Homecoming season is in full swing. Seven HBCUs welcome their alumni home on Saturday: Alabama A&M, Jackson State, Tennessee State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Mississippi Valley State, Prairie View A&M, and Howard. A few of those parties carry a lot of weight.

The headliner is in Huntsville, where No. 3 Alabama A&M hosts No. 4 Grambling State in the Black College Football Poll. Grambling is fresh off its 45-38 win over Jackson State, and Alabama A&M has not lost at home all season. Jackson State tries to bounce back against Florida A&M at its own Homecoming, and new No. 1 Morgan State plays under the lights at Nissan Stadium on Tennessee State’s big day.

No. 9 Alabama State and No. 10 Arkansas-Pine Bluff also meet in Pine Bluff, and Mississippi Valley State puts a two-game winning streak on the line against Bethune-Cookman. Here is a look at every HBCU game on the board.

Delaware State, Norfolk State, North Carolina Central, South Carolina State, Southern, and Texas Southern are idle this week.

Top Four Showdown: No. 4 Grambling State at No. 3 Alabama A&M

Alabama A&M celebrates Homecoming against Grambling State at 2 p.m. CT at Louis Crews Stadium, with the game on SWAC TV. The Bulldogs are No. 3 in the Black College Football Poll with 418 points, and the Tigers are right behind them at No. 4 with 412 points and a first-place vote. Both teams are 2-1 in SWAC play.

Grambling won last year’s meeting 13-10 in a game where neither offense reached 180 yards, and Delano Franklin’s 64-yard punt return touchdown with just over seven minutes left decided it. Alabama A&M had won the three meetings before that, including a 45-24 win in Grambling in 2023. Grambling has not won in Huntsville since 2018.

About Alabama A&M

Alabama A&M (5-2, 2-1 SWAC) is off to its best start since 2011 and is a perfect 4-0 at home, outscoring visitors 168-46. A win would be the Bulldogs’ fifth straight home win this season, their most since 2003. They are coming off a 55-17 rout of Bethune-Cookman that included 335 rushing yards and four takeaways.

The Bulldogs lead the SWAC in total defense, allowing 285 yards per game and giving up just 18.4 points per game. Linebacker D.J. Barber leads the team with 72 tackles, and Jeremiah Hudson-Davis has 55 tackles and two interceptions.

The offense averages 37.1 points and 459 yards a game. Graduate quarterback Cornelious Brown IV has thrown for 1,741 yards and 16 touchdowns against four interceptions, and Jarel Williams leads the receivers with 34 catches for 574 yards and seven touchdowns. Freshman Byron Perrilliat averages 7.1 yards per carry, and kicker David Faulk is 9-of-12 on field goals.

About Grambling State

Grambling State (4-2, 2-1 SWAC) has scored 108 points in its last two games, beating Alcorn State 63-59 and Jackson State 45-38. The Tigers average 37.7 points and 440.5 yards a game, and they have already run for 16 touchdowns, one more than all of last season. Saturday is their first true road game since Sept. 12 at TCU.

Jacobe Robinson was named SWAC Newcomer of the Week after throwing four touchdown passes against Jackson State, and he has eight touchdowns against one interception this season. Tyson George leads the receivers with 31 catches for 412 yards and six touchdowns, and D’Shaun Ford has five rushing touchdowns.

The defense has been the question all season, allowing 35.7 points and 433.2 yards a game. Jon Horton has four sacks, and Donte Hookfin has three tackles for loss against Jackson State. Mickey Joseph is 16-14 at Grambling and has won six straight at home, but his teams have lost three straight on the road.

Homecoming in Jackson: Florida A&M at Jackson State

Jackson State returns home for the first time in three weeks to host Florida A&M for Homecoming at 2 p.m. CT at Veterans Memorial Stadium, streaming on ESPN+. Jackson State leads the series 14-8-2 and has won the last two meetings, 35-21 at Homecoming in Jackson in 2024 and 41-16 in Tallahassee last season.

