Week 1 HBCU Football Recap: Delaware State and Howard Deliver Down to the Wire, Jackson State Piles Up Yards

Delaware State and Howard Fight to the Final Whistle

Saturday’s slate of HBCU football produced two nail-biters in Delaware State and Howard, a jaw-dropping offensive showcase from Jackson State, and four programs that took their shots against FBS competition. Here’s a full rundown of how the day unfolded.

For the complete schedule and box scores from every HBCU program this season, visit our 2026 football season dashboard.

Delaware State falls late at William & Mary, 22–15

Delaware State’s defense delivered a statement performance in Williamsburg, Virginia, but the Hornets couldn’t complete the comeback in a 22–15 loss to William & Mary, dropping Delaware State to 1-1 while the Tribe improved to 2-0.

William & Mary jumped out to a 22-0 lead and appeared in control, but the Hornets’ defense never let the game get out of hand. Delaware State finished with seven sacks and 13 tackles for loss, holding William & Mary to just 187 total yards on the night, 98 through the air and 89 on the ground. Jordan Banks led the unit with seven tackles, half a tackle for loss and a fumble recovery. Carl Nesmith matched him with seven tackles of his own, adding 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks, while Quoy Rainey chipped in six tackles, a tackle for loss and a sack.

Offensively, Jayden Jenkins paced the ground game with 57 yards on 10 carries (5.7 yards per carry) and added 40 receiving yards. Noah Brannock scored both of Delaware State’s rushing touchdowns while averaging 6.4 yards per carry, and Terrence Rone hauled in three catches for 42 yards. The Hornets finally got on the board with 9:59 left in the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to 22-8, then scored again to make it 22-15, but time ran out before they could complete the rally.

Delaware State returns home on September 12 to host Bowie State.

Howard rallies from 20 down, still falls to No. 23 Richmond, 28–21

Howard trailed by 20 points and looked finished, but the Bison showed the fight that’s becoming their signature, clawing back with 21 second-half points before falling 28–21 to No. 23 Richmond in front of 3,671 fans at William H. Green Stadium. The loss dropped Howard to 1-1 after the Bison opened the season with a 31-24 comeback win over Alabama A&M on August 29.

Richmond struck fast, scoring on a two-play drive following an interception return when quarterback Ashten Snelsire found Bryce Allen for a 15-yard touchdown; a blocked extra point kept it at 6-0. The Spiders then ground out a 63-yard drive finished by Azix Foster-Powell for a 13-0 lead, and closed the half with a 66-yard drive that featured a 42-yard connection between Snelsire and Quanye Veney to take a 20-0 lead into the break.

Howard came out swinging in the third quarter. Gabe Stephens fell on a Richmond fumble in the end zone just under three minutes in, pulling the Bison within 20-7. Quarterback Ja’Shawn Scroggins then engineered an 84-yard drive, the longest of the young season, capped by a 30-yard strike to Antonio Hunter that trimmed the gap to 20-14.

Two costly mistakes proved decisive down the stretch. A muffed punt gave Richmond the ball at the Howard 29, and the Spiders needed just two plays to cash it in on a 25-yard touchdown pass. But Howard answered right back, marching 75 yards in 14 plays behind Billy Roberson II’s one-yard touchdown to make it 28-21 with 11:35 left. The Bison defense kept the pressure on Snelsire and forced another Richmond punt, but a Howard player ran into the punter, handing the Spiders a fresh set of downs. Richmond couldn’t finish the ensuing drive against a stout Buffalo Soldier defense, but ran out the clock to secure the win.

Howard travels to Bloomington, Indiana, next Saturday to face Indiana.

Jackson State’s Offense Piles Up 704 Yards in Blowout Win

Jackson State delivered the most dominant offensive performance of the day, piling up 704 total yards in a 66–14 rout of Edward Waters at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in front of 16,726 fans. The Tigers improved to 2-0.

Quarterback Jared Lockhart turned in the best performance of his Jackson State career, throwing for career highs of 388 yards and four touchdowns on 17 of 25 passing without an interception, averaging better than 22 yards per completion. He was named the game’s offensive MVP; defensive back Swipe Marshall earned defensive MVP honors after finishing with five tackles, half a tackle for loss, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry.

