Week 9 starts on a Thursday night in Baltimore, and it might settle the MEAC race before most of the HBCU world plays a snap. No. 2 South Carolina State visits No. 5 Morgan State in the Black College Football Poll, with the two teams combining for about two-thirds of the MEAC odds in the latest Toyota Championship Projection.

Then Saturday gets loaded. North Carolina A&T celebrates its 100th Homecoming, the Greatest Homecoming on Earth, against Elon. No. 1 Alabama A&M and No. 7 Alabama State meet at Legion Field in the Magic City Classic. No. 3 Bethune-Cookman takes its upset momentum to Pine Bluff; No. 9 Howard visits North Carolina Central in a 1-0 MEAC matchup; and Delaware State and Norfolk State return to Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

Rankings are from this week’s Black College Football Poll. Here is a look at every Division I HBCU game on the board.

Jackson State and Prairie View A&M are idle this week.

Thursday Night in Baltimore: No. 2 South Carolina State at No. 5 Morgan State

South Carolina State and Morgan State kick off at 7 p.m. ET at Hughes Stadium on ESPNU. South Carolina State (6-2, 1-0 MEAC) has won 12 straight MEAC games and leads the projection at 40.63%. Morgan State (5-3, 0-1 MEAC) sits at 25.40% after an overtime loss to Howard, and both teams have five days’ rest.

The stakes are about as high as a MEAC game in October can get. The league plays only five conference games, and the MEAC champion goes straight to Atlanta. A South Carolina State win would give the Bulldogs a 2-0 start and a head-to-head win over one of their top challengers. A Morgan State loss would leave the Bears 0-2 with three games to play.

The yardage numbers favor the visitors. South Carolina State gains 435.6 yards a game and allows 247.4, the fewest of any Division I HBCU. Morgan State gains 355.0 and allows 408.1. The Bulldogs run for 212.8 yards a game, and the Bears allow 125.4 on the ground. Morgan State’s best path may be through the air: the Bears throw for 233.5 yards a game, while South Carolina State allows 152.2.

About South Carolina State

South Carolina State scores 40.9 points a game and allows 17.6. Those numbers are padded by an 87-0 win over Savannah State and a 66-0 win over Virginia State, but the Bulldogs also beat Furman, Bethune-Cookman, Florida A&M and Norfolk State. They lost by 3 points to The Citadel and by 10 to Charleston Southern.

Mason Pickett-Hicks leads the rushing attack with 733 yards and seven touchdowns, including both scores in last week’s 22-7 win over Norfolk State. The Bulldogs are No. 1 in the Data Driven HBCU Computer Poll, and this week’s poll analysis breaks down why.

About Morgan State

Morgan State was 5-1 three weeks ago. Since then, the Bears have lost at Tennessee State and at home to Howard, scoring 16 and 20 points in those two games.

Cameron Edge has thrown for 1,694 yards and 14 touchdowns with five interceptions. Justin Perry leads the Bears with 481 receiving yards, and Joseph Towler has six touchdown catches. Morgan State’s pass defense has been the concern, allowing 282.8 yards a game.

GHOE 100: Elon at North Carolina A&T

North Carolina A&T hosts Elon at 1 p.m. ET at Truist Stadium in Greensboro, with the game on FloCollege and My48. It is the 100th edition of the Greatest Homecoming on Earth, and the Aggies had last week off to prepare.

A&T (3-5, 2-2 CAA) has won three of its last four games, including a 22-18 upset of then No. 19 Rhode Island. Kevin White has thrown for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns, and Michael Carlock-Williams has five touchdown catches. Carlock-Williams caught two of White’s three touchdown passes in the 27-12 win over Chicago State on Oct. 17.

Elon (4-4, 2-2 CAA) comes in off a bye and a three-game losing streak, but it has dominated this series lately. The Phoenix have won the last three meetings, including a 55-17 rout in last year’s regular season finale, with nine sacks in that game. Freshman running back Kamerin McDowell-Moore has 1,080 yards and seven touchdowns, including five 100-yard games.

The matchup to watch is A&T’s run defense, which allows 165.8 yards a game, against McDowell-Moore’s 135.0 yards a game.

The Magic City Classic: No. 7 Alabama State vs. No. 1 Alabama A&M

Alabama A&M and Alabama State meet at 3:30 p.m. ET at Legion Field in Birmingham, streaming on ESPN+. Alabama A&M (6-2, 3-1 SWAC) wins the SWAC East in 60.42% of the projection’s simulations and reaches Atlanta in 49.10%. Alabama State (4-3, 2-2 SWAC) has a 1.70% chance to win the East.

The Celebration Bowl rates this one’s projection impact as extremely high. An Alabama A&M win strengthens its grip on the East. An Alabama State win would reopen the division for Bethune-Cookman, Jackson State, and the Hornets themselves.

