Category: SWAC

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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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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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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SWAC Announces 2026 Football Media Day Attendees

Brandon King

The Southwestern Athletic Conference has officially released the list of head coaches and student-athletes who will represent each program at the 2026 SWAC Football Media Day, set for July 15 in Birmingham, Alabama. The annual event serves as the unofficial kickoff to the SWAC football season, featuring preseason storylines, player availability, and the release of the predicted order of finish. Each of the 12 member institutions will be represented by its head coach along with two student-athletes. 🏈 2026 SWAC Football Media Day Attendees Alabama A&M Alabama State Alcorn State…

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ICYMI: Alabama A&M Names Former Southern Band Director Nathan B. Haymer as Marching Maroon & White Arranger

Brandon King

The Alabama A&M University Marching Maroon & White has announced the appointment of Nathan B. Haymer as the program’s new arranger, bringing one of the most recognizable names in HBCU band culture back into a prominent collegiate role. Haymer previously served as director of bands at Southern University, where he helped elevate the nationally acclaimed Human Jukebox before his tenure came to an abrupt end. In 2021, Haymer was sentenced to 13 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to federal program theft involving funds intended for Southern University’s band…

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Kendrick Perkins Joins Jackson State as Men’s Basketball GM

Brandon King

A major name in basketball and sports media is headed to the HBCU ranks. Former NBA champion and current ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins has agreed to become the men’s basketball General Manager at Jackson State University, adding another high-profile figure to the Tigers’ athletic department. Perkins, a 14-year NBA veteran who won an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics in 2008, said the opportunity is about more than basketball. “I’m thankful for this opportunity to impact young lives and pour back into my community.” In addition to serving as men’s…

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The John A. Merritt Classic moved to FirstBank Stadium

Staff

Courtesy of Courtesy of Tennessee State Athletics NASHVILLE — Tennessee State and Jackson State will renew one of HBCU football’s most storied rivalries at Vanderbilt University’s FirstBank Stadium when the teams meet in the 2026 John A. Merritt Classic, presented by the Tennessee Titans and ONE Community, on Saturday, Aug. 29, at 7:30 p.m. Tennessee State 2026 single-game tickets, including the John A. Merritt Classic, will go on sale Monday, June 15, at 9 a.m. CT. The game will be played at FirstBank Stadium due to NFL scheduling, which has the Tennessee Titans…

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Former Alabama State Players Ruled Permanently Ineligible in Gambling Scandal

Brandon King

The NCAA has permanently ruled four former Alabama State players ineligible after determining they accepted money from gamblers to influence the outcome of a game during the 2024-25 season. Among those sanctioned is Amarr Knox, the hero of Alabama State’s historic first NCAA Tournament victory, along with teammates Shawn Fulcher, Corey Hines, and Tony Madlock. According to the NCAA, the four players accepted a combined $2,000 from gamblers in an effort to manipulate the outcome of the Hornets’ December 5, 2024 matchup against Southern Miss. The NCAA’s investigation concluded that…

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