Four-time NBA champion Shaquille O'Neal is making a big move for his Big Chicken restaurant brand. Jackson State University is receiving a Big Chicken location on campus, inside the student center. The new location will be the company's first at an HBCU and its first Big Chicken restaurant in Mississippi.

The restaurant is scheduled to open on Tuesday, September 22nd, and a ribbon-cutting was held on Friday, September 18th.

Jackson State announced the move in a press release in August.

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“New dining options are coming to Jackson State University's Legacy Food Court this fall, bringing more variety, flavor and convenience to campus life. Big Chicken, founded by basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal, will replace Chick-fil-A and offer premium chicken sandwiches, tenders, wings, salads, signature sides and hand-crafted milkshakes. The brand is known for its fun, energetic atmosphere and bold flavors.

The release added, “These updates are part of JSU’s continued partnership with SodexoMagic to improve campus dining, informed by student feedback and evolving food trends. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to campus and unveiling these exciting new additions to the JSU dining experience.

NBA MVP Shaquille O'Neal founded Big Chicken in 2018. It's one of several business ventures that O'Neal has launched in his post-playing career, along with building his media career via his podcast and Inside the NBA. O'Neal follows in the footsteps of former Los Angeles Lakers great Magic Johnson, who launched a venture with Sodexo to create SodexoMagic, which provides food and nutritional services to several HBCUs.