October is here, and Week 5 brings some of the best HBCU football Saturday has to offer. Howard and Hampton renew the Battle of the Real HU at Audi Field for the 101st time; BCFP top-5 teams Alabama A&M and Jackson State collide in Mobile in the Gulf Coast Challenge with both teams unbeaten in SWAC play; and Grambling State welcomes Alcorn State for Homecoming. Alabama State opens SWAC play at Bethune-Cookman, and unbeaten South Carolina State puts its national ranking on the line at home against The Citadel.

The road slate is just as loaded. North Carolina A&T carries the momentum of its upset of Rhode Island to Bryant for a key CAA matchup, Morgan State visits Villanova, Delaware State heads to Albany, and Southern hosts Arkansas-Pine Bluff for Homecoming. Below is a look at every game on the board this week, from the perspective of each Division I HBCU involved.

The Gulf Coast Challenge

Two of the SWAC East’s three teams still unbeaten in conference play meet at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama, with kickoff at 4 p.m. CT on SWAC TV. Both programs enter on four-game winning streaks, and the game features the SWAC’s top two offenses. The forecast calls for rain and thunderstorms throughout the day.

This is the 30th meeting between the programs, and Jackson State leads the all-time series 17-12. The Tigers have won the last five meetings, including all four previous matchups at the Gulf Coast Challenge. Alabama A&M’s last win in the series came in the spring of 2021, a 52-43 decision in Huntsville, and the Bulldogs have not won at the Gulf Coast Challenge since beating Tuskegee 45-35 in 2021.

About Jackson State

Jackson State (4-0, 1-0 SWAC) is ranked No. 23/25 nationally and plays away from home for the first time since its season-opening win at Tennessee State. The Tigers are coming off a 35-17 win over Southern in the Boombox Classic, their fourth classic of the season after sweeping the first three. Since the fall of 2021, Jackson State has won 64 of 76 games and gone 37-4 in regular season SWAC play.

Quarterback Jared Lockhart leads the nation in passing efficiency and yards per attempt. He has completed 67 of 99 passes for 1,151 yards and 11 touchdowns without an interception, including back-to-back games with more than 375 passing yards and four touchdowns against Edward Waters and Tuskegee. Nate Blount IV has topped 100 rushing yards in three of four games and has 411 yards on 6.97 yards per carry, eighth-best in the FCS. Nate Rembert ranks fourth nationally in yards per catch.

The Tigers rank third nationally in total offense at 488.3 yards a game, fourth in scoring offense and fourth in rushing defense, holding opponents to 2.5 yards a carry. They also lead the FCS in team passing efficiency and fewest fumbles lost. Defensive lineman Justin Foster ranks fourth in the country in sacks per game, and kicker Andrew Ivaniciuc ranks eighth in field goals per game. A win would give head coach T.C. Taylor his 32nd career victory, moving him within two of T.B. Ellis and Robert “Judge” Hughes on the program’s all-time list.

About Alabama A&M

Alabama A&M (4-1, 1-0 SWAC) has won four straight since its opening loss to Howard, most recently a 40-21 win at Florida A&M that snapped a five-game losing streak to the Rattlers. The Bulldogs rank fourth nationally in total offense and first downs, seventh in rushing defense and eighth in tackles for loss, allowing just 2.7 yards per carry this season.

Freshman running back Byron Perrilliat came off the bench in Tallahassee to run for a career-high 223 yards on just 16 carries, earning SWAC Offensive Player of the Week, FCS National Freshman Player of the Week and HBCU Co-Player of the Week honors. He now has 315 rushing yards at 10.2 yards a carry, and Kolton Nero has added 215 yards and three touchdowns.

Quarterback Cornelious Brown IV ranks sixth nationally in passing yards, completing 107 of 158 passes (67.7 percent) for 1,309 yards, 11 touchdowns, and three interceptions. Jarel Williams (27 catches, 395 yards, four touchdowns) and Jaylan Bean (21 catches, 257 yards, three touchdowns) are his top targets. Head coach Sam Shade is three wins shy of 50 for his career, and a win in Mobile would snap a five-game losing streak to the Tigers.

