Week 6 is a Homecoming party with heavyweight SWAC fights waiting at the end of the night. Five HBCU campuses welcome their alumni home on Saturday: Morgan State, North Carolina Central, Norfolk State, Delaware State, and Alcorn State. Then the lights come on in north Louisiana, where No. 22 Jackson State, the only unbeaten HBCU left in the FCS, walks into the Hole to face a Grambling State team that just hung 63 points on Alcorn State.

Florida A&M already got the weekend started, stunning Alabama State 28-27 at the Hornets’ Friday Homecoming. Saturday night in Huntsville, Bethune-Cookman chases its first-ever 2-0 start in SWAC play at Alabama A&M, a meeting of the No. 4 and No. 5 teams in the rankings on our 2026 football season dashboard.

North Carolina A&T opens a three-game homestand against New Hampshire; Tennessee State returns to Nissan Stadium for the first time in 329 days to host in-state rival UT Martin with the Sgt. York Trophy on the line, and Howard makes its first-ever trip to Penn. Here is a look at every HBCU game on the board.

Showdown in the Hole: No. 22 Jackson State at Grambling State

The last unbeaten HBCU in the FCS brings its perfect record to Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium, with kickoff at 4 p.m. CT on SWAC TV. Jackson State (5-0, 2-0 SWAC) is No. 22 in both the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll and No. 1 in the Black College Football Poll. Grambling State (3-2, 1-1 SWAC) is 113-40-1 all time at Robinson Stadium, and Mickey Joseph is 11-2 at home with the Tigers.

Grambling State has won the last two meetings, 41-20 in Grambling in 2024 and 26-24 in Las Vegas last season on a last-second field goal. Both teams arrive off fourth-quarter comebacks that the Week 5 recap breaks down: Grambling’s 21 straight points to beat Alcorn State 63-59 and Jackson State’s 21-point fourth-quarter comeback to beat Alabama A&M 31-28 in Mobile.

About Jackson State

Jackson State sits No. 1 in our rankings, and Inside the Numbers takes a deeper look at how the Tigers got there. The offense leads the SWAC and ranks fourth in the FCS at 39.8 points a game, and its 471.6 yards a game rank fifth nationally. Jackson State has not lost a fumble all season, the best mark in the FCS, and has thrown just one interception.

Sophomore quarterback Jared Lockhart has completed 82 of 131 passes for 1,320 yards and 13 touchdowns without an interception, and his 179.98 efficiency rating ranks third in the country. Nate Blount IV has run for 499 yards at 6.5 yards a carry with three 100-yard games, and Nate Rembert leads the receivers with 21 catches for 430 yards. Freshman kicker Andrew Ivaniciuc is 8-of-11 on field goals, including a school-record 51-yarder.

The defense leads the SWAC in total defense (291.6 yards a game) and run defense, allowing just 86.2 rushing yards a game, second in the FCS. Linebacker Keith Bass Jr. leads the team with 26 tackles, and Justin Foster has 3.5 sacks.

T.C. Taylor is 33-9 in his fourth season. A win would be his 34th at Jackson State, tying T.B. Ellis and Robert “Judge” Hughes on the program’s all-time wins list.

About Grambling State

Grambling State is scoring 36.2 points a game, its best average since 2016, and the 63-point win over Alcorn State marked the Tigers’ first 60-point game since a 62-7 win over Oklahoma Panhandle State in 2018. The offense averages 441 yards a game, with 260 through the air and 181 on the ground.

Jordan Bride (23 catches, 352 yards) and Tyson George (23 catches, 319 yards, team-high five touchdowns) lead a deep receiving corps. The defense has been the question mark, allowing 35.2 points and 433.8 yards per game. Jon Horton has been a menace up front with 7.5 tackles for loss, four sacks and two forced fumbles, and Marcellius Johnson leads the Tigers with 29 tackles and two fumble recoveries.

