HBCU Football Matchups to Watch in Week 0

Hey, good evening HBCU Legends fans. It's Coyote Mosley and HBCU football is back for 2026. This weekend will be week zero for HBCU football and we will have a lot of coverage for you this weekend. Especially, we'll be on site at the MEAC SWAC challenge kickoff. That's going to be between Howard University and Alabama A&M. But that's not the only great matchup this weekend and you guys got to be able to hang on to your hats and just be able to see what's happening in HBCU football all and all. So, let's start with Houston, Texas where you're going to have the showdown between NCCU and Texas Southern University. Wow, first time NCCU and as well as Texas Southern I think have played in many, many of years. So, you'll have Trey Oliver and the Eagles crossing the Mason Dixon line to be able to come and partake in some of this H-Town hosting and love that you'll get from the Texas Southern Tigers. I don't know if it's going to be a lot of love because Chris Dishman and that Tiger team looks very formidable this year especially with the talent they're brought in like Cameron McCoy at quarterback. You know, he had stints over at Jackson State as well as at Southern University. His leadership has been able to help be a stabilizing force for those guys and if you go up to 90 around 45, 50 miles northwest, then you go to Prairie View A&M in Prairie View. They're not going to play at home. They're going to go to Stephenville and they're going to be able to take place with I think it's called the Chancellor's Cup this year because they're part of the Texas A&M system. They will play Tarleton State, one of the best FCS schools in the country. Last year, those guys had 12 wins and went to the playoff system. They didn't advance very far but they made it there and they can be able to score up to 40 points a game. Will the Panthers defense be up for the challenge? If you talk to Coach Tremaine Jackson, they're more than ready for the challenge. So, let's look at some of the slate of games that's also going to be on the menu. You're going to have the John Merritt Classic between Jackson State and Tennessee State. You know, he was the coach for both of those programs back in the storied years of HBCU and Black College football. So, I look for that one to be a great event where you have Reggie Barlow and his Tennessee State Tigers against the Tigers of Jackson State University. They took a couple years off in hiatus. That used to be an annual showdown. Now, they have renewed the rivalry. Then you have Southern University. They would take on Alabama State in the first ever Birmingham Football Classic in Birmingham and that's going to be a good one. You have Marshall Falk making his debut as the head football coach of the Jaguars and you have Andrew Boddy who is just a dynamic player and he could very well be again the 2026 HBCU Football Player of the Year. Then you have Savannah State taking on South Carolina State. South Carolina State Bulldogs and Chenice Berry. Chenice Berry goes into his old alma mater. They're going to clash and have a good time and I guess we should call it the Chenice Berry Bowl, right? Just to say what's going to happen. Then you have Albany State versus Florida A&M where we should call that the Queen Gray Senior Bowl, right? So, that should be a good one as well. Morgan State takes on NC A&T. The Aggies hope to be able to get off with a good start but Damon Wilson and as well as the Morgan State Bears want to be able to have a good start as well. Morehouse goes to Pine Bluff and they will meet with the Golden Lions in Arkansas. Then you have Johnson C. Smith taking on Benedict. Now, that should be one of the games of the week as well, guys. If y'all don't know, those two can put up points. CIAA, SIAC, that's going to be one of those showdowns that will live a long, long time. So, those are some of the featured matchups that we have for you guys. So many more. There's 27 games that will be played and I think the first game starts, if I'm not mistaken, on Thursday night with Delaware State going against Stony Brook and that should be a great game for Coach Deshaun Jackson and his team and then you have Norfolk. Everybody's trying to figure out what's going to happen this second season for Coach Michael Vick and those guys at Norfolk. They're going to play on Saturday but that should be an interesting affair there as well. But also, if you go up to Gremlin, if you're around that area, don't forget Clark Atlanta. I don't think they haven't traveled to see Gremlin in many years. This may be the first time ever for that game to be taking place so that would be something to behold as well. So, great games in the HBCU football space. Go to HBCU Legends. You can go to si.com forward slash college forward slash HBCU and you can read up on the slate of games there and we're doing a preview of the Howard versus Alabama A&M game for you guys as well and I will be on site through cricket and being able to give you some great inside coverage. I'll have a one-on-one with John Grant as well as I will have a one-on-one with the student ambassador Kicker from Alabama A&M and also we'll have a one-on-one with the SID of Morehouse College, A.D. Drew, and he'll help us go through the MEAC Swag Challenge kickoff as well as what's going to happen because Morehouse is taking on Kentucky State. They just sealed the deal. They're going to take on Kentucky State in the Bahamas later this year and we'll as well. I think it's the YES Bahamas Football Classic. So, I'm Kyle T. Mosley of HBCU Legends on SI. Check us out at HBCU Legends on all social media platforms and you can be able to check me out at Kyle T. Mosley on X. Guys, football's back and I'm ready, baby. Are you? Don't forget, guys, always be tenacious and we headed into September, which is Prostate Cancer Month. I'm a survivor of prostate cancer. So, guys, go get checked and save lives and be with your families. Extend your life. It's okay. Just do the test. I'm Kyle T. Mosley. Let's have a good weekend in HBCU football. Take care.