The Battle of the Real HU

The 101st meeting between Howard and Hampton kicks off at 3 p.m. ET at Audi Field in Washington, D.C., and streams on HBCU GO. It is the fourth straight year the rivalry has been played at Audi Field, and Hampton is the designated home team.

This is Hampton’s oldest rivalry, dating back to 1908, and the Pirates hold a 55-44-1 edge in the all-time series. No opponent has lost to Hampton more often, and no opponent has beaten Hampton more often, either. Hampton has won 22 of the last 27 meetings, but Howard flipped the script a year ago with a 34-7 win that snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Pirates.

About Howard

Howard (1-3) has played one of the toughest schedules in the FCS. After opening the season with a 31-24 win over Alabama A&M in the Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge, the Bison fell 28-21 to No. 23 Richmond and then made back-to-back trips to Big Ten country, losing 55-0 at defending national champion Indiana and 58-7 at Rutgers. It is the first time Howard has played two Power 4 opponents in the same season.

Graduate running back Eden James broke out at Rutgers with 111 yards, including a career-long 75-yard touchdown run. Travis Kerney (39 carries, 104 yards) and Billy Roberson II (25 carries, 90 yards, one touchdown) round out the backfield. Graduate quarterback Ja’Shawn Scroggins leads the passing game, with tight end Nathanial Clark (12 catches, one touchdown) and wideouts Se’Quan Osborne (six catches, 112 yards, one touchdown) and Zaden Jackson (seven catches, 99 yards) as his top targets.

A reunion storyline also plays out on the Howard sideline. Bison quarterback Isaiah Freeman will face his former team after leading Hampton in last year’s meeting.

Defensively, graduate defensive back Kaleb Gallop leads the Bison with 27 tackles, with linebacker Aidan Foster right behind him at 25. Linebacker Rodney Roane has been the most disruptive player up front, with three tackles for loss, two sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Kicker Matt Conord is a perfect 3 for 3 on field goals.

About Hampton

Hampton (1-4) is playing its final nonconference game of the season and is looking to snap a skid that has seen the Pirates drop 10 of their last 11 games. Hampton has allowed more than 30 points in all four of its losses this season, most recently a 44-20 loss to Campbell that the Week 4 recap breaks down.

Senior quarterback Tre’Von Taylor has completed 53 of 99 passes for 612 yards, three touchdowns and five interceptions. Freshman running back Amari Pryear still leads the team with 214 rushing yards, and freshman Chaz Portis (12 catches, 167 yards, one touchdown) and Isaiah Smith (11 catches, 115 yards, one touchdown) lead the receivers.

Defensive back Cam Sturdifen anchors the defense with 47 tackles, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Defensive lineman Korede Sogbesan has 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks, and linebacker Temond Marcus has added three tackles for loss, a sack, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick.

Unbeaten South Carolina State Hosts The Citadel

South Carolina State returns to Oliver C. Dawson Stadium for the first time since its 66-0 win over Virginia State on Sept. 12, hosting in-state rival The Citadel at 2 p.m. ET on the MEAC Network. The Citadel leads the all-time series 4-2, but South Carolina State has won the last two meetings, 31-10 at Dawson Stadium in 2023 and 23-20 in 2024.

About South Carolina State

South Carolina State (5-0) is ranked No. 15 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and No. 12 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll after holding off Bethune-Cookman 31-21 last week. The Bulldogs have outscored opponents 235-51, averaging 47 points and 479.4 yards a game while allowing just 10.2 points and 189.4 yards. Head coach Chennis Berry is 24-6 in his third season in Orangeburg.

The ground game is the engine. South Carolina State runs for 280.6 yards a game at 6.9 yards a carry, with 17 rushing touchdowns. Sophomore Mason Pickett-Hicks has 613 rushing yards at 9.3 yards a carry, Josh Shaw has a team leading nine touchdowns, and Tyler Smith has added 214 yards at 7.6 a carry. Quarterback Keely Watson has completed 60 of 94 passes for 788 yards and nine touchdowns.

