This past weekend, we watched Bethune-Cookman win its third conference game in a season since joining the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Delaware State earned its first victory in Durham in 48 years. Prairie View A&M extended its win streak to five (the current longest amongst FCS HBCUs). Grambling needed a late field goal to upset Jackson State in Vegas. While North Carolina A&T picked up its second Coastal Athletic Association win ever, thanks to historic special teams play.
Wide Receiver Elijah Kennedy returned a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns late in the fourth quarter to lead the Aggies to a 28-24 comeback win over Campbell. Entering Saturday, no player in FCS had recorded a punt return touchdown and a kickoff return touchdown in the same game.
As we enter Week 10 of the FCS HBCU Football season, the docket is highlighted by a potential conference title game preview in Prairie View, one-time NFL teammates meeting as first-time college coaches, Texas Southern eying its first five-game win streak in 15 years, and Hampton taking some much-needed time off.
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Here are my previews and predictions for this week. All times are Eastern Standard.
Predictions Record:
2025 record: 94-27
Week 9: 9-3
Week 10 FCS HBCU Top 5 Games
5. Norfolk State (1-7, 0-1 MEAC) vs. Delaware State (5-3, 1-0 MEAC), Thursday, 7:00 PM (ESPNU)
The hype surrounding the first meeting between former pro football teammates turned head coaches, taking place in the stadium where they once played, has only grown stronger with Delaware State’s recent success. The MEAC’s top-scoring offense is looking to extend its streak of scoring at least 31 points in a game to eight when it faces the league’s worst scoring defense. However, the Hornets have lost four of their last six matchups in this series, including the previous two games, which were decided by 42 points combined.
Hornets 38, Spartans 14
4. Morgan State (3-5, 0-1 MEAC) at South Carolina State (5-3, 1-0 MEAC), Saturday, 2:00 PM (ESPN+)
Morgan State is still in search of its first victory against a Division I program and now faces South Carolina State, which routed them 54-7 last year. Things won’t be any easier for the Bears on Saturday. The Bulldogs may have found their groove offensively a week ago, scoring on nine consecutive drives thanks to a stellar performance by quarterback William Atkins IV (428 passing yards, four touchdowns, one interception) in their 51-20 drubbing of Norfolk State.
Bulldogs 31, Bears 17
3. North Carolina Central (5-3, 0-1 MEAC) at Howard (4-4, 1-0 MEAC), Saturday, 3:30 PM (ESPN+)
For the first time since 2018, North Carolina Central must rebound from a defeat in a conference opener. After allowing 241 yards on the ground last week to Delaware State, the Eagles’ defense will look to corral Bison running back Anthony Reagan Jr., who rushed for 413 yards and scored five touchdowns in his last four starts. Central won nine of its last 10 meetings with the Bison. However, the last time the Eagles were in DC, Howard dropped 50 on them.
Eagles 35, Bison 21
2. #23 Jackson State (5-2, 3-1 SWAC) at Florida A&M (3-4, 2-1 SWAC), Saturday, 7:00 PM (ESPN+)
After starting the season 1-4, Florida A&M has played itself back into title contention with wins over its last two opponents. During that span, quarterback RJ Johnson III has scored four touchdowns against zero turnovers while compiling 664 yards of total offense. Meanwhile, Jackson State had its four-game winning streak snapped last week despite racking up 646 yards of offense. The Tigers would like to regain their winning ways by handing the Rattlers their third loss in Bragg Stadium for the first time since 2017.
Tigers 31, Rattlers 20
1. Alabama State (5-2, 3-1 SWAC) at Prairie View A&M (6-2, 4-0 SWAC), Saturday, 3:00 PM (SWAC TV)
Could this be a preview of the SWAC Championship Game? Well, this is a matchup of the conference’s best scoring offense against the league’s leading scoring defense. Winners of nine of their last 10 in this series, Prairie View A&M is allowing 10.4 points per contest during its current five-game winning streak. Alabama State is averaging 41.9 points this year after scoring a season-high 56 points last week. Meanwhile, the Hornets haven’t won in Prairie View since 2012.
Hornets 35, Panthers 24
More HBCU Predictions
SWAC
Alabama A&M (4-4, 1-3 SWAC) at Grambling State (5-3, 2-2 SWAC), Saturday, 3:00 PM (SWAC TV)
Bulldogs 28, Tigers 24
Southern (1-7, 0-4 SWAC) at Arkansas-Pine Bluff (2-5, 1-3 SWAC), Saturday, 3:00 PM (SWAC TV)
Golden Lions 21, Jaguars 17
Alcorn State (2-6, 1-3 SWAC) at Texas Southern (4-3, 3-1 SWAC), Saturday, 3:00 PM (HBCU GO)
Tigers 28, Braves 21
Mississippi Valley State (1-6, 0-3 SWAC) at Bethune-Cookman (4-4, 3-1 SWAC), Saturday, 3:00 PM (SWAC TV)
Wildcats 38, Delta Devils 17
CAA
Towson (3-5, 1-3 CAA) at North Carolina A&T (2-6, 2-2 CAA), Saturday, 12:00 PM (FloSports)
Tigers 28, Aggies 24
OVC-Big South
Lindenwood (3-5, 2-2 OVC-Big South) at Tennessee State (2-6, 0-4 OVC-Big South), Saturday, 4:30 PM (ESPN+)
Lions 27, Tigers 17
