The 2026 Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge between Howard University and Alabama A&M University will officially air nationally on ABC on Saturday, August 29 at 7:30 PM ET from Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta.
The announcement continues the MEAC/SWAC Challenge’s role as one of the premier showcases in HBCU football, giving both programs a major national platform to open the 2026 college football season.
This year’s matchup also carries added intrigue:
- Howard enters under new head coach Ted White
- Alabama A&M returns to the event for the first time since 2014
- Neither program has ever won a MEAC/SWAC Challenge game