The defense might be even better. Opponents are averaging just 1.8 yards a carry and 57.8 rushing yards a game against the Bulldogs, with only two rushing touchdowns all season. South Carolina State has 18 sacks and 46 tackles for loss, led by Ka’Von Chisolm (8.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks), Jordan Dollard (seven tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks) and Joshua Barker (5.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks).

About The Citadel

The Citadel (1-3, 0-2 SoCon) comes to Orangeburg off a 27-8 loss to Chattanooga. The Bulldogs’ lone win came in a 43-41 triple overtime thriller at FBS Charlotte, and their other two losses came to Wofford and, in double overtime, Charleston Southern.

Head coach Maurice Drayton’s option offense runs for 225.8 yards a game, sixth in the FCS and first in the SoCon, setting up a strength-on-strength battle with the nation’s stingiest run defense. Kent State transfer Gavin Garcia leads the way with 349 yards and four touchdowns on 74 carries, with Quentin Hayes adding 192 yards. The Citadel is also one of the most disciplined teams in the country, averaging just three penalties a game, second fewest in the FCS.

Dartmouth transfer Zyion Brown leads the defense with 36 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.

Homecoming at the Hole: Alcorn State at Grambling State

Grambling State returns to Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium for the first time since Sept. 5 to host Alcorn State for Homecoming, with kickoff at 2 p.m. CT on SWAC TV. Fans are encouraged to wear black under this year’s theme, “One Grambling.” The Tigers are 31-10-1 on Homecoming since the stadium opened in 1983.

Grambling State leads the all-time series 47-27-3, but Alcorn State has won the last two meetings, 17-15 in 2024 and 27-16 last season in Lorman, when the Braves erased a 16-10 fourth-quarter deficit with 17 unanswered points.

About Grambling State

Grambling State (2-2, 0-1 SWAC) is coming off a 21-14 loss to Prairie View A&M in the State Fair Classic, a game that the Week 4 recap covers in full. The Tigers are averaging 29.5 points and 401.5 yards of total offense a game, converting 46.2 percent of their third downs and scoring on 11 of 14 trips to the red zone.

Jordan Bride (16 catches, 244 yards) and Tyson George (17 catches, 223 yards, two touchdowns) lead the receiving corps, with Nae’Saan Dickerson adding 10 catches for 128 yards and a score. Tony Phillips Jr. (111 yards, two touchdowns on 13 carries) and Byron Eaton Jr. (100 yards, one touchdown on 12 carries) give the Tigers two efficient options on the ground.

Defensive back Lonell Cunningham leads the defense with 25 tackles, and Marcellius Johnson has 21 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack, and a fumble recovery. Head coach Mickey Joseph is 14-13 at Grambling State after leading the Tigers to a 7-5 record in 2025, the program’s first winning season since 2019.

About Alcorn State

Alcorn State (3-2, 2-0 SWAC) is coming off a thrilling win after outlasting Texas Southern 43-40 in overtime. The Braves piled up 520 yards in that win and are averaging 35 points and 445.2 yards a game, including 304.4 through the air.

Quarterback Jaylon Tolbert has thrown for 1,471 yards and 13 touchdowns. Running back Fredrick Robertson was named SWAC Newcomer of the Week for the second time this season after posting season highs with 105 rushing yards and 70 receiving yards against Texas Southern. Tyree Kelly leads the Braves with 16 catches for 287 yards and four touchdowns.

Head coach Cedric Thomas is 14-15 in his third season at Alcorn State, and a win Saturday would give the Braves a 3-0 start in SWAC play.

Alabama State Opens SWAC Road Play at Bethune-Cookman

Bethune-Cookman wraps up a four-game homestand by opening SWAC play against Alabama State at Daytona Stadium, with kickoff at 4 p.m. ET on SWAC TV. It is the first time the Wildcats have hosted four straight home games in a season since 1999. Alabama State has won all five meetings since Bethune-Cookman joined the SWAC in 2021, including two in Daytona Beach and a 52-35 win last season.