SWAC East Showdown: Bethune-Cookman at Alabama A&M

Alabama A&M hosts its first SWAC home game of the season at 6 p.m. CT at Louis Crews Stadium, with the game on SWAC TV. It is also the Bulldogs’ Breast Cancer Awareness Game. Alabama A&M is No. 4 in the Black College Football Poll, and Bethune-Cookman is No. 6, and the Wildcats and Jackson State are the only teams still unbeaten in SWAC East play.

Bethune-Cookman leads the all-time series 13-7-1, but Alabama A&M is 3-2 since the Wildcats joined the SWAC in 2021 and has won both meetings in Huntsville in that span, including a 56-12 rout in 2024. Bethune-Cookman won 41-34 in Daytona Beach last season. The Wildcats have not won in Huntsville since a 34-21 victory in 1976.

About Bethune-Cookman

Bethune-Cookman (3-2, 1-0 SWAC) earned two SWAC weekly honors after a 16-10 win over Alabama State. Rashon Brown’s 260-yard afternoon, the third-most rushing yards in a game in program history, earned him Offensive Player of the Week, and defensive back Naim Lassiter was named Defensive Player of the Week.

The ground game is the identity. The Wildcats lead the SWAC and rank sixth in the FCS at 246.2 rushing yards a game. Brown has 484 yards and eight touchdowns at 6.1 yards a carry, and Isaiah Daniel has added 247 rushing yards and a team-high 509 all-purpose yards. Josh Evans averages 21 yards per catch with three touchdowns.

The pass defense leads the SWAC and ranks seventh nationally in efficiency, and leads the conference with seven interceptions. Lassiter has 33 tackles, and Isaiah Washburn and Lewon Lurry Jr. each have five tackles for loss.

The stakes are historic. A win would give Bethune-Cookman its first-ever 2-0 start in SWAC play, its first road win over an Alabama school since joining the conference, and the 15th win of Raymond Woodie Jr.’s tenure.

About Alabama A&M

Alabama A&M (4-2, 1-1 SWAC) is set to slow that ground game. The Bulldogs allow just 3.1 yards per carry, seventh in the FCS, and rank eighth nationally in yards allowed per game at 293.2. Linebacker D.J. Barber leads the team with 61 tackles, and Jeremiah Hudson-Davis has two interceptions.

The offense ranks fourth in the FCS, averaging 451.5 yards per game. Graduate quarterback Cornelious Brown IV has completed 121 of 188 passes for 1,572 yards, 14 touchdowns, and three interceptions; he is sixth nationally in passing yards and plays the 50th game of his college career Saturday. Jarel Williams (30 catches, 441 yards, five touchdowns), Jaylan Bean (23 catches, 332 yards, four touchdowns) and Jordan Chambers-Smith (18 catches, 331 yards, four touchdowns) give him three dangerous targets.

The Bulldogs are 3-0 at home, and a win would give them five victories, already more than their four in 2025.

Homecoming in Baltimore: Robert Morris at Morgan State

Morgan State celebrates Homecoming at Hughes Stadium with a noon kickoff on ESPN+. The Bears are 4-1 for the first time since 2009, ride a three-game winning streak, and are No. 3 in both BOXTOROW HBCU polls. Robert Morris (3-2, 1-0 NEC) is playing its final nonconference game, and both teams are receiving votes in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll.

The series is tied 1-1, and Saturday is the rubber match. Morgan State won 13-12 at Hughes Stadium in 2011, and Robert Morris won 31-14 in 2013.

About Morgan State

Cameron Edge earned the weekly awards after throwing for 444 yards in the 38-35 win over Villanova. He earned Stats Perform FCS National Offensive Player of the Week and MEAC Offensive Player of the Week honors, while Evan Cooke was named MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Week and Alex Amaya Specialist of the Week.

