Week 13 HBCU FCS Preview & Predictions

Four teams are making a final push towards a conference championship, while others either look to end the season strong or avoid historic misfortune in Week 13 of the FCS HBCU college football season.

Prairie View A&M is patiently waiting to see if either Alabama State or Jackson State will join them in the SWAC Football Championship Game this December.

The five-game race to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title comes to an end in, of all places, a NASCAR town when South Carolina State travels to Dover to face Delaware State.

Norfolk State is looking to steer clear of losing eleven games for the first time in twenty-two seasons. Hampton aims to sidestep ten losses for the first time in fifty-three years. Another loss for Tennessee State, and they will have ten for the first time in the history of the program. North Carolina A&T doesn’t want the dubious honor of surpassing its defensive futility of a year ago.

Since we’re so close to Thanksgiving, I thought I’d preview a sixth matchup this week.

Here are my previews and predictions for this week. All times are Eastern Standard.

Predictions Record:
2025 record: 125-31
Week 12: 11-1

Week 13 FCS HBCU Top 6 Games

6. North Carolina A&T (2-9, 2-5 CAA) at Elon (5-6, 3-4 CAA), Saturday, 2:00 PM (FloSports)

2025 is not the season head coach Shawn Gibbs imagined when he returned to Greensboro. Even though North Carolina A&T won its first CAA game since joining the conference under the first-year coach (two to be exact), the Aggies are eight points away from breaking the school record for most points allowed in a season (475 in 2006). Phoenix quarterback Landen Clark (2,599 total yards, 23 touchdowns, eight interceptions) should have a field day facing an Aggies defense that’s allowed at least 62 points four times this season. 

Phoenix 31, Aggies 20

5. Bethune-Cookman (5-6, 4-3 SWAC) vs. Florida A&M (5-5, 4-2 SWAC), The Florida Classic, Saturday, 2:30 PM (ESPN+)

Florida A&M has won the last four meetings. But you know the adage, “throw out the records in a rivalry game.” Nonetheless, this is the most evenly matched Florida Classic we’ve had in a while, record-wise. After averaging 38.8 per in their first five conference contests, the Wildcats have scored 36 points in their last two losses. The Rattlers, however, have reversed their fortunes, looking to go 5-1 following their 1-4 start.

Rattlers 28, Wildcats 24

4. Mississippi Valley State (1-9,0-6 SWAC) at Prairie View A&M (8-3, 6-1 SWAC), Saturday, 3:00 PM (SWAC TV)

After locking up their third SWAC West Division Title in five seasons, the Panthers are now on the verge of winning nine games in a season for the fourth time since 1978 (2008, 2009, 2015). The Delta Devils, who have dropped six of the last eight matchups to Prairie View, have allowed an average of 44 points per game over their previous four games. The Panthers, however, have outscored opponents 166-17 in their last four victories. 

Panthers 45, Delta Devils 3

3. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (4-7, 2-5 SWAC) at Alabama State (8-2, 6-1 SWAC), Saturday, 1:00 PM (The Grio)

Alabama State will need a win and some help from Alcorn State to earn its first SWAC East Division title in 15 years. Standing in the Hornets’ way, Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Even though UAPB snapped a five-game losing streak against Bama State when they last played in 2022, the Golden Lions have seen their share of struggles, going 1-5 since the start of October. Since losing dual-threat quarterback Andrew Body to a shoulder injury two weeks ago, the Hornets have rushed for 351 yards while scoring seven touchdowns. This week, they’ll face the SWAC’s worst rushing defense. 

Hornets 42, Golden Lions 17

2. Alcorn State (5-6, 4-3 SWAC) at Jackson State (8-2, 6-1 SWAC), The Soul Bowl, Saturday, 3:30 PM (ESPN+)

Jackson State is one win away from clinching its fourth East Division title in five years. Looking for a fourth consecutive victory, the Tigers have outscored opponents 111-32 in their last three games. Alcorn State is riding its own win streak, with aspirations of ending the season on a five-game winning streak. The Braves are averaging 32.8 points per game while going 5-1 after starting the season 0-5. 

Tigers 38, Braves 21

1. South Carolina State (8-3, 4-0 MEAC) at Delaware State (8-3, 4-0 MEAC), Saturday, 1:00 PM (ESPN+)

Delaware State/South Carolina State is the de facto MEAC Title Game that no one expected at the beginning of the season. The upstart Hornets have been impressive all season, winning eight games for the first time in almost two decades. However, the nation’s leading rushing offense has taken a “hit,” averaging 190.3 yards over its last four games. South Carolina State’s high-powered offense has outscored opponents 234-111 during its six-game win streak, totaling at least 350 points in consecutive seasons for the fourth time in program history. Victorious in nine of their last 11 against the Hornets, the Bulldogs won the previous two meetings by a combined score of 104-42. 

Bulldogs 35, Hornets 31

More HBCU Predictions

MEAC

North Carolina Central (7-4, 2-2 MEAC) at Morgan State (4-7, 1-3 MEAC), Saturday, 12:00 PM (ESPN+)

Eagles 35, Bears 24

Norfolk State (1-10, 0-4 MEAC) vs. Howard (4-7, 1-3 MEAC), Saturday, 3:30 PM (ESPN+)

Bison 27, Spartans 24

SWAC

Alabama A&M (4-7, 1-6 SWAC) at Texas Southern (5-5, 4-3 SWAC), Saturday, 3:00 PM (HBCU GO)

Tigers 27, Bulldogs 21

CAA

Hampton (2-9, 0-7 CAA) at #10 Rhode Island (9-2, 7-0 CAA), Saturday, 1:00 PM (FloSports)

Rams 42, Pirates 10

OVC-Big South

Tennessee State (2-9, 0-7 OVC-Big South) at Charleston Southern (4-7, 3-4 OVC-Big South), Saturday, 2:00 PM (ESPN+)

Buccaneers 21, Tigers 14