Week 9 of the 2026 HBCU football season was long on the crazy, scary, spooky and hilarious and Week 10 promises to be even wilder with SIAC and CIAA championship game positioning up for grabs.
The MEAC and SWAC also continue their demolition derby schedule, so picking these games will not be easy.
Your friendly neighborhood HBCU football predictions analyst took a beating last week, and I expect more of the same this week.
Before we cover Week 10’s action, let’s take a look back at Week 9’s results.
Week 9 Record: 18-11
2026 overall record: 197-89
Best Pick: North Carolina A&T 20, Elon 16 (GHOE was G’in it up as the Aggies won 13-10. Shawn Gibbs has that program going in the right direction, no surprise there)
Worst Pick: Bethune-Cookman 29, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 17 (The Golden Lions were platinum in a 63-21 beatdown of the Wildcats. UAPB continues to prove the doubters wrong, even as their schedule now gets tougher.)
Game of the Week: Alabama A&M (7-2, 4-1 SWAC) at Prairie View A&M (4-5, 3-2 SWAC), Saturday Nov. 7, 3 p.m. EST, SWAC TV
A SWAC championship game preview in the final quarter of the regular season is what you want if you’re a SWAC devotee.
AAMU has looked great in Sam Shade’s second year as head coach while even with their struggles, Prairie View still has a good chance to win the SWAC West for the second straight year under Tremaine Jackson.
Both teams have capable offenses and defenses that can make timely plays, and with so much at stake neither coach can afford to leave any stones unturned prior to December 5.
Expect a true barnburner of a game Saturday afternoon.
Prediction: Prairie View 35, Alabama A&M 30
Central State (6-3, 6-1 SIAC) at Benedict (7-2, 6-1 SIAC), Saturday Nov. 7, 2 p.m. EST, ESPN Plus
A true scoreboard watcher’s delight takes place in the SIAC as Central State can bump Benedict from the SIAC title game picture and insert themselves in that seat with a win.
Charlie Johnson Stadium has been a tough place to play in recent years for SIAC opponents, so don’t expect the Tigers to take their foot off the gas with the opportunity to host the championship game in front of them.
The Marauders won’t go quietly, but BC has looked like the best SIAC team all year.
Prediction: Benedict 27, Central State 20
Morgan State (5-4, 0-2 MEAC) at Delaware State (5-4, 1-1 MEAC), Saturday Nov. 7, 1 p.m. EST, ESPN Plus
The Bears have lost three straight after a 5-1 start and their MEAC title hopes are slim at this point.
Delaware State rescued their season with a 17-point fourth quarter rally against Norfolk State in Philly last weekend, so momentum says this is a game the Hornets should win.
They almost blew it at Morgan last year, so they’ll need to be careful to avoid that fate.
Prediction: Delaware State 24, Morgan State 20
Virginia Union (8-1, 7-0 SIAC) at Virginia State (7-2, 6-1 SIAC), Saturday Nov. 7, 1 p.m. EST, CIAA Sports Network
Doesn’t get any more must win than the battle of the Old Dominion as Virginia Union has a “win and they’re in” situation on their hands.
The Trojans must beat the Panthers and hope that Livingstone has some Blue Bear magic on hand as they face Johnson C. Smith, who beat VSU last week.
The fact that these two schools don’t like each other as is already makes this a hot contest. With so much more on the line, it absolutely is must-see TV.
Prediction: Virginia Union 28, Virginia State 21
Week 10
Thursday Nov. 5
South Carolina State 31, Howard 16
Saturday Nov. 7
North Carolina Central 27, Norfolk State 17
Monmouth 25, North Carolina A&T 19
Elon 24, Hampton 16
Southeast Missouri 30, Tennessee State 14
Southern 23, Florida A&M 20
Alcorn State 33, Florida A&M 18
Alabama State 23, Texas Southern 17
Jackson State 34, Mississippi Valley State 15
Southern 19, Bethune-Cookman 16
Arkansas-Pine Bluff 21, Grambling State 17
Bowie State 29, Lincoln (Pa.) 16
Fayetteville State 14, Winston-Salem State 13
Elizabeth City State 28, Bluefield State 26
Johnson C. Smith 32, Livingstone 17
West Virginia State 35, Frostburg State 34
Lincoln (Mo.) 20, Missouri S&T 19
Kentucky State 31, Morehouse 24
Albany State 21, Fort Valley State 16
Savannah State 29, Virginia-Lynchburg 14
Tuskegee 24, Miles 21
Edward Waters 35, Allen 34
St. Thomas 34, Florida Memorial 20
Nelson 27, Langston 15
Oklahoma Panhandle State 30, Texas College 13
Louisiana Christian 35, Arkansas Baptist 15
