Week 1 of the 2022 college football season is here, and with every new season comes change.
Five new head coaches, a plethora of new signal-callers, transfer players galore, and the nation’s best recruit in 2022 can all be found in FCS HBCU Football this season. Even last week’s Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge gave us a first-time winner. With all this change, will there be a new Black College Football Champion, or will South Carolina State become the second team to win back-to-back Celebration Bowls?
But before we get to Atlanta in December, we must get through this week’s slate, which is filled with Classics, rivalries, and a few “Money Games.”
Here are my top five matchups and predictions for this week.
Top 5 Games
Florida A&M (0-1) vs. Jackson State, Sunday, 3:00 PM (ESPN2)
Despite their off-the-field issues, QB Jeremy Moussa and the Rattlers had a pretty good showing in Chapel Hill last week. But how will FAMU look this Sunday against last season’s SWAC champions, whose intention is to dominate their way through 2022?
Tigers 31, Rattlers 27
Grambling State at Arkansas State, Saturday, 7:00 PM (ESPN3)
Hue Jackson’s first game as head coach of the Tigers could be the first win for a SWAC program over an FBS opponent since 1985. Arkansas State is 6-17 over the last two seasons.
Tigers 30, Red Wolves 27
North Carolina A&T vs. North Carolina Central, Saturday, 7:30 PM (ESPN3)
NCCU has been trending upward since the hiring of Trei Oliver as head coach, finishing last season above .500 for the first time since 2017. The Eagles enter the 100th iteration of this rivalry healthy and matured, but is it enough to get a win over the Aggies, who have outscored Central 160-24 in their last four meetings?
Aggies 27, Eagles 17
Howard (0-1) at Hampton, Saturday, 6:00 PM (FloSports)
The Bison had to weather through multiple game delays in their loss to Alabama State last week. This week, they will face their biggest rival in their home opener. If the Bison look to leave the Tidewater area with their first win at Hampton since 2013, they will need to clean up the defensive lapses they suffered in Atlanta.
Pirates 24, Bison 17
Texas Southern at Prairie View A&M, Saturday, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)
TSU dual-threat QB Andrew Body is looking to show the SWAC that last season wasn’t a freshman fluke. The talented signal-caller is looking to break the Tigers’ seven-game losing streak against PVAMU now that Dooley and Dumas are no longer in Texas.
Tigers 28, Panthers 17
Intraconference HBCU Games
Lincoln (Pa) vs. Delaware State, Saturday, 2:00 PM (ESPN+)
Hornets 37, Lions 10
Miles vs. Alabama State (1-0), Saturday, 6:00 PM (ESPN+)
Hornets 27, Golden Bears 17
Florida Memorial (1-0) at Southern, Saturday, 7:00 PM (Jaguar Sports Network)
Jaguars 45, Lions 10
Lane vs. UAPB, Saturday, 7:00 PM (UAPB Sports Network)
Golden Lions 35, Dragons 14
MEAC
South Carolina State at Central Florida, Thursday, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)
Knights 49, Bulldogs 17
Norfolk State at Marshall, Saturday, 3:30 PM (ESPN3)
Thundering Herd 30, Spartans 17
Morgan State at Georgia Southern, Saturday, 6:00 PM (ESPN3)
Eagles 38, Bears 10
OVC
Tennessee State at #12 Eastern Washington, Saturday, 4:00 PM (ESPN+)
Eagles 38, Tigers 20
SWAC
Alabama A&M at UAB, Thursday, 8:00 PM (CBS Sports Network)
Blazers 37, Bulldogs 14
Mississippi Valley State at Tarleton, Thursday, 8:00 PM (ESPN+)
Texans 30, Delta Devils 21
Bethune-Cookman at #16 Miami, Saturday, 3:30 PM (ACCN)
Hurricanes 56, Wildcats 20
#10 Stephen F. Austin (0-1) at Alcorn State, Saturday, 7:00 PM
Lumberjacks 28, Braves 17