Jackson State scored 38 unanswered points in the first half alone. Lockhart wasted no time finding his rhythm, directing a 97-yard opening drive that included completions of 53 and 18 yards to Nate Rembert and Nate Blount IV before he found Jency Riley Jr. for a 12-yard touchdown. He capped a 69-yard drive with a four-yard scoring strike to Joanes Fortilien, finishing the first quarter 7 of 10 for 152 yards and two touchdowns as Jackson State built a 14-0 lead. The onslaught continued in the second quarter: Blount scored on an eight-yard run, Lockhart connected with Kobe Paul for an 18-yard score, Andrew Ivaniciuc added a 41-yard field goal, and Lockhart closed out his big half with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Sebastien Saint-Louis with 1:54 left, sending Jackson State into the break up 38-0.

The Tigers finished with a perfectly balanced attack, 388 passing yards and 316 rushing yards, while averaging nine yards per play. Rembert was Lockhart’s top target with four catches for 179 yards, including gains of 53 and 51 yards. Seven different Jackson State players rushed for at least 20 yards, led by Blount’s 67 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries and Caron Tyler’s 56 yards on four attempts. Jackson State converted nine of 11 third downs and scored on all eight of its red zone trips, finishing with 32 first downs to Edward Waters’ 13 while limiting the Wildcats to just 231 total yards, including only 48 rushing yards on 30 attempts. The defense added four sacks for 35 yards and 10 tackles for loss totaling 53 yards.

Jackson State returns to action September 19, following a bye week, to face Tuskegee in the W.C. Gorden Classic.

HBCU Programs Test Themselves Against FBS Competition

Four HBCU programs squared off against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents on Saturday, and while none pulled off the upset, each brought moments worth highlighting.

Hampton falls 62–0 in first-ever Power Four matchup with Maryland

Hampton made its first foray against Power Four competition, and the Pirates were overwhelmed 62–0 by Maryland at SECU Stadium in College Park. Hampton’s defense forced a three-and-out on Maryland’s opening possession, but the Terps broke the game open when Dewan Williams ripped off a 94-yard touchdown run, the second-longest in Maryland history, to make it 7-0. Maryland led just 14-0 through much of the first quarter before pulling away, scoring three more times in the second quarter, including an 11-yard Iverson Howard touchdown run and a Malik Washington-to-Abdul-Rahim Gladding scoring strike with six seconds left, to take a 34-0 halftime lead. The Terps tacked on three more touchdowns in the third quarter and finished the rout in the fourth. Maryland outgained Hampton 646 total yards to just 85.

Hampton (1-1), fresh off a season-opening 45-0 win over Virginia Lynchburg, will face more Power Four competition in the years ahead, with Georgia Tech (2027), Virginia (2029) and fellow FBS program Old Dominion (2028) already on the schedule.

Norfolk State competitive into the third quarter before falling 31–10 at Old Dominion

Norfolk State kept its crosstown matchup with Old Dominion within reach into the third quarter before falling 31–10 in front of 21,944 fans at S.B. Ballard Stadium. The Spartans (1-1) never led, and two of their three turnovers led directly to Monarch touchdowns, but the effort on both sides of the ball kept the game competitive for long stretches.

Jalyn Daniels paced the Norfolk State offense with 84 yards on 11 carries, an average of 7.6 yards per attempt with a long of 35. Paul Billups II led all receivers with seven catches for 49 yards, and quarterback Deljay Bailey completed 14 of 20 passes for 94 yards while adding a three-yard rushing touchdown. Defensively, Brenden Thompson led the way with 11 tackles, Jordan Saunders posted nine stops with a tackle for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, and Josiah Davis recorded an interception and a sack for a 10-yard loss.

Old Dominion drove 93 yards on its opening possession without scoring, and Norfolk State nearly made it a bigger break when Daniels broke free for what looked like a 35-yard touchdown, only to have the ball stripped at the two, with Old Dominion recovering in the end zone for a touchback. The Monarchs cashed in on their next two possessions to lead 14-0, then extended to 17-0 on a field goal before Norfolk State’s Davis intercepted a pass in the closing minute of the half, setting up Bailey’s touchdown keeper to make it 17-7 at the break. The Spartans pulled within 17-10 on a Marco Peery field goal in the third quarter, but Old Dominion answered with a touchdown drive and then converted a Norfolk State fumble into another score to push the lead to 31-10, which held the rest of the way. Norfolk State’s final drive reached the Old Dominion 15 before stalling on downs.