It is a matchup of strengths. Alabama A&M has the most productive offense among Division I HBCUs, averaging 492.5 yards a game and throwing for 290.4. Alabama State allows just 17.9 points a game, the second fewest of any Division I HBCU, and 173.0 passing yards. The Hornets’ own offense has been the problem, averaging 281.4 yards a game.

About Alabama A&M

Alabama A&M scores 40.1 points a game and allows 20.0. Cornelious Brown has thrown for 2,158 yards and 21 touchdowns with five interceptions, and Jarel Williams and Jaylan Bean each have eight touchdown catches. Williams leads the team with 686 receiving yards.

The Bulldogs are coming off a bye after back-to-back routs of Bethune-Cookman (55-17) and Grambling State (61-31). They are No. 1 in the Black College Football Poll and No. 2 in our computer poll.

About Alabama State

Alabama State has not played since Oct. 17, when it won 21-15 at Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Its two SWAC losses came by a combined seven points, 16-10 at Bethune-Cookman and 28-27 to Florida A&M. The Hornets run for 157.1 yards a game and throw for 124.3, and they will need to move the ball against a defense that allows 279.5 yards a game.

No. 3 Bethune-Cookman at Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Bethune-Cookman visits Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 3 p.m. ET at Simmons Bank Field, with the game on SWAC TV. The Wildcats (5-3, 3-1 SWAC) are tied with Alabama A&M atop the East and are at 27.16% to win the division. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (4-3, 2-2 SWAC) is at 14.92% to win the West.

This is a cross-division game that matters to both races. Bethune-Cookman needs to keep pace with Alabama A&M, and the Golden Lions cannot afford to fall further behind Grambling State and Prairie View A&M.

Both teams want to run. Bethune-Cookman runs for 220.9 yards a game, the most among Division I HBCUs, and Arkansas-Pine Bluff runs for 208.7. The Wildcats throw for just 104.6 yards a game, though Arkansas-Pine Bluff allows 312.7 through the air, the most of any Division I HBCU.

About Bethune-Cookman

Rashon Brown leads the Wildcats with 696 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Tyler Jefferson, the SWAC Newcomer of the Week, has thrown for 609 yards and run for 255 more, and linebacker Stephen Sparrow was named Defensive Player of the Week after the win over Jackson State.

The Wildcats have been outgained by 23.5 yards a game this season, but they have won the close ones, including a 16-10 win over Alabama State and last week’s 24-21 win over Jackson State.

About Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Arkansas-Pine Bluff held on to a 31-28 win over Florida A&M last week after blocking an extra point in the final minutes. Za’Marion Webber leads the rushing attack with 400 yards, and D’Avery Robinson has six touchdown catches. The Golden Lions score 32.6 points a game but allow 30.9.

No. 9 Howard at North Carolina Central

Howard visits North Carolina Central at 2 p.m. ET at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium, with the game streaming on ESPN+. Both teams are 1-0 in MEAC play. Howard is at 27.94% in the projection after its overtime win at Morgan State, and North Carolina Central is at 4.10% after its 31-12 win at Delaware State.

Howard (4-4) ended a 15-game road losing streak in Baltimore on Ben Chandler IV’s 87-yard interception return in overtime. A second straight road win would put the Bison at 2-0 and keep them on South Carolina State’s heels.

North Carolina Central (3-5) can move to 2-0 in conference play and push deeper into the race. The Eagles ran for 272 yards in Dover, and Gino Addison, the MEAC Offensive Player and Rookie of the Week, ran for 214 of them. Gino Addison runs for 214 Yards as North Carolina Central Opens MEAC Play With a 31-12 Win at Delaware State; get the full story.

The Eagles have the edge on paper. They gain 333.4 yards a game to Howard’s 265.8, and they run for 174.5 a game against a Howard defense that allows 130.2. Howard’s defense has been better against FCS teams, allowing 21.8 points a game in those games, and MEAC Defensive Player of the Week Zarion Walters leads a North Carolina Central front with 6.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss this season.

Around the Division I HBCU Slate

HBCU Battle of the Legends: Delaware State vs. Norfolk State (Philadelphia)

Delaware State and Norfolk State return to Lincoln Financial Field for the second HBCU Battle of the Legends, part of One Philly HBCU Week. Norfolk State is the designated home team. Last year’s game drew 47,266 fans, and Delaware State won 27-20. The Hornets lead the series 18-11, and the sideline matchup reunites former Philadelphia Eagles teammates, with Michael Vick coaching Norfolk State and DeSean Jackson coaching Delaware State.

Both teams are 4-4 and 0-1 in MEAC play, and both are long shots in the projection, with Delaware State at 1.16% and Norfolk State at 0.77%. A second conference loss would all but end either team’s hopes in a five-game league schedule.

Norfolk State has the better numbers. The Spartans run for 201.9 yards a game behind Jalyn Daniels, who has 657 rushing yards, and their defense allows just 102.4 on the ground. They have split time at quarterback between DaJean Golmond and Deljay Bailey, and turnovers hurt them last week at South Carolina State, where Golmond threw two interceptions and lost a fumble in a 22-7 loss.

