HBCU Football Week 0 Schedule, BC+ Predictions & How to Watch

A full slate of games kicks off the 2026 HBCU football season in Week 0

HBCU Football Week 0 Schedule, BC+ Predictions, and How to Watch | HBCU Legends on SI

HOUSTON -- HBCU football returns next weekend, kicking off a journey that will stretch through the fall and ultimately lead to the Celebration Bowl in Atlanta on Dec. 12.

DeSean Jackson begins his second season at Delaware State when the Hornets host Stony Brook on Thursday, Aug. 27, in Dover, Delaware. Mississippi Valley State and coach Terrell Buckley also begin Year 2 together when the Delta Devils travel to face Nicholls in Thibodaux, Louisiana.

The Week 0 spotlight shifts to Saturday, Aug. 29, with the Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff and a loaded schedule of HBCU football.

HBCU Legends will be in Atlanta covering Alabama A&M against Howard in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge. The Bulldogs and Bison headline a Week 0 slate that also features Jackson State-Tennessee State, Southern-Alabama State, Prairie View A&M-Tarleton State and N.C. Central-Texas Southern.

Here are 10 featured Week 0 games, how to watch them and HBCU Legends' predictions using the BC+ advanced analytics model.

HBCU Football Week 0 Schedule, BC+ Predictions, and How to Watch | HBCU Legends on SI

HOW TO WATCH HBCU FOOTBALL'S FEATURED GAMES: WEEK 0

1. Alabama A&M vs. Howard — Aug. 29, 7:30 p.m., Atlanta — ABC | Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff
2. Jackson State at Tennessee State — Aug. 29, 7:30 p.m., Nashville — John A. Merritt Classic
3. Southern vs. Alabama State — Aug. 29, 3 p.m., Birmingham, Ala. — ESPNU | Birmingham Football Classic
4. N.C. Central at Texas Southern — Aug. 29, 7 p.m., Houston — HBCU GO
5. Prairie View A&M at Tarleton State — Aug. 29, 9 p.m., Stephenville, Texas — ESPN2 | Chancellor’s Cup
6. Savannah State at S.C. State — Aug. 29, 6 p.m., Orangeburg, S.C. — TV/streaming TBA
7. Albany State at Florida A&M — Aug. 29, 6 p.m., Tallahassee, Fla. — SWAC TV
8. Morgan State at N.C. A&T — Aug. 29, 6 p.m., Greensboro, N.C. — TV/streaming TBA
9. Morehouse vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff — Aug. 29, 7 p.m., Little Rock, Ark. — SWAC TV | Natural State Kickoff Classic
10. Johnson C. Smith at Benedict — Aug. 29, 5 p.m., Columbia, S.C. — DII Game of the Week Candidate

*All times Eastern

JOHNSON C. SMITH AT BENEDICT

This matchup is a strong candidate for the HBCU Legends Game of the Week.

Johnson C. Smith finished 10-2 and won the CIAA championship last season, while Benedict posted a 10-3 record. The HBCU Legends model ranks JCSU as the top Division II HBCU program entering 2026, but playing at Benedict makes this one of Week 0's most difficult games to project.

Expect a tight contest to open the season.

BC+ Prediction: Johnson C. Smith 28, Benedict 24 | HBCU Legends: JCS squeaks by Benedict

Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kick-Off 2026 | Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kick-Off

ALABAMA A&M VS. HOWARD

Alabama A&M against Howard in the Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge will command the national spotlight Saturday night.

The Bulldogs need a strong start after finishing 4-8 in Sam Shade's first season. Howard, meanwhile, begins a new era under Ted White, the former Bison quarterback who takes over the program in 2026.

Opening on ABC allows both programs to establish their identity immediately.

BC+ Prediction: Alabama A&M 27, Howard 24 | HBCU Legends: Howard storms back to win

Prairie View A&M head coach Tremaine Jackson at Panthers Fall Camp at Panthers Stadium in Prairie View, Texas. | Prairie View A&M Athletics

PRAIRIE VIEW A&M AT TARLETON STATE

Prairie View A&M faces perhaps the toughest challenge of the day when the defending SWAC champions visit Tarleton State.

The matchup launches the Chancellor's Cup, a new traveling trophy created by the Texas A&M University System. For Prairie View coach Tremaine Jackson, it also provides an immediate measuring stick for his football program.

"Tarleton State is on our level," Jackson told HBCU Legends in June. "How about we start investing on a level, right? And that's what we've done here at Prairie View A&M. What that level of investment is in comparison, we're gonna find out. It's nothing like finding out. When we leave Prairie View to head to Stephenville, we're not just going to measure who we are. We're going to go start 1-0."

The game should tell Jackson plenty about his Panthers before the 41st Labor Day Classic against Texas Southern in Week 1.

BC+ Prediction: Tarleton State 34, Prairie View A&M 21 | HBCU Legends: Tarleton survives close game

Texas Southern Head Coach Cris Dishman at 2026 Fall Camp at Alexander Durley Stadium in Houston, Texas. | Credit: Jamail Mathews, Unmatched Sports

N.C. CENTRAL AT TEXAS SOUTHERN

Texas Southern will be on the move this season, beginning with a challenging Week 0 matchup.

Trei Oliver's N.C. Central Eagles will cross the Mississippi River for the second consecutive year, this time to face the Tigers at W.W. Thorne Stadium in north Houston.

Cris Dishman and his staff have quietly prepared throughout the offseason, and the Tigers have enough talent to make this one of the day's more intriguing games.

BC+ sees little separation between the teams. HBCU Legends believes TSU will upset NCCU.

