Last weekend’s MEAC/SWAC Challenge was our introduction. Week 1 of the 2025 FCS Black College Football season is finally here, and there is plenty to know going into this weekend’s 16 matchups.
Seven teams will introduce new head coaches. Five of them (Reggie Barlow, Terrell Buckley, DeSean Jackson, Sam Shade, and Michael Vick) have a combined 57 years of pro football experience; three of them have no prior collegiate experience, and another three are transitioning from Division II to FCS.
Players like Morgan State linebacker Erick Hunter and Alabama State quarterback Andrew Body are returning from injury. Teams will welcome a plethora of transfer players; some will look to make an impact on their respective season openers.
Which new head coach will earn their first win? With all this turnover, will there be new conference champions, or will Jackson State and South Carolina State be the first pair of league titleholders to make back-to-back Celebration Bowl appearances since 2019? Or will North Carolina Central become the first team to start and finish its season in Atlanta during the Celebration Bowl era?
But before we can even think about December, we have some season openers we must get through first.
Here are my top five matchups and predictions for this week.
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Week 1 FCS HBCU Top 5 Games
All times are Eastern
5. North Carolina A&T at Tennessee State, Saturday, 3:30 PM (ESPN+) The John Merrit Classic
Last season’s OVC-Big South co-champions will host a team that has won two games since joining the CAA in 2023. It’ll be the first time these teams have met in 15 years. However, both teams will go into Saturday with new head coaches – Reggie Barlow at Tennessee State and Shawn Gibbs returns to North Carolina A&T — and almost entirely new rosters. Expectations are low for these rebuilding programs. Nonetheless, both teams will try to avoid a season-opening letdown.
Aggies 20, Tigers 17
4. Florida A&M vs. Howard, Saturday, 4:00 PM (ESPNU) The Orange Blossom Classic
A rematch of the 2023 Cricket Celebration Bowl, both head coaches aspire to rebound from subpar seasons a year ago. QB Ja’Shawn Scroggins (1,708 total yards, 12 touchdowns, nine interceptions) and RB Eden James (570 total yards, three touchdowns) will look to improve a Bison offense that averaged less than 20 points per contest in 2024, while there’s a chance that the Rattlers’ starting signal-caller may not have been on their roster a year ago. Suppose it’s either JUCO All-American Jett Peddy or Toledo transfer RJ Johnson III. Will they have enough command of their new offense to lead FAMU to its third straight season-opening victory?
Rattlers 24, Bison 21
3. Prairie View A&M at Texas Southern, Saturday, 8:00 PM (SWAC TV) 40th Labor Day Classic
Welcome to FCS Football, Tremaine Jackson. Your first opponent: In-state rival Texas Southern. As the new head coach in Houston transitions to FCS football one season after being named the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) National Division II Coach of the Year, there might be pressure from the fan base to dominate their Week 1 opponent. Last year, the Tigers snapped their nine-game losing streak to Prairie View, led by returning players QB KJ Cooper and RB Danny Green, Jr. Does TSU have what it takes to win their first Classic IN Houston in over a decade?
Panthers 24, Tigers 20
2. Hampton at #17 Jackson State, Saturday, 3:00 PM (HBCU Go)
Last year’s Black College Football National Champions will welcome Hampton to Mississippi for what will be their first meeting in 17 years. Even though the Pirates ended 2024 on a four-game skid, they were No. 1 in the CAA in total defense (317.7 yards per game). The nation’s fifth-best scoring offense (36.4 points per game), led by SWAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year QB Jacobian Morgan (2,557 total yards, 27 total touchdowns), will challenge Hampton’s defense. Defensive back Will Hicks (48 tackles, one sack, one interception) and linebacker Michael Matthews-Canty (34 tackles, 1.5 sacks) will have to step up if they want to extend Hampton’s unbeaten streak in this series (3-0).
Tigers 28, Pirates 20
1. New Hampshire at North Carolina Central, Saturday, 6:00 PM (ESPN+)
Led by RB Chris Mosley (15 carries, 174 rushing yards, touchdown), the Eagles’ offense was impressive in their Week 0 victory, compiling 31 points and 414 total yards. Next up for Central, a 2022 rematch against the CAA’s New Hampshire. Last year, the Wildcats were 11th nationally in team sacks (35.0) while allowing 194 passing yards per game. However, with the departures of DEs Flex Ruiz (9.5 sacks, 15.5 TFLs) and Josiah Silver (11.5 sacks, 17.5 TFLs), UNH may have a hard time pressuring NCCU QB Walker Harris.
Eagles 28, Wildcats 17
More HBCU Predictions
MEAC
Delaware State at Delaware, Thursday, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)
Blue Hens 30, Hornets 17
Towson at Norfolk State, Thursday, 7:00 PM (ESPNU)
Tigers 20, Spartans 14
Wofford at South Carolina State, Saturday, 6:00 PM (ESPN+)
Bulldogs 28, Terriers 27
Morgan State at South Alabama, Saturday, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)
Jaguars 37, Bears 17
SWAC
Alcorn State at Northwestern State, Thursday, 8:00 PM (ESPN+)
Braves 28, Demons 24
Alabama State at UAB, Thursday, 8:30 PM (ESPN+)
Blazers 35, Hornets 17
Bethune-Cookman at Florida International, Friday, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)
Panthers 38, Wildcats 10
Alabama A&M at Arkansas, Saturday, 4:15 PM (ESPN+/SEC Network)
Razorbacks 55, Bulldogs 12
Southern at Mississippi Valley State, Saturday, 5:00 PM (SWAC TV)
Jaguars 28, Delta Devils 14
Langston vs. Grambling State, Saturday, 7:00 PM (SWAC TV)
Tigers 30, Lions 13
Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. #23 Texas Tech, Saturday, 7:30 PM (ESPN+)
Red Raiders 56, Golden Lions 7