About Alabama State

Alabama State (3-1, 1-0 SWAC) was picked to win the SWAC East in the preseason, earning 16 of 24 first-place votes. The Hornets opened with a 30-17 win over Southern at a neutral site, beat Lane 34-0, fell 34-17 at Troy, and then routed Mississippi Valley State 41-15 in their SWAC opener.

Defense has carried Alabama State so far. The Hornets lead the SWAC with 3.0 sacks a game, rank first in the league in passing yards allowed (149.5 a game), and have allowed just 12 second-half points all season. Eldridge Shelton earned SWAC Defensive Player of the Week honors against Mississippi Valley State with two sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.

The offense is still finding its footing at 277.0 yards a game. Preseason SWAC Offensive Player of the Year Andrew Body has thrown for 410 yards and three touchdowns in three games, and true freshman Aaron Frye made his first career start last week, throwing a touchdown pass and running for two more. Freshman DJ Hicks, the SWAC Special Teams Player of the Week, scored on a 34-yard catch and a 98-yard kickoff return in that game. Kicker Andrew Abu-Akel is perfect for 8-for-8 on field goals.

About Bethune-Cookman

Bethune-Cookman (2-2) enters off a 31-21 loss to South Carolina State in which the Wildcats rallied from a 24-7 halftime deficit to within three before the Bulldogs closed it out. The Wildcats boast one of the nation’s best rushing attacks, ranking eighth nationally and first in the SWAC at 223.5 yards a game.

Freshman Isaiah Daniel has run for 243 yards on 35 carries, averaging 6.9 yards per carry, and ranks 23rd in the FCS in all-purpose yards. Rashon Brown leads the SWAC and ranks fifth nationally with seven rushing touchdowns. Three different Wildcats (Tyler Jefferson, Amari Jones and Joel Morris) have attempted passes this season, and Josh Evans leads the receivers with 202 yards and three touchdowns on nine catches.

The run game has decided Bethune-Cookman’s season so far. The Wildcats are 2-0 when they outrun their opponent and 0-2 when they do not, and their run defense is allowing 205.5 yards a game. The secondary has been opportunistic, with a SWAC-leading seven interceptions, and All-SWAC defensive lineman Isaiah Washburn has five tackles for loss. A win would be Bethune-Cookman’s first over Alabama State as a SWAC member.

North Carolina A&T Looks to Build on Its Upset at Bryant

North Carolina A&T hits the road for a CAA matchup under the lights at Bryant’s Beirne Stadium, with kickoff at 6 p.m. ET on FloCollege. It is just the second meeting between the programs and the first since 2022, when both were Big South members and the Aggies won 24-13 in North Carolina behind two rushing touchdowns from current Jacksonville Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten. This is the first meeting in Smithfield.

About North Carolina A&T

North Carolina A&T (1-4, 1-1 CAA) is riding the high of a 22-18 win over a ranked Rhode Island team. NC A&T Stuns No. 19 Rhode Island in Greensboro During Hall of Fame Weekend takes a full look at that win.

Quarterback Kevin White has thrown for 653 yards and five touchdowns and ran for a score against the Rams. JT Smith leads the ground game with 230 rushing yards, and Shimique Blizzard has also topped 100 yards on the season. Tyrek Brown, whose fumble-return touchdown turned the Rhode Island game, leads the defense with 32 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, and an interception. Elijah Kennedy leads the CAA and ranks 10th nationally with 294 return yards.

About Bryant

Bryant (3-1, 1-0 CAA) is off to its first 3-1 start since 2018 and comes out of an open date with wins over Hampton (31-3) and Princeton (21-14). The Bulldogs have already matched last season’s win total, and a win Saturday would give them their first three-game winning streak since 2018.

Defense has been the story in Smithfield. Bryant has allowed just 7.6 points per game in three games against FCS opponents and forced two turnovers against Princeton. Quarterback Brennan Myer leads the team with three rushing touchdowns, and Sean Wilson Jr. leads the receivers with 15 catches for 192 yards. Head coach Chris Merritt is in his eighth season.