The standings add some spice. Jackson State is tied atop the SWAC East at 2-1 with Alabama A&M and Mississippi Valley State, and Florida A&M is a half game back at 1-1. A Rattlers win would put them ahead of the Tigers.

About Jackson State

Jackson State (5-1, 2-1 SWAC) leads the SWAC in total offense at 464.7 yards a game and third-down conversions at 51.3 percent, and it ranks second in run defense at 105.3 yards allowed a game. Jackson State is also 3-0 at home this season.

The quarterback spot is worth watching. Jared Lockhart, who leads the SWAC in passing efficiency and has not thrown an interception in 138 attempts, left the Grambling game at halftime, and his status was not known when the teams’ game notes were released this week. Caron Tyler threw for 111 yards and a touchdown and ran for 67 yards in relief.

The backfield is banged up, too. Nate Blount IV sat out at Grambling after missing the second half against Alabama A&M, and Emari Matthews left early in the second half. Freshman Li’Darius Pryor stepped in with 166 yards and three touchdowns, all career highs. Nate Rembert leads the SWAC with 88.5 receiving yards a game.

About Florida A&M

Florida A&M (2-4, 1-1 SWAC) comes to Jackson riding the high of its 28-27 comeback at Alabama State. Armand Burris was named BOXTOROW HBCU National Player of the Week for his two long touchdowns, and he averages 30.3 yards per catch.

Freshman quarterback Armond Parker has thrown for 762 yards and eight touchdowns, and he ranks third in the SWAC in passing efficiency. Justin Bostic has three interceptions, tied for the SWAC lead at 0.5 a game; Antonio Camon has three sacks and six tackles for loss; and linebacker Denzel Johnson leads the team with 38 tackles. The Rattlers have scored 37 of their points in the fourth quarter, more than in any other quarter.

New No. 1 Morgan State Visits Tennessee State

Morgan State takes its new No. 1 ranking in the Black College Football Poll to Nissan Stadium for Tennessee State’s Homecoming, with kickoff at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+. The Bears also made their first-ever appearance in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 this week at No. 24. Our computer poll comparison takes a deeper look at how Morgan State stacks up.

The programs have not met since 1987, and Tennessee State has won all four meetings. Saturday starts a home-and-home series, with the return game in Baltimore in 2027.

About Morgan State

Morgan State (5-1) is playing its final nonconference game before opening MEAC play against Howard on Oct. 24. A win would make the Bears 6-1 for the first time since 1979 and would be Damon Wilson’s 24th at Morgan State. Their last two wins, at Villanova and against Robert Morris, were decided in the final two minutes.

Cameron Edge has completed 68.3 percent of his passes for 1,337 yards and 11 touchdowns. Justin Perry leads the MEAC with 451 receiving yards, Joseph Towler leads the conference with four touchdown catches, and Keith Jenkins Jr. leads the MEAC at 27.1 yards per kickoff return. Donovan Moyer leads the MEAC with six sacks, and offensive lineman Kelton Sparks was named the MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Week after the win over Robert Morris.

About Tennessee State

Tennessee State (1-5, 0-2 OVC) is coming off a 42-28 loss to UT Martin in which Daylin Lee threw for 376 yards and four touchdowns. Lee leads the OVC with nine touchdown passes and 1,394 yards, and the Tigers rank third in the league in passing at 238.5 yards per game.

Cam Bulluck has 32 catches for 457 yards and five touchdowns, and Jayden Guy has added 23 catches. The run game has been tough sledding, averaging 63.7 yards a game, and the defense is giving up 460.2 yards a game.

No. 9 vs. No. 10: Alabama State at Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Arkansas-Pine Bluff hosts Alabama State for Homecoming in Pine Bluff, with kickoff at 2:05 p.m. CT on SWAC TV. It is a top 10 meeting in the Black College Football Poll, with Alabama State at No. 9 and the Golden Lions at No. 10.

Alabama State leads the series 15-6, has won 13 of the last 15 meetings and is 5-0 all time in Pine Bluff. The Hornets won last season’s meeting 44-13 in Montgomery. A familiar face is on the Alabama State sideline, too. Offensive coordinator Tony Hull spent the previous two seasons at UAPB.