Norfolk State stays on the road for a second straight week, traveling to Charlottesville to face Virginia on Friday, September 11, in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

Alcorn State’s first loss of the season comes at Southern Miss, 49–3

Alcorn State suffered its first setback of 2026, falling 49–3 to Southern Miss in front of 26,246 fans at Renasant Stadium in Hattiesburg. The Braves actually struck first when Elijah Ruffin intercepted a pass and returned it 32 yards to the Southern Miss nine-yard line, setting up a 22-yard Kenyon Bowyer field goal for an early 3-0 lead, but Southern Miss answered with 49 unanswered points from there.

The Golden Eagles scored on a 10-play drive to tie it, then added a 38-yard touchdown pass and a 97-yard, 13-play drive in the final seconds of the half to lead 21-3 at the break. Southern Miss opened the third quarter with another scoring drive, converted an Alcorn turnover into a quick touchdown, and tacked on a third rushing score from Steven Robinson to push the margin to 42-3 before adding a final touchdown in the fourth.

Alcorn quarterback Jaylon Tolbert completed 15 of 22 passes for 119 yards, with Tyree Kelly leading the receiving corps with three catches for 39 yards and Malachi Augustus hauling in a 35-yard reception, the Braves’ longest offensive play of the day. Joshua Tate led the ground game with 33 yards on eight carries, and Ernest Temple added 32 yards on nine attempts, as Alcorn finished with 223 total yards. Defensively, Timothy Jasper led the Braves with 13 tackles, Dillon Crowell added 11, and Ruffin finished with eight tackles to go with his interception. Alcorn’s defense also forced a fourth-quarter fumble and recorded seven pass breakups, but the Braves were outgained 543 total yards to 223 and held a 31:21 to 28:39 disadvantage in time of possession.

Alcorn State turns to Southwestern Athletic Conference play next Saturday, facing Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the 37th Southern Heritage Classic at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis.

Morgan State’s Jordan Barnett scores lone touchdown in 70–7 loss at Arizona State

Morgan State’s trip to Tempe, Arizona, resulted in a 70–7 loss to Arizona State before 54,004 fans at Mountain America Stadium, but the Bears found the end zone early. Jordan Barnett capped a four-play, 75-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter, pulling Morgan State within 7-7 before Arizona State reeled off 63 unanswered points.

Arizona State scored on eight of its first nine possessions, building a 28-7 lead after one quarter and adding three more touchdowns in each of the second and third quarters before turning to its reserves in the fourth. Morgan State (1-1) actually won the time-of-possession battle, 30:12 to 29:48, but was outgained 681 total yards to just 188, with Arizona State piling up 432 passing yards and 249 rushing yards against a Morgan State offense held to 86 passing and 102 rushing.

Around the Rest of the Slate

Grambling State rolls past Central State, 48–26

Grambling State improved to 2-0 with a 48–26 win over Central State at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium, piling up 644 yards of total offense. Jamarion Parker broke free for a 40-yard touchdown on the opening drive, and Diego Alfaro added two field goals to help build a 13-0 lead after one quarter. D’Shaun Ford and Tony Phillips Jr., the latter on a 75-yard scamper, extended the lead to 27-3 before Central State got its first points on the board late in the half.

Central State rallied in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to 41-26 with just over four minutes to go, but Grambling closed the door with an eight-play, 75-yard drive finished by Hayden Benoit’s one-yard touchdown with 31 seconds left. The Tigers’ ground game accounted for 361 yards on 40 carries with six different players finding the end zone, while quarterback Reginald Johnson completed 18 of 23 passes for 258 yards, spreading the ball to eight different receivers led by Tyson George (five catches, 93 yards). Defensively, Jaylen Burrell intercepted two passes, and Grambling blocked a field goal, with Marcellius Johnson and Lonell Cunningham each recording seven tackles. Grambling heads to Fort Worth, Texas, to face FBS and Big 12 opponent TCU on September 12.