Morgan State Visits Villanova

Morgan State returns from an open date to face Villanova at Villanova Stadium, with kickoff at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN+. It is just the second meeting between the programs, with Villanova winning the first, 48-28, on the Main Line in 2014.

About Morgan State

Morgan State (3-1) is ranked seventh in the HBCU Division I Media Poll and received votes in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 after a 41-26 win at Towson in its last outing. The Bears have committed just two turnovers all season, and their offensive line has allowed only three sacks.

Quarterback Cameron Edge has thrown for 712 yards and seven touchdowns, and Justin Perry leads the MEAC with 272 receiving yards on 16 catches, three of them for touchdowns. Keith Jenkins Jr. leads the MEAC at 27.0 yards per kickoff return and has a team-high 417 all-purpose yards. Donovan Moyer has five sacks, second in the MEAC.

Another homecoming of sorts is on the Morgan State staff. Offensive coordinator Apollo Wright coached running backs at Villanova from 2001 through 2006. A win would be the 111th of head coach Damon Wilson’s career.

About Villanova

Villanova (2-3, 1-2 Patriot League) is playing its final nonconference game of the season in its first year as a Patriot League associate member. The Wildcats, who went 12-3 last season, have won 21 straight regular-season nonconference games against FCS opponents, a streak dating back to 2016.

Sixth-year quarterback Pat McQuaide has thrown for 877 yards and five touchdowns, with Braden Reed (24 catches, 288 yards, three touchdowns) his top target. Running back Ja’briel Mace has caught a touchdown pass in three straight games. Sophomore linebacker Omari Bursey leads the defense with 54 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss.

Delaware State Heads to Albany for Homecoming

Delaware State takes its 3-2 record to Tom & Mary Casey Stadium to face Albany on the Great Danes’ Homecoming, with kickoff at 3:30 p.m. ET on FloCollege.

About Delaware State

Delaware State is coming off a 33-28 win over Towson, with Ui Ale finishing with a 6-yard touchdown run in the final minute. The Hornets are averaging 384.4 yards and 25.4 points a game.

Ale has thrown for 972 yards and four touchdowns and leads the team with 239 rushing yards and three scores at 7.7 yards a carry. Jayden Jenkins (173 yards, two touchdowns) and Sean Weston Jr. (143 yards, two touchdowns) round out a rushing attack that has scored 12 touchdowns. Jaylin Terzado leads the receivers with 21 catches for 310 yards and two scores, and Nathan Stewart is averaging 20.0 yards per catch, including a 90-yard touchdown.

The defense has 13 sacks and 32 tackles for loss. Safety Kemari Nix leads the team with 32 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss; defensive lineman Carl Nesmith has three sacks and six tackles for loss; and linebacker Andrew Harris has 25 tackles, four tackles for loss, an interception, and a fumble recovery. Kicker Patrick Fisher-Butler has a season-long 52-yard field goal.

About Albany

Albany (2-3, 1-1 CAA) leans on its ground game and run defense. The Great Danes average 171.2 rushing yards a game while allowing 121.4, and they control the ball for more than 33 minutes a game.

Joey Koch leads the backfield with 308 yards at 6.7 yards a carry, and Rahshan La Mons has added 294 yards and a team-high 415 all-purpose yards. Quarterback Kai Colón has thrown for 728 yards and six touchdowns. Linebacker Dillon Dunathan leads the defense with 29 tackles, and defensive lineman Shawan Lewis has three sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss.

Prairie View A&M Takes Its Unbeaten SWAC Mark to Mississippi Valley State

Prairie View A&M visits Rice-Totten Stadium at Chuck Prophet Field in Itta Bena, Mississippi, with kickoff at 2 p.m. CT on SWAC TV. Mississippi Valley State leads the all-time series 30-26 in 56 meetings dating back to 1958, but Prairie View A&M has won the last three. The Panthers closed last season with a 59-6 win over the Delta Devils, the most points either team had scored in the series since Prairie View A&M’s 63-0 win in 2016. Mississippi Valley State last beat Prairie View A&M in the series, 27-7, in 2022.

