The first quarter of the 2026 HBCU football season ends with more SIAC and CIAA matchups, a big SWAC West showdown and games that could go either way.
That’s pretty much what happened with the Chris-tal ball’s Week 3 picks, so before we get to Week 4, let’s take a look at last week’s results.
Week 3 Record: 20-10
2026 overall record: 89-29
Best Pick: Johnson C. Smith 21, Fayetteville State 17 (The Golden Bulls pulled out a 20-14 win and look like CIAA championship material once again.)
Worst Pick: Lane 18, Morehouse 16 (The Maroon Tigers took the fire out of the Dragons 44-0.)
Game Of the Week: Prairie View A&M (1-3, 1-0 SWAC) vs. Grambling (2-1, 0-0 SWAC), State Fair Classic, The Cotton Bowl, Dallas Texas, Saturday Sept. 26, 7 p.m. EST, ESPN Plus
This is the Tigers’ best shot in the Mickey Joseph era to establish themselves as SWAC West contenders.
The Panthers are coming off of losses to Baylor and Stephen F. Austin and outside of a beatdown of Texas Southern, PV has had their struggles this year.
Grambling’s two wins are against Division II opponents, but the offense seems to be in better shape than a year ago.
Both teams will come out firing, so this could very well be whoever has the ball last wins the game…and possibly the Western Division title.
Prediction: Prairie View A&M 34, Grambling 30
South Carolina State (4-0) at Bethune-Cookman (2-1), Saturday Sept. 26, 7 p.m. EST, HBCU GO
The defending Black College National Champion Bulldogs overcame the stripes and Furman to run their record to 4-0 a week ago, now they enter the home of a former SIAC and MEAC foe looking to make a name for themselves in a crowded HBCU football landscape.
Bethune-Cookman recovered well enough from Central Florida to hammer Virginia-Lynchburg and Stetson in back-to-back weeks, but South Carolina State is another beast altogether.
If the Wildcats can keep it close or even pull off the upset, the SWAC should definitely take notice.
Prediction: South Carolina State 27, Bethune-Cookman 17
Kentucky State (3-1, 2-0 SIAC) at Albany State (2-2, 2-0 SIAC), Saturday Sept. 26, 1 p.m. ESPN Plus
The defending conference champion Golden Rams face a Thorobreds squad who looks ready to assume that title for themselves.
Albany State escaped Allen with a 32-28 win last week while KSU defeated D-II stalwart Saginaw Valley State 21-17.
Close games of two different stripes, but still pivotal wins.
Kentucky State’s win and their confidence feels just a little more powerful at the moment.
Prediction: Kentucky State 35, Albany State 21
Livingstone (2-2, 2-1 CIAA) at Shaw (3-1, 1-1 CIAA), Saturday Sept. 26, 1 p.m., CIAA Network
Two teams that have had hard luck in recent years can keep their CIAA title hopes afloat with a win Saturday.
The Blue Bears have been close to getting over the hump while the Bears have already surpassed their 2025 win total. Trying to keep up with Johnson C. Smith and both Virginia schools will be a challenge, but the winner of this game has more hope than the loser.
Prediction: Shaw 24, Livingstone 19
Week 4
Thursday, Sept. 24
Benedict 24, Tuskegee 16
Friday, Sept. 25
Rutgers 31, Howard 17
Saturday, Sept. 26
Delaware State 30, Towson 20
Norfolk State 32, Chicago State 16
East Carolina 28, North Carolina Central 18
Rhode Island 29, North Carolina A&T 14
Campbell 33, Hampton 17
Jackson State 23, Southern 20
Alabama A&M 26, Florida A&M 17
Alabama State 35, Mississippi Valley State 13
Texas Southern 24, Alcorn State 22
Bluefield State 21, Lincoln (Pa.) 18
Elizabeth City State 19, Bowie State 17
Virginia State 30, Winston-Salem State 15
Virginia Union 31, Fayetteville State 21
Edward Waters 34, Morehouse 14
Clark Atlanta 25, Warner 23
Central State 22, Lane 16
West Georgia 27, Fort Valley State 18
Miles 23, Savannah State 21
West Virginia State 20, Fairmont State 19
Lincoln (Mo.) 16, Upper Iowa 13
Florida Memorial 33, Cumberland 30
Wayland Baptist 30, Texas College 17
Langston 35, Arkansas Baptist 24