Edge has completed 69.8 percent of his passes for 1,156 yards and 10 touchdowns. Sophomore Justin Perry leads the MEAC with 424 receiving yards on 21 catches, and Keith Jenkins Jr. leads the conference at 28.3 yards per kickoff return with 593 all-purpose yards. The Bears have scored on 16 of 17 red-zone trips. Linebacker Darius Jones leads the defense with 27 tackles, and Donovan Moyer has five sacks.

About Robert Morris

Robert Morris won its own Homecoming last week, 33-31 over Norfolk State, and quarterback Carson Haggard was named NEC Offensive Player of the Week for the second straight week. Haggard has thrown for 1,068 yards and 12 touchdowns, and Jaqai Carter (23 catches, 317 yards) and Galen Combs (15 catches, 307 yards) are tied for the NEC lead with five touchdown catches apiece.

The Colonials lead the NEC in scoring defense (24.6 points per game) and sacks (13), and opponents convert just 29.7 percent of their third downs. Linebacker Amanuel Dickson has 52 tackles. Cornerback Tahseen Howard, who returned a missed field goal 100 yards for a touchdown against Norfolk State, comes home to Baltimore, where he played at Milford Mill Academy.

New Hampshire at North Carolina A&T

North Carolina A&T hosts New Hampshire at noon at Truist Stadium, with the game streaming on FloCollege. Both teams are 1-2 in CAA play. Saturday opens a three-game homestand for the Aggies, ending Oct. 31 with the 100th Greatest Homecoming on Earth against Elon.

New Hampshire is the 20th first-time opponent A&T has faced since leaving the MEAC in 2021. The Aggies are 5-14 against the previous 19.

About North Carolina A&T

North Carolina A&T (1-5) is coming off a 31-30 loss at Bryant, but the Aggies ran for a season-high 175 yards in that game, their second straight game over 160. That is worth watching against a New Hampshire run defense that ranks 120th of 124 FCS teams.

Quarterback Kevin White has thrown for 834 yards and eight touchdowns, with two three-touchdown games this season. Elijah Kennedy, a preseason All-American return specialist, leads the team with 25 catches, 259 receiving yards and 594 all-purpose yards. Freshman kicker Asher Holland is 7-of-10 on field goals.

The defense has forced eight turnovers in its last 12 quarters, up from one in its first 12. Linebacker Donavan Frederick leads the team with 38 tackles, and linebacker Tyrek Brown has 35 tackles, an interception, and two fumble recoveries.

About New Hampshire

New Hampshire (2-4, 1-2 CAA) beat Elon 30-23 at its Homecoming last week, stopping the Phoenix on fourth down at the 7-yard line as time expired. First-year head coach Sean Goldrich is a former Wildcats quarterback who spent the last four seasons as Delaware’s quarterbacks coach.

Senior quarterback Brooks Bentley has completed 63.2 percent of his passes with five touchdowns and three interceptions. Running back Joquez Smith averages 5.97 yards a carry with 364 yards and three touchdowns, and Ja’Carree Kelly leads the receivers with 29 catches for 345 yards. Sophomore linebacker Trevor Barry ranks fourth in the nation at 11.8 tackles a game.

UT Martin at Tennessee State: The Sgt. York Trophy

Tennessee State will host UT Martin at Nissan Stadium for the first time since Nov. 15, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPN+. It is the start of a three-game homestand and a Sgt. York Trophy game. With Tennessee State and UT Martin now the only Tennessee schools in the OVC, the trophy will be decided head-to-head for the first time in its 20-year history. Tennessee State won the first trophy in 2007 and kept it in 2008.

Saturday marks the 36th meeting in a series dating to 1976. Tennessee State leads 18-17, but UT Martin has won five straight, including 26-7 last season in Martin. The Tigers last won the series with a 26-24 win at Hale Stadium in spring 2021.

About Tennessee State

Tennessee State (1-4, 0-1 OVC) carried a 21-10 lead into the fourth quarter at Western Illinois before three late turnovers turned it into a 28-21 loss. Daylin Lee accounted for all three touchdowns that day and has thrown for 1,018 yards and five touchdowns this season. He has been responsible for seven of the Tigers’ nine offensive touchdowns.