About Prairie View A&M

Prairie View A&M (2-3, 2-0 SWAC) is coming off a 21-14 win over Grambling State in the State Fair Classic, in which the Panthers held the Tigers to 72 rushing yards. Quarterback Tevin Carter has completed 84 of 134 passes for 888 yards and seven touchdowns without an interception, and he has added 206 rushing yards, good for 218.8 yards of total offense a game.

Rodny Ojo leads the receivers with 16 catches for 245 yards, and tight end Travon Jones has three touchdown catches. The Panthers have four interceptions, one each from J.J. Davis, Malachi Williams, Harrison McKinley, and Jalen O’Neal. Head coach Tremaine Jackson is 12-7 in his second season at Prairie View A&M.

About Mississippi Valley State

Mississippi Valley State (1-4, 0-1 SWAC) fell 41-15 at Alabama State last week, but the Delta Devils were closer than the final score suggests. They finished with 240 total yards to Alabama State’s 258, won the first-down battle 13-11, controlled the ball for 34:19, and held Alabama State to 1-for-10 on third down. Four lost fumbles, which the Hornets turned into 14 points, proved to be the difference.

Caleb Brownlow accounted for 130 all-purpose yards and both Delta Devils touchdowns, scoring on a 31-yard catch and a 76-yard run. Dayvian Bluitt had 131 all-purpose yards and leads the team with 209 receiving yards at 20.9 yards per catch. Quarterback Josh Brown has thrown for 521 yards and four touchdowns.

Defensively, Javieane Stevens has four sacks, and Tyrell Johnson returned an interception 95 yards for a touchdown earlier this season. Head coach Terrell Buckley, a College Football Hall of Famer, is in his second season in Itta Bena. A win would snap Mississippi Valley State’s three-game skid against the Panthers.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff Visits Southern for Homecoming

Southern wraps up Homecoming week by hosting Arkansas-Pine Bluff at A.W. Mumford Stadium in Baton Rouge, with kickoff at 6 p.m. CT on SWAC TV. Both teams are 0-1 in SWAC play and chasing their first conference win, with Alcorn State and Prairie View A&M leading the SWAC West at 2-0.

About Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Arkansas-Pine Bluff (2-2, 0-1 SWAC) comes out of an open date. The Golden Lions opened the season with three straight road games, including the SWAC opener when Alcorn State Outlasted Arkansas-Pine Bluff 53-51 in Double Overtime of the Southern Heritage Classic. In that game, Garrison Davis threw four touchdown passes, and Michael Henderson returned an interception 100 yards for a score.

UAPB then won its home opener 41-35 over Central State, piling up 502 yards of total offense, 315 of them on the ground. Za’Marion Webber, Jack Schierholz and Jaylen Jennings all scored rushing touchdowns in that win, giving head coach Alonzo Hampton a deep backfield to lean on in Baton Rouge.

About Southern

Southern (2-3, 0-1 SWAC) is coming off a 35-17 loss at Jackson State in the Boombox Classic, a game the Week 4 recap covers in full. The Jaguars’ wins include Kentucky State (34-15) and Louisiana Christian (50-31), and their losses include a 30-17 decision against Alabama State at a neutral site and a 77-6 defeat at No. 22 Houston.

The ground game is Southern’s best weapon. Trey Holly scored twice in the opener against Kentucky State and ran for a career-high 200 yards against Louisiana Christian, and Mike Franklin gives the Jaguars a second proven option in the backfield. Back home in front of a Homecoming crowd, Southern will look to lean on that rushing attack to add to its SWAC win column.

Tennessee State Opens OVC Play at Western Illinois

Tennessee State opens Ohio Valley Conference play at Western Illinois’ Hanson Field in Macomb, Illinois, with kickoff at 3 p.m. CT on ESPN+. It is the third meeting between the programs, and the road team has won both. Tennessee State won 45-20 at Hanson Field in 2024, and Western Illinois evened the series 17-16 at Nissan Stadium last October on a 51-yard field goal.