About Alabama State

Alabama State (3-3, 1-2 SWAC) has lost two straight by a combined seven points, most recently the 28-27 loss to Florida A&M on a blocked field goal at the gun. Even so, the Hornets lead the SWAC in scoring defense, allowing 18.3 points per game and just 10 third-quarter points all season.

Jamarie Hostzclaw leads the team with 383 rushing yards and five touchdowns, and his 128-yard game against Florida A&M was the Hornets’ first individual 100-yard game of the season. Linebacker Mitchell Robinson Jr. is second in the SWAC at 8.2 tackles a game, Omari Russell has two interceptions and a pick-six, and kicker Andrew Abu-Akel leads the SWAC with 1.8 field goals a game. Freshman DJ Hicks returned a 98-yard kickoff for a touchdown.

About Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Arkansas-Pine Bluff (3-2, 1-1 SWAC) is rested after a bye and comes in with two straight wins, including a 41-10 win at Southern. The Golden Lions average 36.4 points a game and run for 223 yards a game, second in the FCS.

Quarterback Garrison Davis has thrown 11 touchdown passes, and Demetric Whitlock (22 catches, 341 yards) and D’Avery Robinson (11 catches, 218 yards) each have five touchdown catches. Za’Marion Webber averages 7.8 yards a carry. The pass defense has struggled, allowing 351.8 yards per game, which could give Alabama State’s 11th-ranked SWAC passing game an opening.

Bethune-Cookman at Mississippi Valley State

Mississippi Valley State hosts Bethune-Cookman for Homecoming at 2 p.m. CT at Rice-Totten Stadium on SWAC TV, under the theme “Let the Good Times Roll!” Bethune-Cookman leads the series 9-2 and has won four straight, including 42-34 last season.

Itta Bena has been kind to the Wildcats. Bethune-Cookman has won only three road games since joining the SWAC in 2021, and two of them came at Mississippi Valley State.

About Mississippi Valley State

Mississippi Valley State (3-4, 2-1 SWAC) has won two straight one-possession SWAC games, rallying past Texas Southern 38-34 a week after coming back to beat Prairie View A&M. The Delta Devils are tied for first in the SWAC East, and a win would give them their first three-game winning streak of the season.

Josh Brown has accounted for 1,274 yards of total offense and 13 touchdowns. Dayvian Bluitt averages 23 yards per catch and has 855 all-purpose yards, and Javieane Stevens leads the defense with seven sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss. The Delta Devils have scored 57 fourth-quarter points, their most of any quarter.

About Bethune-Cookman

Bethune-Cookman (3-3, 1-1 SWAC) looks to bounce back from its loss at Alabama A&M. The Wildcats still lead the SWAC and rank fifth in the FCS with 240.2 rushing yards per game, led by Rashon Brown, who has 581 yards and nine touchdowns. Isaiah Daniel leads the team with 640 all-purpose yards.

The pass defense ranks fourth in the FCS, allowing 150.7 yards per game, and the Wildcats lead the SWAC with eight interceptions. Naim Lassiter leads the team with 39 tackles. A win would give Raymond Woodie Jr. his 15th win at Bethune-Cookman and the Wildcats their fifth straight over the Delta Devils.

Homecoming at Prairie View: Alcorn State at Prairie View A&M

Defending SWAC champion Prairie View A&M hosts Alcorn State for Homecoming at 2 p.m. CT at Panther Stadium at Blackshear Field, streaming on HBCU GO. Alcorn State leads the series 52-24, but Prairie View won last year’s meeting 13-12.

About Prairie View A&M

Prairie View A&M (2-5, 2-2 SWAC) is trying to snap a two-game skid after losses to Mississippi Valley State and Southern. Tevin Carter has thrown for more than 1,100 yards and nine touchdowns, and run for about 350 yards and four scores; Damien McDaniel leads the receivers with 32 catches for 348 yards.