Freshman Brenton Paul, a two-time OVC Rookie of the Week, leads the team with 227 rushing yards. Cam Bulluck leads the Tigers with 25 catches, and Jayden Guy leads them with 329 receiving yards. The defense has picked off a pass in three straight games, and Kaiki Baker and Brendan Hale share the team lead with 25 tackles apiece.

About UT Martin

UT Martin (1-4) opens OVC play off an open date. The Skyhawks led nationally ranked Austin Peay 12-7 at halftime in their last game before losing 35-12. They were picked first in the OVC preseason poll and have won four of the last five conference titles.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Tate Surber leads the OVC with a 67.3 completion percentage, and Tommy Ansley leads the league with six rushing touchdowns. Punter Max Zuluaga averages 48.6 yards per kick. Head coach Jason Simpson, in his 21st season, is one conference win away from becoming the third coach in OVC history with 100.

Homecoming Saturday

William & Mary at North Carolina Central

NC Central closes its nonconference schedule with Homecoming against William & Mary at 1 p.m. at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium, streaming on ESPN+. It is the first meeting between the programs, and only the second time NC Central has faced a current Patriot League team. The Eagles are 64-23-2 all time on Homecoming and have won four of the last five, despite last year’s 35-26 loss to Delaware State.

NC Central (2-4) has lost three straight for the first time since 2021, including a 38-31 loss to Campbell last week. Quarterback Nelson Layne has eight combined touchdowns, four passing and four rushing, and Plez Lawrence leads the team with 317 rushing yards and four scores. The defense is tied for second in the FCS with 14 forced turnovers. Zarion Walters has 10.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and three forced fumbles, and Joshua Truesdale leads the team with 52 tackles.

William & Mary (2-4, 1-3 Patriot League) opened its first Patriot League season by beating Villanova on the road but has lost four straight. Head coach Mike London, who led Howard in 2017 and 2018, would move into sole possession of second-place on William & Mary’s all-time wins list with a win. Freshman receiver Khylil Johnson averages 24.6 yards per catch, second in the FCS, and quarterback Winston Watkins has not thrown an interception in his last 119 attempts. The Tribe are allowing 41 points and 269 rushing yards a game.

Virginia-Lynchburg at Norfolk State

Norfolk State hosts Virginia University of Lynchburg for Homecoming at 2 p.m. at William “Dick” Price Stadium on the MEAC Network, in a game that doubles as the Spartans’ Breast Cancer Awareness game. Last year’s Homecoming drew a school-record 47,273 fans, part of a 21,212-per-game home average that ranked fifth in the FCS.

At 3-3, Norfolk State has tripled last season’s win total and is one win away from its best season since 2021. The Spartans are 2-0 at home. “Hopefully we pack the house and give them something to cheer about,” Michael Vick said. Later he added, “It would be nice to go undefeated at home.”

Jalyn Daniels has 523 rushing yards, 15th in the FCS, and has topped 100 yards in all three Spartan wins. Jason Wonodi ranks second nationally with two punt-return touchdowns, and center Tyler Leinberger has the eighth-best Pro Football Focus grade among FCS offensive linemen. Virginia-Lynchburg (0-5), an NCCAA member, has been outscored 229-36. Norfolk State won the only previous meeting, 42-14 in 2021, and the Spartans head into an open date before opening MEAC play at South Carolina State on Oct. 24.

Franklin Pierce at Delaware State

Delaware State celebrates Homecoming against Franklin Pierce at 1 p.m. at Alumni Stadium, with the game on the MEAC Network. The Hornets (3-3) are No. 8 in the Black College Football Poll and are 3-0 at home, with wins over Stony Brook, Bowie State, and Towson. They are coming off a 28-3 loss at UAlbany, where Carl Nesmith had 2.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.

