The weather is getting cooler, but the 2026 HBCU football season continues to heat up with MEAC conference play starting and more SWAC/CIAA/SIAC battles added into the mix.
Week 8’s games could provide separation in a few races while others are just getting started.
Before we predict Week 8’s matchups, let’s take a quick look back at an interesting Week 7 for your friendly neighborhood HBCU predictions analyst.
Week 7 Record: 16-9
2026 overall record: 159-71
Best Pick: Prairie View 30, Alcorn State 27 (Panthers won 41-38. High scoring game down to the last possession as expected.)
Worst Pick: Grambling 30, Alabama A&M 28 (Bulldogs won convincingly 61-31. Grambling’s SWAC West title hopes only go as far as their defense does and well…)
Game of the Week: North Carolina Central (2-5, 0-0 MEAC) at Delaware State (4-3, 0-0 MEAC), Friday Oct. 23, 5 pm EST, ESPN2
The DeSean Jackson-led Hornets announced themselves by spoiling Central’s homecoming a season ago and now DSU comes into this game a favorite against a young Eagles team looking to establish some consistent play.
NCCU’s passing game averages just 160 yards per game, so they’ll have to make the most of their chances against a vulnerable Del State secondary.
The Hornets meanwhile are looking to regain their nearly 300 rush yards per game form of 2025 and with Central allowing 154 yards per game on the ground, this could be what they need to get right.
The winner gets a leg up in the MEAC title race. The loser might have to wait until next year.
Prediction: Delaware State 23, North Carolina Central 20
Jackson State (6-1, 3-1 SWAC) at Bethune-Cookman (4-3, 2-1 SWAC), Saturday Oct. 24, 3 p.m. EST, SWAC TV
The Tigers rebounded nicely from their Grambling loss with a convincing homecoming win over FAMU, now they take a trip to the Florida Panhandle for a fight with an ever-improving Bethune-Cookman team looking to shake up the SWAC East standings.
The Wildcats have playmakers on both sides of the ball, but JSU is playing the best ball of anyone in HBCU football right now. Don’t expect that to change this weekend.
Prediction: Jackson State 31, Bethune-Cookman 21
Benedict (6-1, 4-1 SIAC) at Albany State (3-4, 3-2 SIAC), Saturday Oct. 24, ESPN Plus
A rematch of last season’s SIAC title game sees the Tigers coming in off of a beatdown of Edward Waters, proving their offense can provide more than enough points for their standout defense to play with.
The defending conference champion Golden Rams are still in the fight, and a win here would make things uncomfortable for Benedict and a couple of teams ahead of them.
Benedict, however, has been on the warpath since their surprising loss at Tuskegee, so with a trip to the SIAC title game in their sights, Albany State’s reign as conference champion could be coming to an end.
Prediction: Benedict 28, Albany State 24
Week 8
Saturday, Oct. 24
Morgan State 27, Howard 24
South Carolina State 34, Norfolk State 23
Arkansas-Pine Bluff 21, Florida A&M 17
Southern 25, Texas Southern 15
Prairie View A&M 31, East Texas A&M 28
Monmouth 29, Hampton 16
Charleston Southern 35, Tennessee State 22
Winston-Salem State 22, Lincoln (Pa.) 19
Virginia Union 33, Shaw 18
Johnson C. Smith 30, Bowie State 20
Fayetteville State 23, Bluefield State 13
Elizabeth City State 20, Livingstone 17
Kentucky State 35, Savannah State 14
Fort Valley State 24, Lane 16
Tuskegee 27, Allen 23
Edward Waters 34, Clark Atlanta 13
Central State 28, Miles 21
West Virginia State 26, Monroe 20
Lincoln (Mo.) 18, McKendree 15
Texas Wesleyan 30, Langston 17
Wayland Baptist 24, Arkansas Baptist 15
Louisiana Christian 35, Texas College 16
Florida Memorial 33, Thomas 32
Newberry 35, Virginia-Lynchburg 13
