Week 8 of the 2026 HBCU football season delivered a major SWAC shake-up, a rivalry win with conference-title implications and a dramatic homecoming finish in the CIAA.
Winners
Bethune-Cookman delivered the biggest statement of the day, defeating HBCU Black College Football Poll No. 1-ranked Jackson State for its first victory over the Tigers since joining the SWAC.
The Wildcats appeared to be in trouble when Jackson State took a 21-17 lead with less than three minutes remaining after a mishandled punt led to a Tigers touchdown. Instead, quarterback Tyler Jefferson led the decisive drive, finding Rickie Shaw II for a 19-yard touchdown with 40 seconds left.
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Jackson State had one final chance to force a tie, but Andrew Ivaniciuc missed a 49-yard field goal attempt. Bethune-Cookman improved to 5-3 overall and 3-1 in SWAC play, moving into a tie for first in the East.
Jackson State went from first to third place in the SWAC East.
After five consecutive losses, Texas Southern finally had something to celebrate. Miguel Arana drilled a 46-yard field goal as time expired to give the Tigers a dramatic homecoming win over Southern.
Texas Southern built a 21-7 lead midway through the third quarter behind rushing touchdowns from Jacob Washington, Athean Renfro and Cam’Ron McCoy. Renfro finished with 135 rushing yards on 23 carries.
Southern rallied to tie the game at 21, but the Tigers responded with a nine-play drive to set up Arana’s winning kick.
The victory does not erase Texas Southern’s earlier struggles, but it gives Cris Dishman’s team a much-needed breakthrough and something to build on entering the final stretch.
Howard spoiled Morgan State’s MEAC opener with a 26-20 overtime victory in Baltimore on a walk-off pick-six interception by defensive back Ben Chandler.
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The result was especially valuable in a conference race where every game carries added weight. With only five conference games on the MEAC schedule, Howard has immediately put itself in a better position to contend. They’ve grown up a lot under first-year coach Ted White and can be dangerous in the MEAC.
Bowie State produced one of the day’s most dramatic finishes, ending Johnson C. Smith’s five-game winning streak with a touchdown in the final minute.
After the Golden Bulls took a 13-9 lead in the fourth quarter, Bowie State put together a 13-play, 85-yard drive. Joshuah Keith connected with John Thompson for the go-ahead touchdown with 34 seconds remaining.
Bowie State showed the value of staying in a game defensively. The victory also complicated the CIAA race for a Johnson C. Smith team that had been a long favorite to take the league.
Losers
Jackson State had the game in hand—or at least appeared to—before surrendering the lead in the final minute against Bethune-Cookman. The Tigers’ defeat dropped them to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in SWAC play.
The loss was particularly costly because JSU entered the weekend with a chance to strengthen their position in the SWAC East. Instead, they allowed Bethune-Cookman to move into a tie for first.
CATS FOOTBALL. DEFENSE SHOWING OUT!
📺 https://t.co/SC2oSrdtOD
📻 https://t.co/PHnsnWfv1M
📊 https://t.co/94HGUtbeNx#𝙃𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙨 | #𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙮𝙏𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 https://t.co/QFdY1XFNVg
— 🏈 Bethune-Cookman Football (@BCUGridiron) October 24, 2026
Jackson State also struggled to establish its running game, finishing with just 33 net rushing yards. Quarterback Jared Lockhart was sacked four times, and the offense as a whole struggled to overcome negative plays to sustain drives.
The Tigers rallied from a 17-7 deficit to take a late lead, but their special-teams problems and inability to close out the game proved decisive.
Jackson State remains in the divisional race, but Saturday’s loss exposed issues that they had been able to previously overcome.
The defeat was Johnson C. Smith’s first in CIAA play, dropping the team to 5-1 in conference competition. The Golden Bulls remain in the hunt, but the loss removes their cushion in a race where each conference result matters.
Johnson C. Smith’s season is far from derailed, but failing to finish a close game against a conference opponent could loom large in the standings.
Morgan State’s strong opening stretch made the Bears one of the more intriguing stories entering MEAC play. But Saturday’s overtime loss to Howard put them immediately behind in the conference standings.
The Bears fell to 5-3 overall and 0-1 in MEAC play, leaving little room for error in a short conference schedule.
Morgan State still has the talent to contend, but back-to-back losses to teams under .500 likely set the tone for a drop-off.
