Howard University and Alabama A&M will usher in the 2026 HBCU football season under the national spotlight when they meet in the Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge.
Scheduled to be played in Atlanta on Aug. 29, the matchup places two proud programs center stage of HBCU football’s first major nationally televised showcase of the new campaign.
Howard’s new era
Howard enters 2026 under new head coach Ted White, a former Bison star quarterback and one of the most accomplished passers in school history.
White, hired earlier this month after two decades in the college and professional coaching ranks, steps into a program that has steadily raised its profile with recent conference contention.
LET’S Go!!!! This is the right man for the job @HUBISONFOOTBALL ! A Bison legend comes home. A great coach that will uphold and build upon the Howard Standard! You Know!!!
🦬🦬🦬🦬🦬🦬🦬🦬🦬🦬🦬🦬 pic.twitter.com/oyAq9g43xc— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) January 2, 2026
The Bison are coming off a 2025 campaign in which they showed flashes on both sides of the ball but finished below .500, averaging just over 20 points per game while leaning on a physical ground attack and an opportunistic defense.
Opening the White era under the lights in Atlanta gives the Bison a chance to showcase a revamped offense and retooled roster in front of recruits, alumni and a national audience on ABC. For players who have lived through the program’s climb back into MEAC relevance, this primetime slot doubles as a measuring stick for how quickly they can adapt to their new leader.
Alabama A&M’s reset
Alabama A&M arrives from the SWAC with its own rebuilding narrative after a 2025 season that ended at 4–8 overall and 1–7 in conference play. The Bulldogs are in the early stages of a reset under head coach Sam Shade, who took over in 2025.
Statistically, Alabama A&M showed intermittent offensive spark but struggled with consistency.
The 2026 opener offers the Bulldogs a rare chance to flip that story in one nationally televised night. A solid performance against Howard would not only give A&M its first MEAC/SWAC Challenge win but also signal to the rest of the SWAC that the Bulldogs are ready to re-enter the title conversation.
Stakes for the MEAC/SWAC Challenge
Both schools step into Center Parc Stadium with a chance to rewrite their respective narratives.
Howard seeks to launch the Ted White era with a signature nonconference statement, while Alabama A&M looks to show that its 2025 growing pains were a prelude to a bounce-back season.
The Florida A&M University vs Tennessee State University game needs to be played in Atlanta. This game should be the Atlanta HBCU Classic! It brings fans from everywhere! Another good game would be North Carolina A&T University vs Tennessee State University or FAMU played in Atlanta.