Category: MEAC

HBCU Football Is Back: 2026 Week Zero Schedule

Brandon King

The wait is finally over as HBCU programs across the country take the field for Week Zero of the 2026 college football season. The opening slate features teams from the MEAC, SWAC, CIAA, SIAC and other HBCU conferences, with several intriguing matchups scheduled throughout the weekend. From conference showdowns to nonconference tests, Week Zero gives fans an early look at some of the teams looking to make a run in 2026. 🏈 HBCU Week Zero Schedule Thursday, Aug. 27 Friday, Aug. 28 Saturday, Aug. 29 Sunday, Aug. 30 All times…

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Michael Vick names Week 0 starter

Brandon King

Image via Billy Scheurman/ The Virginian-Pilot The Norfolk State Spartans have identified their starting quarterback for their season-opening matchup against Winston-Salem on Saturday evening.  On Monday’s MEAC Football Coaches Media Call, Spartans’ head coach Michael Vick let it be known that Deljay Bailey will be under center.  Although junior signal caller Reginal Johnson (Jr. – San Diego, CA) was one of the players who represented Norfolk State at MEAC Media Day, Coach Vick said it was an open competition at every position and there were no set starters.  “Unfortunately, right…

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Norfolk State’s Jaylen Williams and Ryan Nolan Named to 2026 Deacon Jones Player of the Year Watch List

Brandon King

image via Norfolk State Athletics NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk State will enter the 2026 football season with two of its veteran linemen on the national radar. Redshirt seniors Jaylen Williams and Ryan Nolan have been named to the 2026 Deacon Jones Player of the Year Watch List, announced by the Black College Football Hall of Fame on Aug. 18. The award recognizes the most outstanding football player at a Historically Black College or University, with the eventual winner receiving the prestigious Deacon Jones Trophy. The Spartans are one of 24…

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Rod Broadway Named to 2027 MEAC Hall of Fame Class

Brandon King

Former North Carolina A&T football head coach Rod Broadway is officially headed to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Hall of Fame. The MEAC announced that Broadway will be part of its 2027 Hall of Fame class, giving one of the most accomplished coaches in North Carolina A&T history another well-deserved honor. Broadway became a major figure in HBCU football during his time on the sidelines in Greensboro, building the Aggies into one of the MEAC’s premier programs. During his tenure at North Carolina A&T, Broadway helped establish a championship culture that…

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Spartans Edge LBP White All-Stars, 82-81, in San Juan Shootout

Brandon King

Image via Jaymonte McLeod/NSU Athletics The Norfolk State Spartans bounced back in dramatic fashion Thursday night, edging the LBP White All-Stars 82-81 in their second game of the San Juan Shootout in Manatí, Puerto Rico. The victory evened the Spartans’ exhibition record at 1-1 after Wednesday’s narrow 79-77 loss to the LBP Blue All-Stars. Despite committing 22 turnovers that resulted in 25 points for the LBP White All-Stars, Norfolk State found a way to grind out the victory behind another stellar offensive performance from Anthony McComb. McComb poured in a…

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Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Announces Matchups Through 2029, Featuring Jackson State, Morgan State and South Carolina State

Brandon King

The future of one of HBCU football’s premier opening weekend showcases is now set. The Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff has officially announced its featured matchups for the next three seasons, with Morgan State, Jackson State, Norfolk State, South Carolina State, Alabama State and Alcorn State all slated to take center stage in nationally televised contests. The annual event continues to serve as a marquee showcase for Historically Black Colleges and Universities while highlighting the longstanding rivalry between the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). 2027: Morgan…

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Coppin State’s DeMariontay Hall Signs Professional Contract in Portugal, Continues HBCU-to-Pro Journey

Brandon King

Image via Tim Rice Another HBCU standout is taking his talents to the international stage. Former Coppin State Eagles standout DeMariontay Hall has officially signed a professional basketball contract in Portugal, marking the next chapter in his basketball journey. Hall’s move overseas represents another success story for the HBCU basketball pipeline, as players from historically Black colleges and universities continue to earn opportunities at the professional level around the world. During his time with Coppin State, Hall established himself as a versatile forward who impacted the game on both ends…

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South Carolina State, Johnson C. Smith Headline Inaugural 2026 Preseason Black College Football Poll

Brandon King

Defending HBCU champions South Carolina State and Johnson C. Smith have been voted No. 1 in the inaugural 2026 Preseason Black College Football Poll, making history as the first programs to top the newly established national rankings. The poll, which is endorsed by the MEAC, SWAC, CIAA and SIAC, provides an official weekly ranking of HBCU football programs across NCAA Division I (FCS) and Division II. The rankings are determined by a panel of HBCU head coaches and media members and are designed to become the definitive benchmark for Black…

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MEAC Expands Championship Lineup with Women’s Flag Football and Women’s Golf

Staff

Image via the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference is continuing its commitment to growing opportunities for female student-athletes. Beginning with the 2026-27 academic year, Women’s Flag Football and Women’s Golf will officially be added to the MEAC championship lineup, marking another significant step forward for the conference and its member institutions. The addition of both sports reflects the rapid growth of women’s athletics nationwide, particularly women’s flag football, which has emerged as one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. Meanwhile, women’s golf provides another competitive platform for…

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Norfolk State’s Thomas Ealey Invited to USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Training Camp

Brandon King

Another major honor has come the way of Norfolk State standout Thomas Ealey, who has been invited to participate in the 2026 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Training Camp. The invitation places Ealey among the nation’s 56 top draft-eligible and draft-ineligible collegiate players competing for an opportunity to represent Team USA on the international stage.   “We are incredibly proud of Thomas and this well-deserved honor. Thomas is a special player and deserving of this honor. This is an exciting opportunity for him to showcase his skillset on the national…

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