An HBCU head coach once said that “you’re either a contender or pretender in the month of November.”
As the 2025 FCS HBCU regular season draws closer to the end, 11 teams still have championship hopes within the MEAC and the SWAC.
In the MEAC, two of the league’s best will face off in an intriguing matchup. Prairie View A&M has a chance to wrap up its third SWAC West Division Title in five years with a win this weekend, and three SWAC teams will continue to lean on backups to keep their postseason aspirations alive.
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Here are my previews and predictions for this week. All times are Eastern Standard.
Predictions Record:
2025 record: 114-30
Week 11: 11-1
Week 12 FCS HBCU Top 5 Games
5. Morgan State (3-7, 0-3 MEAC) at Norfolk State (1-9, 0-3 MEAC), Saturday, 12:00 PM (ESPN+)
Hear me out. I know both teams have a combined four victories and are currently winless in conference play. Nonetheless, both teams have been competitive against the MEAC’s best over the past two weeks. This matchup has the potential to be a nail-biter. The Bears have won the previous two games in this series by a total of five points. Look for this to also be a quarterback battle as Norfolk State’s Otto Kuhns (738 passing yards, seven touchdowns, three interceptions) and Morgan State’s Raymond Moore III (699 total yards, six total touchdowns, two interceptions) have improved over the past three weeks.
Bears 31, Spartans 28
4. Howard (4-6, 1-2 MEAC) at Delaware State (7-3, 3-0 MEAC), Saturday, 1:00 PM (ESPN+)
Delaware State is one of the two teams that appear to be in the driver’s seat atop the MEAC. However, after averaging just under 37 points over their first nine games, the Hornets were held to a season-low 14 points in their win over Morgan State last weekend. Howard has bullied Delaware State, winning their previous three meetings by a combined 63 points. Unfortunately, the MEAC’s worst scoring offense is catching a Delaware State defense that is holding conference opponents to under 20 points per contest.
Hornets 21, Bison 17
3. Grambling State (7-3, 4-2 SWAC) at Alcorn State (4-6, 3-3 SWAC), Saturday, 3:00 PM (SWAC TV)
After securing their first winning season since 2019, Grambling State remains one game behind the SWAC West division leader. Winners of three of their last four matchups in this series, the Braves are averaging 33.3 points during their current three-game win streak. Fourth-string quarterback Hayden Benoit threw four touchdown passes in his first-ever start against Bethune-Cookman last week. Still, the Tigers, who haven’t won in Lorman in a decade, will be without 18 players due to their involvement in an altercation that transpired during that matchup.
Tigers 24, Braves 21
2. Bethune-Cookman (5-5, 4-2 SWAC) at #22 Jackson State (7-2, 5-1 SWAC), Saturday, 1:00 PM
The Tigers have the inside track to the SWAC East Division Title, and their path to the postseason is relatively straightforward. Win their remaining two games and appear in the conference championship game for the fourth time in five years. Winners of their last four meetings in this series, Jackson State has beaten Bethune-Cookman in six of their last seven matchups. Jared Lockhart has looked good in relief of All-SWAC quarterback JaCobian Morgan, who sustained a lower leg injury a few weeks ago. The freshman signal-caller has totaled 405 yards of total offense and thrown three touchdowns while going 2-0 as a starter. On the other hand, the Wildcats were held to 23 points against Grambling, after averaging 38.6 points in their first nine games against FCS opponents.
Tigers 35, Wildcats 24
1. South Carolina State (7-3, 3-0 MEAC) at North Carolina Central (7-3, 2-1 MEAC), Friday, 5:00 PM (ESPN2)
The preseason hype was well justified. Predicted to finish 1-2 this season, South Carolina State and North Carolina Central are currently jockeying for the top spot in a heated race for the MEAC Title. The Eagles rank 11th nationally, averaging 278.0 passing yards. NCCU wide receiver Chauncey Spikes has been dynamic in conference play, tallying 351 receiving yards and six touchdowns over three games. The Bulldogs, who have won four of their last five games against Central, are riding the longest win streak amongst FCS HBCUs while averaging 43 points against conference opponents.
Bulldogs 31, Eagles 30
More HBCU Predictions
SWAC
Arkansas-Pine Bluff (3-6, 2-4 SWAC) at Prairie View A&M (7-3, 5-1 SWAC), Saturday, 3:00 PM (SWAC TV)
Panthers 31, Golden Lions 17
Florida A&M (4-5, 3-2 SWAC) at Alabama A&M (4-6, 1-5 SWAC), Saturday, 3:00 PM (SWAC TV)
Rattlers 28, Bulldogs 20
Texas Southern (4-5, 3-3 SWAC) at Southern (1-9, 0-6 SWAC), Saturday, 3:00 PM (SWAC TV)
Tigers 24, Jaguars 21
Alabama State (7-2, 5-1 SWAC) vs. Mississippi Valley State (1-8, 0-5 SWAC), Saturday, 5:00 PM (SWAC TV) Port City Classic
Hornets 31, Delta Devils 10
CAA
#12 Monmouth (8-2, 5-1 CAA) at North Carolina A&T (2-8, 2-4 CAA), Saturday, 12:00 PM (FloSports)
Hawks 35, Aggies 14
William & Mary (6-4, 5-2 CAA) at Hampton (2-8, 0-6 CAA), Saturday, 1:00 PM (FloSports)
Tribe 31, Pirates 10
OVC-Big South
Gardner Webb (6-4, 4-2 OVC-Big South) at Tennessee State (2-8, 0-6 OVC-Big South), Saturday, 2:30 PM (ESPN+)
Bulldogs 28, Tigers 14