BC+ Prediction: N.C. Central 27, Texas Southern 24 (OT) | HBCU Legends: TSU in an Upset

Jackson State football coach T.C. Taylor participates in the annual JXN Football Media Day at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in Jackson, Miss., on Aug. 20, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

JACKSON STATE AT TENNESSEE STATE

Jackson State and Tennessee State renew their rivalry in the John A. Merritt Classic.

T.C. Taylor and Jackson State are still smarting from losing the SWAC championship to Prairie View A&M at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. After posting a 9-3 overall record and going 7-1 in the SWAC, expect JSU to again contend for a conference championship and a trip to the Celebration Bowl.

Reggie Barlow and Tennessee State finished 2-10 and winless in OVC play last season. The Tigers need to accelerate their rebuilding process in Year 2 under Barlow.

Tennessee State will have the advantage of playing in Nashville, but BC+ doesn't believe that will be enough to overcome Jackson State's talent and depth.

BC+ Prediction: Jackson State 41, Tennessee State 17 | HBCU Legends: JSU dominates

Southern vs. Alabama State | Birmingham Football Classic

SOUTHERN VS. ALABAMA STATE

Andrew Body and Alabama State present a difficult opening assignment for Marshall Faulk and Southern.

The BC+ model projects a decisive Hornets victory after Alabama State finished 10-2 overall and 7-1 in the SWAC last season, while Southern struggled to a 2-10 finish.

Alabama State also returns one of college football's most dynamic quarterbacks in Body. Eddie Robinson Jr.'s Hornets enter 2026 with expectations of competing for the SWAC championship and establishing themselves among the top teams in HBCU football and the FCS.

Southern gets an immediate opportunity to show whether its offseason changes have closed that gap.

BC+ Prediction: Alabama State 34, Southern 17 | HBCU Legends: Too much Andrew Body, Hornets cruise

HBCU FOOTBALL GAMES BOARD: WEEK 0

Aug. 27-30 | 27 Games | All times Eastern

Thursday, Aug. 27

* 7 p.m. - Stony Brook at Delaware State - Dover, Del.

* 7 p.m. - Mississippi Valley State at Nicholls - Thibodaux, La.

* 7 p.m. - Bluefield State at Tusculum - Greeneville, Tenn.

* 7 p.m. - Barton at Virginia State - Ettrick, Va.

Friday, Aug. 28

* 7 p.m. - Virginia Union at Lenoir-Rhyne - Hickory, N.C.

Saturday, Aug. 29

* 1 p.m. - Roosevelt at Chicago State - Chicago (SeatGeek Stadium)

* 1 p.m. - Kentucky State at Central State - Wilberforce, Ohio

* 1 p.m. - Fort Valley State at Elizabeth City State - Elizabeth City, N.C.

* 3 p.m. - Southern vs. Alabama State - Birmingham, Ala. - ESPNU

* 5 p.m. - Johnson C. Smith at Benedict - Columbia, S.C.

* 7 p.m. - Miles at Alcorn State - Lorman, Miss. - SWAC TV

* 7 p.m. - Morehouse vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff - Little Rock, Ark. - SWAC TV | Natural State Kickoff Classic

* 6 p.m. - Florida Memorial at Edward Waters - Jacksonville, Fla. (Nathaniel Glover Community Field & Stadium) - Unity Classic

* 6 p.m. - Shaw at Fayetteville State - Fayetteville, N.C.

* 6 p.m. - Albany State at Florida A&M - Tallahassee, Fla. - SWAC TV

* 7 p.m. - Clark Atlanta at Grambling State - Grambling, La.

* 6 p.m. - Allen at Livingstone - Salisbury, N.C.

* 6 p.m. - Morgan State at N.C. A&T - Greensboro, N.C. (Truist Stadium)

* 6 p.m. - Winston-Salem State at Norfolk State - Norfolk, Va. - MEAC Network

* 6 p.m. - Savannah State at S.C. State - Orangeburg, S.C.

* 7 p.m. - N.C. Central at Texas Southern - Houston

* 6:02 p.m. - Virginia-Lynchburg at Hampton - Hampton, Va. (Darling Stadium)

* 7:30 p.m. - Alabama A&M vs. Howard - Atlanta - ABC | Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff

* 7:30 p.m. - Jackson State at Tennessee State - Nashville - John A. Merritt Classic

* 9 p.m. - Lane at Bethel - McKenzie, Tenn.

* 9 p.m. - Prairie View A&M at Tarleton State - Stephenville, Texas - ESPN2 | Chancellor's Cup

Sunday, Aug. 30

* 9 p.m. - Tuskegee vs. West Alabama - Montgomery, Ala.

Chennis Berry Reveals "The Blueprint" | HBCU Legends

MORE BC+ WEEK 0 PREDICTIONS

The BC+ model predcits the 2025 HBCU National Champions from South Carolina State will come out smoking with a 38-10 victory over Savannah State. HBCU Legends sees the possibility of hanging over 40 points on Chennis Berry's alma mater.

• Delaware State 31, Stony Brook 20
• Grambling State 34, Clark Atlanta 14
• Alcorn State 30, Miles 12
• Morgan State 24, N.C. A&T 22
• Lenoir-Rhyne 27, Virginia Union 24
• Arkansas-Pine Bluff 31, Morehouse 14
• Kentucky State 31, Central State 17
• Chicago State 27, Roosevelt 20
• Virginia State 28, Barton 16

Week 0 is the first test for everyone.

Keep an eye on quarterback play, rushing attacks and how quickly defenses settle into game speed. Special teams and turnovers could become deciding factors, particularly in the matchups BC+ projects within one possession.

Which new playmakers will emerge? Which favorite will stumble? And which team will make the first statement of the 2026 HBCU football season?

We shall see.