Tennessee State (1-3) returns from an open date after its 29-26 win at Florida A&M, sealed when Daylin Lee hit Brenton Paul for a 20-yard touchdown with 51 seconds left. The Tigers had opened with a 26-24 loss to Jackson State, followed by road losses at Georgia and Alabama A&M. Tennessee State has dropped four straight games coming off a bye, and second-year head coach Reggie Barlow is still looking for his first post-bye win.

Lee has completed 71 of 128 passes for 773 yards and three touchdowns. Paul, a freshman, leads the Tigers with 165 rushing yards and four total touchdowns, and he has twice been named OVC Rookie of the Week. Jayden Guy (19 catches, 264 yards) and Cam Bulluck (19 catches, 215 yards) share the team lead in receptions.

Safety Brendan Hale leads the defense with 25 tackles, defensive lineman Brandon Collins has 3.5 tackles for loss, and Jalen LaBranche returned an interception 61 yards for a touchdown at Florida A&M. Western Illinois (2-3) enters off a 23-20 loss at North Alabama, where the Leathernecks led 20-16 inside the final two minutes before giving up the winning score with 51 seconds left.

Also on Tap

Norfolk State at Robert Morris. Norfolk State (3-2) closes a two-game road swing at Robert Morris (2-2, 1-0 NEC) in the first-ever meeting between the programs, with kickoff at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN+, SportsNet Pittsburgh+ and NEC Front Row. It is Homecoming at Joe Walton Stadium, the first of three straight Homecoming games on Norfolk State’s schedule.

The Spartans are coming off a record-setting 43-20 win at Chicago State, the first road win of the Michael Vick era. Norfolk State’s 623 total yards were the fourth most in program history, and Jalyn Daniels’ 95-yard run was the longest in school history. Freshman quarterback DaJean Golmond accounted for 356 yards in his first career start.

“It feels good, but we want more,” Vick said. “I expect to win every week. I’m a winner at heart, and that’s the way our players feel and the way our coaches feel.”

Vick also wants a cleaner game after Norfolk State was flagged 12 times and turned it over three times in Chicago. “The objective is to make more plays than they make,” he said. “We’ve got to eliminate the turnovers, eliminate the mistakes and go play a clean football game.”

Robert Morris nearly upset FBS Buffalo last week, falling 31-28 after pulling within three with 1:46 left. Quarterback Carson Haggard (772 passing yards, eight touchdowns) and linebacker Jake Lopinto (19 tackles) earned NEC Player of the Week honors. Colonials head coach Bernard Clark Jr. knows Norfolk State well from three seasons as Hampton’s defensive coordinator, and associate head coach Rod Holder spent 10 seasons on the Norfolk State staff.

Campbell at North Carolina Central. North Carolina Central (2-3) returns to O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium to host No. 18/24 Campbell (4-1, 2-0 CAA), with kickoff at 6 p.m. ET on the MEAC Network. The Eagles lead the series 2-1 and have won the last two meetings, including a 49-48 overtime thriller in Durham in 2023 and a 45-14 win in Buies Creek in 2024.

NC Central is 22-9 at home under Trei Oliver, and the Eagles’ defense is tied for second in the FCS with 13 forced turnovers. Zarion Walters is tied for the national lead with two fumble recoveries. Campbell, making its first-ever appearance in the AFCA Coaches Poll, has lost only to Florida and features quarterback Kamden Sixkiller, who has thrown for 1,449 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Texas Southern at Florida Atlantic. Texas Southern (1-3, 0-2 SWAC) visits FBS Florida Atlantic (3-1), with kickoff at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+. The Tigers are coming off their overtime loss at Alcorn State, in which Cam’Ron McCoy threw for a season-high 319 yards and linebacker Donovan Jones posted a career-high 15 tackles. Florida Atlantic has won three straight, most recently 45-17 over ULM, and quarterback Caden Veltkamp leads the nation with 28.75 completions a game. Two Texas Southern cornerbacks, MJ Hinson and Jaheim Miller, are former Florida Atlantic players.

Off this week. Florida A&M is idle before returning to SWAC play.