Alabama State shuts out Lane College, 34–0

Alabama State stayed undefeated at 2-0, blanking Division II Lane College 34–0 in its home opener at New ASU Stadium in Montgomery. Jamarie Hostzclaw scored on the Hornets’ opening drive, and Andrew Body added a touchdown pass to TJ Ramsey before halftime. In the second half, defensive back Zamari Hall forced a fumble and picked off a pass, helping set up two more Alabama State scores. The Hornets’ backs combined for 150 yards on 36 carries, led by Hostzclaw’s 40 yards on seven attempts, while Body went 10 of 14 for 113 yards and a touchdown. The Black Swarm defense was led by Montrel Campbell (seven tackles) and Omari Russell (six solo tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack). It marked Alabama State’s first shutout since November 2019 and the 15th consecutive game in which the team scored at least 30 points.

Alabama A&M holds off Miles College, 38–23, for first win of the season

Alabama A&M earned its first win of the season, holding off Miles College 38–23 in the 16th annual Louis Crews Classic, a game delayed by lightning for more than an hour. Troy Bruce rushed for 145 yards and two touchdowns on just 11 carries, earning SWAC TV Gatorade Player of the Game honors and becoming the first Alabama A&M back to top 100 rushing yards since last season. Cornelius Brown IV completed 15 of 21 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown, connecting with Jordan Chambers-Smith for a score, while Kolton Nero added 87 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Miles quarterback Brinley Vandiver kept the Golden Bears within striking distance, completing 26 of 39 passes for 208 yards and rushing for two more scores, and Miles even recorded a safety, the first Alabama A&M has allowed since 2023. But the Bulldogs’ ground attack, which has now scored a rushing touchdown in four straight games, proved to be the difference. Alabama A&M head coach Sam Shade faced his former team for the first time in the win.

NC Central defeats Elizabeth City State, 27–6, for first win of 2026

North Carolina Central improved to 1-1 with a 27–6 win over Elizabeth City State in its home opener at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium in Durham. Freshman quarterback Nelson Layne threw two touchdown passes, a 74-yard strike to Chance Peterson and an 11-yard score to Brendon Wyatt, while freshman running back Gino Addison added a rushing touchdown as NCCU built a 21-0 halftime lead. Peterson, the MEAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, caught five passes for 109 yards, his first 100-yard game of the season. Kicker Riley Daniels added two field goals, and defensive lineman Zarion Walters led the Eagles with eight tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery. NCCU held Elizabeth City State to just 145 total yards, including only 39 rushing yards, the fewest the Eagles have allowed since holding Florida A&M to 43 last season. NCCU hosts North Carolina A&T next Saturday in the annual Aggie-Eagle Classic.

Mississippi Valley State falls 52–0 at Sacramento State

Mississippi Valley State’s road struggles continued with a 52–0 loss at Sacramento State’s Hornet Stadium. A blocked punt set up the Hornets’ opening score, and Sacramento State built a 31-0 halftime lead before closing it out with three more touchdowns. The Delta Devils (0-2) forced two turnovers, including a Jamari Stokes interception, with Stokes also leading the team with six tackles, and finished with 104 rushing yards led by Dezmond Ray’s 36 yards on three carries. Mississippi Valley State’s secondary recorded five pass breakups. The Delta Devils will face Lincoln University (Pa.) on September 12 at Soldier Field in Chicago as part of the Chicago Football Classic.

Southern edges Kentucky State, 34–15, in a rain-soaked battle

In steady rain at A.W. Mumford Stadium in Baton Rouge, Southern outlasted Kentucky State 34–15. Southern’s Tayton James got the scoring started with an 85-yard interception return for a touchdown, and Trey Holly scored twice on the ground, including the clinching 12-yard touchdown with just over a minute left. Kentucky State answered with a safety and two touchdown passes from Jaun Gainous, a 72-yard strike to Tristan Thomas and a 15-yarder to Jaden Hale, to cut the deficit to 27-15 in the third quarter, but couldn’t complete the comeback. Despite the final margin, Kentucky State actually outgained Southern in total offense, 378 yards to 372, and held a lengthy 32:36 to 27:24 edge in time of possession, but Southern’s takeaways and five sacks proved to be the difference.

Track every result, upcoming kickoff, and full statistical breakdown for the rest of the season on our 2026 football season dashboard.