Arkansas Baptist at Alcorn State

Alcorn State hosts Arkansas Baptist for Homecoming at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium, with kickoff just after 2 p.m. CT on SWAC TV. The programs have never met. Alcorn State (3-3, 2-1 SWAC) is coming off the 63-59 shootout at Grambling, where receiver Jamarr Ebron caught three passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns to earn SWAC Newcomer of the Week. Arkansas Baptist is 2-4 overall and 2-2 in SAC play.

A win would give Cedric Thomas his 15th victory and move the Braves to 4-3 before a trip to Prairie View A&M next week.

Around the HBCU Slate

Howard at Penn

Howard and Penn meet for the first time at 1 p.m. at Franklin Field, streaming on ESPN+. Howard (2-3) snapped a three-game skid with a 27-13 win over Hampton, when the defense posted a season-high six sacks. Linebacker Aidan Foster was named MEAC Defensive Player of the Week and leads the Bison with 30 tackles, and Rodney Roane leads the team with three sacks. Kicker Matt Conord is 5-for-5 on field goals, and the Bison are 9-for-9 in the red zone.

Penn (1-2, 0-1 Ivy League) is coming off a 14-10 loss at Dartmouth. First-year head coach Rick Santos arrived from New Hampshire, where he went 37-24 with three FCS playoff berths. The Quakers’ defense leads the Ivy League, allowing 218.7 yards per game and 13.7 points per game, and freshman Miles Teodecki has started all three games at quarterback.

No. 21 South Carolina State at Charleston Southern

South Carolina State visits Buccaneer Field at noon ET looking to bounce back from its 34-31 loss to The Citadel. The Bulldogs (5-1) are No. 21 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25, No. 2 in the Black College Football Poll and No. 2 in our rankings. Charleston Southern won the last meeting, 31-24.

South Carolina State averages 44.3 points and 248 rushing yards per game and has scored on 24 of 25 red-zone trips. Mason Pickett-Hicks has run for 703 yards at 8.6 yards a carry, and Josh Shaw has 10 rushing touchdowns. Ka’Von Chisolm leads the defense with 21 sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss, and seven sacks of his own.

That pass rush meets a Charleston Southern line that has allowed 23 sacks. The Buccaneers (2-3, 0-2 Big South-OVC) lost 12-10 to Gardner-Webb last week but allow just 16.6 points per game, and Hakeem Watters has 297 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 7.2 yards per carry.

Mississippi Valley State at Texas Southern

Mississippi Valley State visits W.W. Thorne Stadium at 2 p.m. CT on SWAC TV, riding the momentum of its rally from 24 points down to beat Prairie View A&M 28-27. Quarterback Josh Brown accounted for all four touchdowns, three on the ground, and kicker Nina Schiks made all three extra-point attempts.

A win would give the Delta Devils (2-4, 1-1 SWAC) back-to-back victories for the first time this season and their first win at Texas Southern since 2008. Javieane Stevens leads the defense with 7.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks, and Dayvian Bluitt has 700 all-purpose yards. Texas Southern (1-4, 0-2 SWAC) has lost four straight, most recently 66-10 at Florida Atlantic, and won last year’s meeting 23-20.

Southern at Prairie View A&M

Southern visits Panther Stadium for a 3 p.m. CT kickoff, moved from 2 p.m., with the game now streaming on HBCU GO. It is Prairie View A&M’s Pink Out game. Prairie View won 24-3 in Baton Rouge last season, and the road team has won each of the last five meetings.

Prairie View A&M (2-4, 2-1 SWAC) was picked to win the SWAC West and still shares first place in the division after letting a 24-0 lead slip away at Mississippi Valley State. Southern (2-4, 0-2 SWAC) has dropped two straight, including a 41-10 Homecoming loss to Arkansas-Pine Bluff in which Trey Holly ran for 114 yards.

Follow every score as it happens on the 2026 football season dashboard.