SWAC Media Day opens the door to a 2026 season defined by transition, expectation, and urgency.
Ahead of the festivities in Birmingham, Alabama, on Wednesday, here are some questions that require answers.
1. How quickly can Quinn Gray work his magic at Florida A&M?
Quinn Gray, the former FAMU star quarterback and coach, returns to the Rattlers after a successful stint at Albany State where he is expected to pull the program out of the state of mediocrity it found itself in for the last two seasons. The major inquiries come to mind are:
— What level of motivation will FAMU take into the regular season after being banned from postseason play and shut out of the All-SWAC team?
— Can Gray’s Division II Albany State transfers make an impact in the SWAC?
— What does real success look like for Florida A&M under Gray in Year 1?
2. Is Marshall Faulk ready for this?
Southern’s hire of Marshall Faulk gives the Jaguars one of the biggest storylines in the conference, and Media Day will be his first chance to set the tone publicly.
Faulk, the Pro Football Hall of Fame running back, has already made waves on the recruiting trail within Louisiana and nationally in an effort to rebuild confidence in a Southern outfit that experienced one its worst seasons in program history a year ago. The obvious question will be whether Faulk can be the next ex-pro football player with a lack of head coach experience to work magic at an HBCU?
3. Is this finally the year for Alabama State?
Alabama State in 2025 won 10 games last season — the most victories the program accumulated in more than a decade. The Hornets achieved much of that success with dynamic quarterback Andrew Body under center before being lost to injury.
ASU lost out on a SWAC East title by won game to eventual champion Jackson State. With Body healthy to start the season, and the Hornets placing nine players on the preseason All-SWAC team, the team will be a contender again. But they will have to overcome Jackson State first.
4. Does Jackson State stay on top of SWAC East?
Jackson State remains one of the conference’s most formidable teams in the SWAC under T.C. Taylor. And why wouldn’t the Tigers be after once again loading up on riches and gems from the transfer portal, including several FBS commitments.
JSU will bring back sophomore quarterback Jared Lockhart after a brilliant freshman campaign in helping the Tigers win another SWAC East crown. The team also features SWAC preseason Defensive Player of the Year Kam Sallis and FCS All-America Quaveon Davis to anchor the offensive line.
As of now, the SWAC East still goes through Jackson.
5. Can Prairie View run it back?
Prairie View A&M wasn’t expected to be that good in 2025.
But with the ever confident Tremaine Jackson orchestrating an immediate culture change that featured a tough, fearless brand of football, the Panthers found themselves an unlikely king of the SWAC and nearly HBCU national champions.
With the element of surprise being replaced by expectations and target in 2026, the Panthers will work to prove that last season wasn’t an anomaly. And with SWAC Freshman of the Year Chase Bingmon headlining a roster that includes five preseason All-SWAC players, Prairie View on paper should be considered the favorite to win the SWAC West.
What about winning the whole thing? Well, Alabama State or Jackson State might have something to say about that.
