Week Two of the 2026 HBCU football season brings us a couple of MEAC/CIAA matchups, a blood feud and a chance for a few other teams to get on the good foot.
And as usual, I’m taking a look into my Chris-tal ball to predict the winners…to the best of my ability.
Before we get into this week’s games, let’s take a look back at Week One’s results, which might be the best prediction week of the season.
Week 1 Record: 25-5
2026 overall record: 44-15
Best Pick: South Carolina State 31, Florida A&M 20 (The Bulldogs were 31-13 winners in the Orange Blossom Classic. Good luck facing them this year.)
Worst Pick: Texas College 33, Arkansas Baptist 21 (The Buffaloes won 30-19. It’s ABC, simple as 1-2-3…)
Game Of the Week: North Carolina A&T (0-2) at North Carolina Central (1-1), Aggie-Eagle Classic, Saturday Sept. 12, 6 p.m., ESPN+
What do you get when you have two schools who flat-out don’t like each other looking to gain some confidence after some early season struggles?
You get the 98th edition of the Aggie-Eagle Classic, and the winner of this one will be letting the loser know about it even more so than usual.
Central got in the win column over Elizabeth City State in a game that still left Eagle faithful concerned about the team’s prospects for a successful season.
Meanwhile, the Aggies were DDT’d by Georgia State in Week 1, starting the (soon-to-be) age-old argument that the football program is in over their heads in the Coastal Athletic Association.
As coach speak-ish as it sounds, the winner of this game will be the team who makes the fewest mistakes.
At this point in the season, it feels like Central will be that team, but it won’t be as ugly as recent Aggie-Eagle Classics have been.
Prediction: North Carolina Central 27, North Carolina A&T 17
Virginia State (2-0, 1-0 CIAA) at South Carolina State (2-0), Saturday Sept. 12, 6 p.m. EST, MEAC Network
The Bulldogs overcame a slow start to win the Orange Blossom Classic over FAMU, and they’ll look for a 3-0 start against a Virginia State team that features the hottest QB in HBCU football…and possibly all of Division II.
Redshirt sophomore R.J. Matthews has thrown for nearly 700 yards and seven touchdowns in the Trojans’ first two games of the season, both wins.
Safe to say South Carolina State’s focus will be keeping the young gunslinger from going off, but their powerful offense will definitely be up to the task should this game become a shootout.
Prediction: South Carolina State 35, Virginia State 20
Mississippi Valley State (0-2) vs. Lincoln (Pa.) (0-1), Chicago Football Classic, Soldier Field, Chicago, Ill., Saturday Sept. 12, 4 p.m. EST, SWAC TV
The Second City gets a taste of HBCU football that might be bitter to swallow considering Valley’s 0-2 start and the Lions’ 13-game losing streak going back to the 2024 season.
This is a game that will be fun to watch because this might be the only chance either team has to win a game all season.
Prediction: Mississippi Valley State 21, Lincoln (Pa.) 20
Kentucky State (1-0, 1-0 SIAC) at Clark Atlanta (1-1, 1-0 SIAC), Saturday Sept. 12, 6 p.m. SIAC Network
Two high-scoring teams with SIAC title aspirations will battle on the Bickin’ Back Bein’ Bool turf of Panther Stadium in a prime-time game that will be worth the price of admission.
CAU rebounded from a tough opener at Grambling to defeat AUC rival Morehouse while the Thorobreds had a week to relax following a 41-14 win at Central State in Week 0.
A rested Kentucky State team is a dangerous one, but the Panthers have the firepower to keep it close and make it a good game.
Prediction: Kentucky State 33, Clark Atlanta 30
Week 1
Thursday, Sept. 10
Miami (Fla.) 35, Florida A&M 13
Friday, Sept. 11
Virginia 30, Norfolk State 14
Saturday, Sept. 12
Indiana 34, Howard 15
Delaware State 32, Bowie State 16
Morgan State 24, Virginia-Lynchburg 17
Hampton 23, Bryant 20
Bethune-Cookman 27, Stetson 21
Alabama A&M 28, Tennessee State 19
Houston 31, Southern 21
Alcorn State 30, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 17
Baylor 29, Prairie View A&M 24
TCU 33, Grambling State 18
UTEP 27, Texas Southern 16
Lincoln (Mo.) 21, Langston 13
West Virginia State 34, West Virginia Wesleyan 13
Fayetteville State 13, Valdosta State 12
Shaw 24, Ferrum 23
Virginia Union 26, Chowan 18
Johnson C. Smith 31, Winston-Salem State 20
Livingstone 17, Bluefield State 16
Central State 21, Morehouse 18
Edward Waters 28, Miles 27
Allen 35, Lane 31
Albany State 29, Savannah State 16
Houston Christian 34, Arkansas Baptist 17
Texas Wesleyan 33, Texas College 14
