Week eight of the HBCU football season is a milestone week that sees the beginning of conference play in the MEAC, highlighted by a pair of critical rivalry games.
The SIAC also features a pair of games on the list that will shape the conference title race, including one with a deep championship history.
Finally, the SWAC features a divisional matchup, including a team looking to unlock an achievement it has not had in seven years.
These are the 5 Games to Watch in Week 8 of the HBCU football season.
North Carolina Central vs. Delaware State
When: October 23; Time: 5:00 p.m. ET
How to Watch: ESPN2
North Carolina Central opens MEAC play with a chance for revenge when it travels to Dover to face Delaware State.
In a transcendent turnaround campaign for the Hornets in 2025, they went from losing 12 straight conference games over the past three seasons to being within a game of winning the MEAC title.
They snapped their 12-game conference losing streak in their MEAC opener against North Carolina Central, holding off a fierce rally to win 35-26.
During MEAC Media Day, the team’s respective head coaches had a friendly trash-talking exchange in which Trei Oliver exclaimed that his team was “coming to Dover to return that lick,” when addressing their head-to-head meeting last year.
Delaware State enters conference play with a 4-3 overall record, the same mark it finished with last year at the end of its non-conference schedule.
Meanwhile, North Carolina Central comes in with a 2-5 record, the worst start it has had to a season since 2021. A loss in this game would give the Eagles their first start of 2-6 or worse since 2011.
Benedict vs. Albany State
When: October 24; Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
How to Watch: ESPN+
Albany State fights to keep its hopes of a SIAC championship repeat alive when it faces Benedict in a rematch of last year’s conference title game.
In 2025, both Albany State and Benedict faced each other three times, with the Golden Rams coming out victorious in all three meetings.
This included a 22-16 win in the SIAC championship game and a 14-12 win in the second round of the Division II Playoffs.
Overall, Albany State has beaten Benedict in six of their last eight matchups, with its last head-to-head loss coming in the 2023 SIAC championship game.
However, Benedict comes into this game with the advantage, with a superior 4-1 conference record compared with Albany State’s 3-2.
The Tigers are currently tied with Edward Waters and Central State for second place in the SIAC.
Jackson State vs. Bethune-Cookman
When: October 24; Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
How to Watch: SWACTV
Staring in the face of multiple potential achievements, Bethune-Cookman welcomes the defending SWAC East champion Jackson State to Daytona Beach for a Saturday afternoon matchup.
In contention for their first winning record since joining the SWAC, the Wildcats are also in search of their first win over the Tigers since joining the conference.
Their meeting last year saw Bethune-Cookman have the ball in the red zone with a chance to tie the game; however, Jackson State sealed the win with an 82-yard pick-six.
A win for Bethune-Cookman would be its first over JSU since the 2019 MEAC/SWAC Challenge.
Bethune-Cookman comes into this game following a strong 34-14 win over Mississippi Valley State.
Meanwhile, Jackson State bounced back from its first loss of the season against Grambling State with a 27-17 homecoming win over Florida A&M.
Central State vs. Miles
When: October 24; Time: 2:00 p.m. ET
How to Watch: ESPN+
Miles faces elimination from the SIAC championship race in a tough test against one of the conference’s top contenders, Central State.
The Golden Bears enter this game after a disastrous encounter with Kentucky State, dropping to 3-2 in conference play after being shut out 46-0.
Meanwhile, the Marauders surpassed their win total from the previous year after beating Fort Valley State 45-32.
With two games remaining on the schedule, Miles needs a win to keep its long-shot hopes of a conference championship berth intact.
On the other hand, Central State needs a win to put itself in position to clinch in the final two weeks, with looming matchups against which it is locked into a second-place tie in the SIAC standings.
Howard vs. Morgan State
When: October 24; Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
How to Watch: ESPN+
Having put together its best start to a season in nearly 20 years, Morgan State begins MEAC play with a Beltway matchup against Howard.
The Bears begin conference competition sporting a 5-2 overall record, marking their best start to a season since 2009.
However, they are looking to get back in the win column after suffering a 25-16 loss to Tennessee State.
Howard concluded its non-conference schedule with a 31-17 homecoming win over Morehouse, putting together a record of 3-4.
The Bison have had control over the series against the Bears, winning seven of the last eight matchups, including a 33-27 win last season.
