HBCU Football Matchups to Watch in Week 0
HBCU football matchups to watch in Week 0 by Kyle T. Mosley of HBCU Legends. Covering the SWAC, MEAC, and top Week 0 games.
Video Transcript
Hey, good evening, HBCU Legends fans.
It's Kyle T Mosley, and HBCU football is back for 2026.
This weekend will be week zero for HBCU football, and we will have a lot of coverage for you this weekend.
Especially, we'll be on site at the MAC SWAC.
Challenge kickoff, uh, that's gonna be between Howard University and Alabama A&M.
But that's not the only great matchup this weekend, and you guys got to be able to hang on to your hats and just be able to see what's happening in HBCU football all in all.
So, let's start with Houston.
Houston, Texas, where you're gonna have the showdown between NCCU and Texas Southern University.
Wow.
First time NCCU and as well as Texas Southern, I think, have played in many, many years.
Uh, so, you'll have Trey Oliver and the Eagles crossing the Mason-Dixon line to be able to come and Uh, partake in some of this H Town, uh, hosting and, and love that you will get from the Texas Southern Tigers.
I don't know if it's gonna be a lot of love because Chris Dishman and that Tiger team looks very formidable this year.
Especially with the talent they brought in like Cameron McCoy at quarterback.
You know, he had, uh, stints over at Jackson State as well as at Southern University.
His leadership has been able to help be a stabilizing force for those guys.
And if you go up to 90, around 45, 50 miles, uh, northwest, then you go to Prairie View A&M in Prairie View, they're not gonna play at home, they're gonna go to Stephenville, and they're going to be able to take place, uh, with, I think it's called the.
Chancellor's Cup this year because they're part of the Texas A&M system.
They will play Tarleton State, one of the best FCS schools in the country.
Last year, those guys had 12 wins and went to the playoff system.
Uh, they didn't advance very far, but they made it there and they can be able to score up to 40 points a game.
Will the Panthers defense be up for the challenge?
If you talk to coach.
Tremaine Jackson, they're more than ready for the challenge.
So, let's look at some of the slate of games.
That's also gonna be on the menu.
You're gonna have the John Merritt Classic between Jackson State and Tennessee State.
You know, he was a coach for both of those programs back in the storied years of HBCU and Black college football.
So, Look for that one to be a great event where you have Reggie Barlow and his Tennessee State Tigers against the Tigers of Jackson State University.
Uh, they took a couple of years off in hiatus, that used to be a, uh, an annual showdown.
Now they have renewed the rivalry.
Then you have Southern University, they would take on Alabama State in the first.
Ever Birmingham Football Classic in Birmingham, and that's gonna be a good one when you have Marshall Faulk making his debut as the head football coach of the Jaguars, and you have Andrew Body, who is just a dynamic player, and he could very well be, again, the 2026.
HBCU football player of the Year.
Then you have uh Savannah State taking on uh South Carolina State.
South Carolina State Bulldogs, and Chennis Berry.
Chennis Berry goes into his old alma mater, they're gonna clash and have a good time, and, uh, that we, I guess we should call it the Chennis Berry Bowl, right?
Just to see what's gonna happen.
Then you have Albany State versus, uh, Florida A&M where we should call that the Quinn Gray Senior Bowl, right?
So, that should be a good one as well.
Market State takes on NC.
ANT.
The Aggies hope to be able to get off with a good start, but Damon Wilson and as well as the Morgan State Bears want to be able to have a good start as well.
Morehouse goes to Pine Bluff, and they will meet with the Golden Lions in Arkansas.
Then you have Johnson C. Smith taking on Benedict.
Now, that should be one of the games of the week as well, guys.
If y'all don't know, those two can put up points.
CIAA SIAC, that's gonna be one of those showdowns that will live a long, long time.
So those are some of the featured matchups that we have, uh, for you guys.
Uh, so many more.
It's 27 games that will be played, and I think, uh, the first game starts.
If I'm not mistaken, on Thursday night with Delaware State, uh, going against Stony Brook, and that should be a great game for, uh, coach DeSean Jackson and his team.
And uh then you have Norfolk, everybody is trying to figure out what's gonna happen this second season for coach Michael Vick and those guys at Norfolk.
Uh, they're gonna play on Saturday, but, uh, that should be an interesting, interesting affair there as well.
But also, if you go up to Graham then, if you're around that area, don't forget Clark Atlanta.
I think they haven't traveled to see Gramblin in many years, and this may be the first time ever, uh, for that game to be taking place, so that would be something to behold as well.
So, great games in the HBCU football space, go to HBCU Legends, you can go to SI.com/.
College slash HBCU and you can read up on the slate of games there and we're doing a preview of the Howard versus Alabama A&M game for you guys as well.
And I will be on site through cricket and being able to give you some great inside coverage.
I'll have a one on one with John.
Uh, Grant, as well as I will have a one on one with the student ambassador Kicker from Alabama A&M and also, we'll have a one on one.
With, uh, the SID of Morehouse College, AD Drew, and he'll help us, uh, go through the MAC SWAC Challenge kickoff, as well as what's gonna happen because Morehouse is taking on Kentucky State.
They just sealed the deal.
They're gonna take on Kentucky State in the Bahamas later this year, and we'll talk about that matchup as well.
I think it's the YES.
Bahamas Football Classic.
So, I'm Kyle T Mosley of HBCU Legends on SI.
Check us out at HBCU Legends on all social media platforms, and you can be able to check me out at Kyle T Mosley on X.
Guys.
Football is back, and I'm ready, baby , are you.
Don't forget, guys, always be tenacious, and we're headed into September, which is prostate Cancer Month.
I'm a survivor of prostate cancer, so guys, go get checked and save lives and be with your families, extend your life.
Have, it's, it's OK. Just do the test.
I'm Kyle T. Mosley.
Let's have a good weekend in HBCU football.
Take care.
