Category: HBCU Sports

Virginia Union Picked to Win CIAA as Conference Unveils 2026 Football Predicted Order of Finish and Preseason All-CIAA Team

Brandon King

irginia Union enters the 2026 football season as the team to beat after being voted the preseason favorite in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Predicted Order of Finish, announced during CIAA Football Media Day. The Panthers edged defending CIAA champion Johnson C. Smith for the top spot in voting conducted by the CIAA Sports Information Directors Association. Fayetteville State was picked to finish third, followed by Virginia State and Winston-Salem State to round out the top five.  2026 CIAA Predicted Order of Finish Johnson C. Smith led all programs…

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2026 SWAC Football Predicted Order of Finish Released: Alabama State, Prairie View A&M Picked as Division Favorites

Brandon King

The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) has released its 2026 football predicted order of finish, with Alabama State and Prairie View A&M earning the top spots in their respective divisions following voting from conference coaches and media. East Division Predicted Finish Rank Team Points First-Place Votes 1 Alabama State 131 16 2 Jackson State 122 7 3 Bethune-Cookman 71 — 4 Florida A&M 70 — 5 Alabama A&M 66 1 6 Mississippi Valley State 29 — Alabama State enters the 2026 season as the favorite in the East Division after receiving…

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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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Former Southern Tennis Star Darnesha Moore Returns as Head Coach of Jaguars’ Men’s and Women’s Programs

Brandon King

Southern University has turned to one of its own to lead its tennis programs into the future, announcing the hiring of Darnesha Moore as the new head coach of the Jaguars’ men’s and women’s tennis teams. Moore returns to Baton Rouge after a decorated playing career at Southern, where she established herself as one of the most accomplished student-athletes in program history. During her time as a Jaguar, she earned SWAC Most Valuable Player honors and was named Southern University’s Women’s Athlete of the Year, helping cement her legacy as…

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How an NCAA Technicality Could End Victory Vaka’s College Football Career

Brandon King

This is one of the more troubling college football stories to emerge this offseason. According to CBS Sports, former Texas Southern defensive tackle Victory Vaka left Western Kentucky after his mother unexpectedly passed away in April. He attended her funeral on May 9 and believed he had approval from the program to remain home before returning in June. However, on May 27, WKU informed him that his scholarship had been canceled.   The biggest issue isn’t just losing his scholarship—it’s how the school processed his departure. Western Kentucky reportedly classified…

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Alabama A&M Athletics Announces 2026 Hall of Fame Class

Brandon King

Alabama A&M Athletics has officially unveiled its 2026 Athletics Hall of Fame Class, recognizing nine Bulldogs whose excellence as student-athletes, coaches, and ambassadors has left a lasting impact on the university’s rich athletic tradition. The class spans multiple sports and eras, celebrating championship success, individual accomplishments, academic excellence, and professional achievements that continue to reflect positively on Alabama A&M. 2026 Alabama A&M Athletics Hall of Fame Class Alexandria Brazelton Boyd | Volleyball (2002–2005) A cornerstone of the most successful era in Alabama A&M volleyball history, Alexandria Brazelton Boyd helped lead…

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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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SWAC Announces 2026 Football Preseason Awards: Andrew Body, Kam Sallis Earn Top Honors

Brandon King

The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) has officially unveiled its 2026 Football Preseason Awards and All-SWAC teams, with Alabama State quarterback Andrew Body and Jackson State defensive back Kam Sallis earning the league’s top individual honors. Body was voted the 2026 SWAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year after leading one of the conference’s most dynamic offenses last season. The Hornets signal-caller also earned First Team All-SWAC honors at quarterback. In just eight games during the 2025 campaign, Body completed 113 of 160 passes (70.6%) for 1,770 yards, 20 touchdowns, and…

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North Carolina Invests Nearly $45 Million in Winston-Salem State University to Expand Campus Growth, Scholarships and Student Success

Brandon King

Winston-Salem State University is entering a new era of growth after receiving a nearly $45 million investment from the State of North Carolina, providing critical funding for campus modernization, scholarship opportunities, workforce development and institutional support. The investment represents one of the largest recent commitments to the university and reinforces the importance of historically Black colleges and universities in shaping the future workforce and communities across the state. A Major Investment in the Future of the Rams The funding package includes nearly $40 million dedicated to capital improvements, allowing WSSU…

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North Carolina A&T Mourns Baseball Legend Al Holland Sr. (’75), Former MLB All-Star and Aggie Hall of Famer

Brandon King

GREENSBORO, N.C. — The North Carolina A&T community is mourning the loss of one of the greatest players in program history. Former Aggie baseball standout Al Holland Sr. (’75) has passed away, leaving behind a legacy that spans collegiate excellence, Major League Baseball success, and decades of impact on the game. Holland starred at North Carolina A&T before launching an accomplished 10-year Major League career. A dominant left-handed pitcher, he became one of the most successful professional baseball players to emerge from the Aggies’ program. During his MLB career, Holland…

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