Delaware State is coming off a 31-12 home loss to North Carolina Central in which it allowed 272 rushing yards. Ui Ale has thrown for 1,124 yards, and the Hornets gain 373.6 yards a game while allowing 345.8.

Southern at Florida A&M

Florida A&M hosts Southern at 3 p.m. ET at Bragg Memorial Stadium on HBCU GO. Both teams are 1-3 in SWAC play. Southern (3-5) is at 2.71% to win the West, down from 12.3% a week ago, and Florida A&M (2-6) is ineligible for the postseason.

Southern lost 24-21 at Texas Southern last week on a field goal with one second left. Trey Holly has run for 791 yards and seven touchdowns, and Christian Johnson has thrown for 1,059 yards and 10 touchdowns with just one interception. The Jaguars’ defense has struggled, allowing 33.4 points and 218.0 rushing yards a game.

Florida A&M plays its second straight home game after a 31-28 Homecoming loss to Arkansas-Pine Bluff, when the Rattlers scored three touchdowns but made just one extra point. Armond Parker has thrown for 1,081 yards and 10 touchdowns. The matchup to watch is Holly against a Rattlers defense that allows 231.5 rushing yards a game, the most among Division I HBCUs.

No. 10 Alcorn State at Mississippi Valley State

Alcorn State visits Mississippi Valley State at 3 p.m. ET on SWAC TV. Both teams are 2-2 in SWAC play and coming off a bye. Alcorn State (4-4) is at 12.61% to win the West and needs a win to stay close to Grambling State, Prairie View A&M and Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

Every Alcorn State SWAC game has come down to the wire. The Braves beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff 53-51 in double overtime and Texas Southern 43-40 in overtime, then lost 63-59 at Grambling State and 41-38 at Prairie View A&M. Jaylon Tolbert has thrown for 2,364 yards and 24 touchdowns, and the Braves score 41.9 points a game while allowing 37.0.

Mississippi Valley State (3-5) beat Prairie View A&M 28-27 and Texas Southern 38-34 before losing 34-14 to Bethune-Cookman. Josh Brown has thrown for 1,127 yards and leads the Delta Devils with seven rushing touchdowns, and Dayvian Bluitt has 449 receiving yards. Mississippi Valley State allows 34.1 points per game, which could lead to another high-scoring afternoon.

No. 6 Grambling State at Texas Southern

Grambling State visits Texas Southern on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. CT) on SWAC TV. Grambling State (4-3, 2-2 SWAC) leads the projection’s West race at 36.69%, but Prairie View A&M is less than four points behind, and the Panthers won the head-to-head meeting in the State Fair Classic.

The Tigers have not played since a 61-31 loss at Alabama A&M on Oct. 17. Jacobe Robinson has thrown nine touchdown passes, and Tyson George leads the team with 460 receiving yards and six touchdowns. The defense is the concern: Grambling State allows 466.9 yards a game, the most among Division I HBCUs.

Texas Southern (2-5, 1-3 SWAC) won its first SWAC game last week on Miguel Arana III’s 46-yard field goal with one second left, and Athean Renfro Jr. ran for 135 yards. Renfro has 666 rushing yards this season, and Cam’Ron McCoy has thrown for 1,149. The Tigers allow 43.0 points a game, the most of any Division I HBCU.

Hampton at Towson

Hampton (1-7, 0-4 CAA) visits Towson at 1 p.m. ET on Monumental Sports Network. Towson is 0-8, so one of these two teams will leave with its first CAA win of the season.

The Pirates have not won since beating Virginia University of Lynchburg in their season opener. They’ve lost to Bryant, Campbell, Sacred Heart, and Monmouth, including a 49-13 loss to the nationally ranked Hawks at last week’s Homecoming.

Hampton has struggled on both sides of the ball, scoring 17.0 points a game, the fewest among Division I HBCUs, and allowing 198.9 rushing yards a game. Tre’Von Taylor has thrown for 858 yards and six touchdowns.

Tennessee State at Lindenwood

Tennessee State (2-6, 0-3 OVC) visits Lindenwood at 2 p.m. ET at Harlen C. Hunter Stadium in St. Charles, Mo., streaming on ESPN+. The Tigers still need their first OVC win, and Lindenwood comes in at 3-4.

Tennessee State’s offense has been built on the pass. Daylin Lee has thrown for 1,668 yards and 11 touchdowns, and the Tigers run for just 61.1 yards a game, the fewest among Division I HBCUs. Cam Bulluck has caught a touchdown pass in four straight games and leads the team with 618 receiving yards.

Last week, Charleston Southern held the Tigers to 136 total yards and sacked them six times in a 20-7 loss at Nissan Stadium. The week before, Tennessee State beat then No. 24 Morgan State 25-16 on Homecoming, showing the Tigers can win when the offense finds its footing.

Follow every result and the full standings on the 2026 football season dashboard.