit www.bigchicken.com.
ABOUT CRAVEWORTHY BRANDS
Craveworthy Brands is a multi-brand restaurant platform and franchisor with more than 20 concepts and over 300 locations in the U.S and internationally. Rooted in a hospitality-first philosophy and powered by people, product and process, the Company builds and scales emerging concepts and legacy brands through a shared infrastructure designed for intentional growth. Its mission is to create 100,000 success stories by 2035 – measured not just in units, but in lives changed across its system. Learn more about Craveworthy and its brands at www.craveworthybrands.com.
ABOUT JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY: CHALLENGING MINDS, CHANGING LIVES
Jackson State University, founded in 1877, is a historically black, high research activity university located in Jackson, the capital city of Mississippi. Jackson State’s nurturing academic environment challenges individuals to change lives through teaching, research, and service. Officially designated as Mississippi’s Urban University, Jackson State continues to enhance the state, nation, and world through comprehensive economic development, healthcare, technological and educational initiatives. The only public university in the Jackson metropolitan area, Jackson State is located near downtown, with four satellite locations. For more information, visit www.jsums.edu or call 601-979-2121.
ABOUT SODEXOMAGIC
SodexoMAGIC is a joint venture between Sodexo and Magic Johnson Enterprises, founded in 2006. A certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and majority-owned by Earvin “Magic” Johnson, SodexoMAGIC delivers innovative food services and facilities management solutions to universities, healthcare organizations, school districts, corporations, and communities across the United States. SodexoMAGIC is committed to enhancing quality of life, creating economic opportunity, supporting supplier diversity, and strengthening the communities it serves through exceptional service and meaningful community engagement. For more information, visit https://sodexomagic.com/.
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SOURCE Craveworthy Brands
