Another surprising and fun weekend of HBCU football in Week 6 led to some wild results, and Week 7’s games promise to be just as interesting.
We’ve got more SWAC chaos, the MEAC wrapping up their out-of-conference schedule and the usual wars in the CIAA and SIAC.
Before we get to this week’s predictions, let’s look back at Week 6’s results.
Week 6 Record: 17-10
2026 overall record: 143-62
Best Pick: Mississippi Valley State 24, Texas Southern 23 (The Delta Devils pulled off another sensational fourth quarter comeback, beating the Tigers 38-34. Could the seat in H-Town be getting hot?)
Worst Pick: Jackson State 28, Grambling 20 (The Black and Gold Tigers defeated the Blue Tigers 45-38. Grambling can score, but can they stop anyone long enough to win the SWAC West?)
Game of the Week: Edward Waters (5-1, 4-0 SIAC) at Benedict (5-1, 3-1 SIAC), Saturday Oct. 17, 2 p.m. EST, ESPN Plus
EWU stands alone as the SIAC’s last unbeaten team, enjoying a bye after a 61-42 win over Kentucky State for homecoming.
They get back into the fire this week with Benedict, who still poses a significant threat to Edward Waters’ title hopes.
This battle of the Tigers will come down to can the Columbia Tigers keep the Jacksonville Tigers from running wild? Plenty of roaring to be done in this one, with the winner getting a leg up on everyone else in the always tight SIAC championship race.
Prediction: Edward Waters 27, Benedict 24
Morgan State (5-1) at Tennessee State (1-5), Saturday Oct. 17, 6:30 p.m. EST, ESPN Plus
Morgan State’s best start since President Barack Obama’s first term leads them to Nashville, where TSU has struggled mightily to hold leads late in games.
That could work to the Bears’ benefit as they have come from behind in each of their last two wins.
Prediction: Morgan State 31, Tennessee State 20
Alcorn State (4-3, 2-1 SWAC) at Prairie View A&M (2-5, 2-2 SWAC), Saturday Oct. 17, 3 p.m. EST, HBCU GO
The defending SWAC champion Panthers are in must-win mode, as evidenced by changes to the coaching staff this week.
That mission doesn’t get any easier with an Alcorn State team that can score at a frenetic pace.
The good news for the Panthers is the Braves give up almost as many points as they score, so if they can find a way to keep it close, their SWAC West title hopes will live through the weekend.
Prediction: Prairie View 30, Alcorn State 27
Virginia Union (5-1, 4-0 CIAA) at Bowie State (3-3, 3-1 CIAA), Saturday Oct. 17, 1 p.m. EST, The CIAA Sports Network
The Bulldogs have won three straight games to get to .500 overall and the top four in the CIAA rankings.
Saturday’s battle with one of the teams ahead of them, Virginia Union, will tell how far Dawson Odums’ BSU revival project has come and how far it will have to go.
The Panthers have won five straight since their embarrassing season-opening loss at Lenoir-Rhyne, so BSU will have their hands full with a team ready for a return to the CIAA title game.
Prediction: Virginia Union 28, Bowie State 16
Week 7
Saturday, Oct. 17
Howard 34, Morehouse 21
North Carolina A&T 27, Chicago State 21
Sacred Heart 33, Hampton 15
Grambling State 30, Alabama A&M 28
Jackson State 24, Florida A&M 17
Alabama State 29, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 25
Mississippi Valley State 35, Bethune-Cookman 31
Lincoln (Mo.) 28, Indianapolis 27
Wheeling 34, West Virginia State 18
Winston-Salem State 14, Bluefield State 13
Virginia State 30, Shaw 20
Fayetteville State 21, Elizabeth City State 14
Johnson C. Smith 35, Lincoln (Pa.) 17
Allen 27, Clark Atlanta 26
Kentucky State 34, Lane 14
Albany State 24, Tuskegee 20
Fort Valley State 19, Savannah State 17
Wayland Baptist 26, Langston 22
Oklahoma Panhandle State 31, Arkansas Baptist 21
Florida Memorial 28, Warner 24
Clayton State 28, Virginia-Lynchburg 13
