The 2026 HBCU football season is in the 4th quarter and we’re still getting some very important matchups in Week 11.
The CIAA and SIAC will crown champions, while the MEAC could potentially do the same thing and the SWAC still has some intrigue down the stretch.
Week 10 was the best week record-wise for your friendly neighborhood HBCU football predictions analyst, so let’s celebrate last week’s success before predicting this week’s game.
Week 10 Record: 27-3
2026 overall record: 224-92
Best Pick: Benedict 27, Central State 20 (The Tigers jumped out to a 24-point halftime lead, then had to hold on for a 45-38 win to secure home field for the SIAC title game. A true SIAC classic.)
Worst Pick: Edward Waters 35, Allen 34 (Yellowjackets won 31-28. EWU’s fall-off late in the season was puzzling to watch.)
Game of the Week: North Carolina Central (5-5, 3-0 MEAC) at South Carolina State (8-2, 3-0 MEAC), Saturday, Nov. 14, 1:30 pm EST, ESPN Plus
The teams picked 1 and 2 in the MEAC preseason polls will square off for first place Saturday afternoon.
Both teams are in the unique position where a win doesn’t completely lock up a trip to Atlanta, but just about does so, depending on what happens with Howard and Delaware State.
These two teams won’t be scoreboard watching as one HBCU football’s most bitter rivalries will stand alone, especially with a MEAC title on the line.
Prediction: South Carolina State 24, North Carolina Central 17
Johnson C. Smith (8-2, 7-1 CIAA) vs. Virginia Union (9-1, 8-0 CIAA), CIAA Championship Game, Durham County Memorial Stadium, Durham, North Carolina, Saturday Nov. 14, 3 p.m. EST, CIAA Sports Network
A repeat of last year’s CIAA title clash, where the Golden Bulls clinched their first conference title since pre-Watergate Nixon.
Union has looked incredible since a humiliating season opening loss at Lenoir-Rhyne and with a chance at revenge for last year, JCSU should be ready for a fight.
Smith has weathered the storms this season, including being hammered by Benedict and upset by Bowie State, to get back to where they wanted to be.
This should be a game that everyone has their eyes on at some point during the day Saturday.
Prediction: Virginia Union 33, Johnson C. Smith 30
Kentucky State (8-2, 7-1 SIAC) at Benedict (9-1, 7-1 SIAC), SIAC Championship Game, Saturday Nov. 14, 10:30 am, ESPNU
Gotta love that ESPN scheduling that makes a college conference title game during breakfast hours.
That said, the two best teams in the SIAC will face off for the conference title, though both are headed to the NCAA Division II playoffs.
Kentucky State brings an explosive offense to Columbia, while the Tigers have turned up the offense to go with a very stellar defense.
The winner of this game will certainly have earned it, though Benedict looks like a safer bet for a long NCAA tournament run.
Either way, what a way to end an exciting and intense season of SIAC football.
Prediction: Benedict 30, Kentucky State 28
Jackson State (7-2, 4-2 SWAC) at Alabama State (5-5, 3-3 SWAC), Saturday Nov. 14, ESPN Plus
The most the Hornets can do is hold their noses, play spoiler and give Alabama A&M another chance to win the SWAC East.
They might be too banged up for that and Jackson State appears to be getting healthy and playing their best football at the right time.
This was the game of the year in HBCU football in 2025. Can ASU find something deep down for a repeat? Time will tell.
Prediction: Jackson State 27, Alabama State 17
Week 11
Thursday Nov. 12
Clark Atlanta 20, Fort Valley State 17
Friday Nov. 13
Virginia State 29, Fayetteville State 24
Saturday Nov. 14
Delaware State 25, Howard 16
Morgan State 31, Norfolk State 23
North Carolina A&T 23, Hampton 14
Tennessee State 21, Eastern Illinois 20
Bethune-Cookman 28, Grambling State 20
Alabama A&M 32, Texas Southern 17
Mississippi Valley State 24, Florida A&M 21
Prairie View A&M 33, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 24
Southern 27, Alcorn State 25
Edward Waters 34, Chowan 30
Albany State 22, Shorter 13