Jahbari Kuykendall gives the Panthers a big play threat on special teams, averaging 34.3 yards per kickoff return with a 90-yard touchdown. Safety Kamrin Canterbury leads the defense in tackles, and kicker Ethan Eddins is 7-for-8 on field goals.

About Alcorn State

Alcorn State (4-3, 2-1 SWAC) leads the SWAC in scoring (42.4 points per game) and passing (293.7 yards per game). Jaylon Tolbert has thrown for 2,005 yards and 19 touchdowns, and Fredrick Robertson has seven rushing touchdowns. The Braves are coming off a 63-7 Homecoming rout of Arkansas Baptist.

Defense is the Braves’ biggest question. They allow 36.4 points a game, and Mahamadou Diarra leads the front with 7.5 tackles for loss.

Homecoming at Howard: Morehouse at Howard

Howard celebrates Homecoming against Morehouse at 3:30 p.m. ET, streaming on ESPN+. Howard leads the series 29-10-2 in the 42nd meeting. In the 2023 meeting, the Bison scored 63 points, ran for 371 yards, and totaled 613 yards.

Howard (2-4) is coming off a 24-20 loss at Penn and is still looking for its first home win, at 0-1 at home and 2-0 at neutral sites. The Bison are perfect in the red zone, the nation’s best mark, and kicker Matt Conord is 7-for-7 on field goals. Ja’Shawn Scroggins has thrown for 912 yards and six touchdowns. Rodney Roane Jr. has 3.5 sacks and three forced fumbles, and Kaleb Gallop leads the team with 34 tackles.

Protection is the concern. Howard allows 3.67 sacks per game. Morehouse comes in 3-4 under Brad Sherrod.

Chicago State at North Carolina A&T

North Carolina A&T hosts Chicago State at noon at Truist Stadium, with the game streaming on FloCollege. Before the game, A&T will honor the late Rev. Jesse Jackson, a 1964 A&T graduate and former student government president, with a special ceremony and a coin toss using a commemorative coin given to both teams.

North Carolina A&T (2-5, 2-2 CAA) is chasing a second straight win and a third straight home win after its overtime win over New Hampshire. Kevin White was named CAA Offensive Player of the Week, and his 3,531 career passing yards now rank eighth in A&T history after he passed Marshal Glenn. Linebacker Terry Radford, who made 17 tackles against New Hampshire, was named CAA Co-Rookie of the Week. The Aggies have run for 165.7 yards a game over their last three games, up from 77.8 over the first four.

Chicago State (1-5) is in its first season under head coach Bobby Rome II, and its lone win was a 78-7 rout of Kentucky Christian. Freshman quarterback Ashton Pannell has thrown for 1,393 yards and 11 touchdowns, and safety Jayden Earley has four interceptions, tied for second in the FCS. The Cougars also have former Aggie defensive end Gio Divers on the roster. After Saturday, A&T has a bye before the 100th Greatest Homecoming on Earth against Elon on Oct. 31.

Hampton at Sacred Heart

Hampton comes off a bye to face Sacred Heart for the first time at noon in Fairfield, Conn., streaming on FloCollege. It is only the second time the Pirates have played football in Connecticut. The first was a 42-34 loss at UConn in the 1998 FCS playoffs.

Hampton (1-5, 0-2 CAA) has lost 14 straight CAA games, with its last conference win coming against Elon at Homecoming on Oct. 26, 2024. Injuries have hit the backfield. Running back Amari Pryear is hurt, but he still leads the team with 214 rushing yards, and freshman quarterback Xavier Brookins threw for 191 yards and a touchdown off the bench against Howard. Cam Sturdifen leads the defense with 55 tackles.

Sacred Heart (2-4, 2-2 CAA) leads the nation in time of possession and is coming off a 28-7 loss to Stonehill. Quarterback Poochie Snyder has thrown for 1,001 yards and nine touchdowns, and linebacker Myles Hamilton was named CAA Defensive Player of the Week after a two-sack game at Maine. Hampton returns to Armstrong Stadium for its own Homecoming against Monmouth on Oct. 24.

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