The college football season might be just 15 weeks away, but it is never too early to prepare for kickoffs.
ABC/ESPN just dropped kickoff times for its 2026 college football slate, including game times for SWAC and MEAC games.
MEAC and SWAC will again open the season under the lights, with the 2026 Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff scheduled for Aug. 29 at 7:30 p.m. on ABC from Atlanta.
The matchup will feature Alabama A&M against Howard, giving the opening weekend one of its biggest annual stages and a nationally televised spotlight.
SWAC Championship Game kickoff announced
The timing matters just as much as the matchup. A prime-time ABC slot gives the opener maximum exposure while also continuing the event’s growth as one of the most recognizable season-openers in HBCU football.
Later in the year, HBCU football takes the spotlight during conference championship week.
Here are all of ABC/ESPN’s announced kick times.
Lane Kiffin’s return to Ole Miss will be in primetime on ABC. pic.twitter.com/rwaeW48HU1
— Matt Fortuna (@Matt_Fortuna) May 12, 2026
The SWAC Championship Game also landed in a prominent television window, with kickoff set for 2 p.m. on ESPN2 on Saturday, Dec. 5, during championship weekend.
That placement keeps the league title game in a nationally accessible afternoon slot, where it can draw a broad audience before the day’s other major conference championships.
