Tag: HBCU Football

Johnson C. Smith Rolls Past Albany State 27-7 in Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic

Brandon King

Image I a Pro Football Hall of Fame CANTON, Ohio — Johnson C. Smith University made a statement on the national stage Sunday afternoon, using a dominant rushing attack and opportunistic defense to defeat Albany State University 27-7 in the seventh annual Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. The matchup featured the defending CIAA champion Golden Bulls against the defending SIAC champion Golden Rams, bringing two of Division II’s premier HBCU football programs together in Canton. Johnson C. Smith controlled the game…

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Prairie View A&M Defeats Texas Southern 52-14 in Labor Day Classic

Brandon King

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas — Prairie View A&M scored 28 points in the third quarter and defeated Texas Southern 52-14 on Sunday at Panther Stadium in the Southwestern Athletic Conference opener for both teams. The Panthers improved to 1-0 in SWAC play after losing 49-30 to No. 5 Tarleton State in their season opener. Texas Southern fell to 1-1 overall and 0-1 in conference play. Prairie View led 17-7 at halftime before pulling away in the third quarter. Prairie View Pulls Away After Halftime Prairie View took an early lead when…

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Jackson State Mauls Edward Waters 66-14 in Dominant Home Opener

Brandon King

Image via Ayton Breckenridge/The Clarion Ledger JACKSON, Miss. — Jackson State put together a dominant performance in its 2026 home opener, overwhelming Edward Waters 66-14 Saturday night at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in the HOPE Labor Day Classic. The Tigers improved to 2-0 with the convincing victory after opening the season with a 26-24 comeback win over Tennessee State. Jackson State’s offense exploded against Edward Waters, while the defense consistently kept the visitors from finding a rhythm. The Tigers’ performance was particularly impressive considering how competitive their season opener had…

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Clark Atlanta Holds Off Morehouse, 31-21, in ATL Labor Day Classic

Brandon King

ATLANTA — Clark Atlanta University used a series of explosive plays to defeat rival Morehouse College 31-21 Saturday afternoon in the inaugural ATL Labor Day Classic at B.T. Harvey Stadium. The victory marked Clark Atlanta’s third consecutive win over Morehouse and gave the Panthers their first victory of the 2026 season. Clark Atlanta improved to 1-1 overall and 1-0 in SIAC play, while Morehouse dropped to 0-2 overall and 0-1 in conference play. An announced crowd of 9,736 watched the Atlanta University Center rivals add another chapter to a football…

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Tennessee State beat down “Between the Hedges” 63-3

Brandon King

ATHENS, Ga. — Tennessee State’s difficult start to the 2026 football season continued Saturday afternoon as the Tigers fell to No. 3 Georgia, 63-3, at Sanford Stadium. Georgia wasted little time taking control, scoring touchdowns on each of its first four possessions and racing to a 28-0 lead after the opening quarter. The Bulldogs ultimately piled up 63 points while holding Tennessee State to just three points. Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton completed 15 of 16 passes for 202 yards and three touchdowns in his one half of work, while running…

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Before the Saints Had a Legacy, an HBCU Bulldog Made History on the Very First Play

Brandon King

September 17, 1967. The New Orleans Saints were playing the first regular-season game in franchise history. Before the Super Bowl appearances. Before the Pro Bowlers. Before the records, legends and decades of Saints football… There was John Gilliam. A rookie out of South Carolina State College. The opening kickoff was sent his way. Gilliam caught it. Then he took off. 94 YARDS. TOUCHDOWN. On the very first play of the New Orleans Saints’ first regular-season game, John Gilliam became the player who scored the first touchdown in franchise history. Think…

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South Carolina State Climbs to No. 22 in AFCA FCS Coaches Poll After 87-0 Week Zero Rout

Brandon King

image via South Carolina State Athletics South Carolina State Is Making Noise South Carolina State has wasted no time making a statement in the 2026 college football season. After an emphatic 87-0 shutout victory in Week Zero, the Bulldogs have moved up to No. 22 in the latest AFCA FCS Coaches Poll. The jump puts South Carolina State firmly among the nation’s ranked FCS programs and gives the Bulldogs plenty of momentum heading into the rest of the season. An 87-0 Statement South Carolina State’s opening-week performance was about as…

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Norfolk State Blitzes Winston-Salem State 56-0 in Dominant Season Opener

Brandon King

Image via The Winston-Salem Journal Norfolk State opened the 2026 football season with a statement. The Spartans overwhelmed Winston-Salem State from start to finish Saturday night, cruising to a 56-0 victory in their season opener behind a dominant offensive performance and a suffocating defensive effort. The victory gave head coach Michael Vick an emphatic start to his second season at the helm and marked Norfolk State’s first shutout since 2019. The Spartans also recorded their first 50-point performance since 2021. Norfolk State wasted little time establishing control. Quarterback Deljay Bailey…

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Jackson State Survives Tennessee State 26-24 in Wild John A. Merritt Classic Finish

Brandon King

Jackson State opened the 2026 season with a thrilling 26-24 victory over Tennessee State on Saturday night, overcoming a fourth-quarter deficit and surviving a late field-goal attempt to secure the season-opening win. The Tigers wasted little time making an impact. On Jackson State’s opening drive, quarterback Jared Lockhart sold a play-action fake on 3rd-and-6, stepped up in the pocket and found a wide-open Jabari Jones for an 88-yard touchdown pass. The explosive play gave Jackson State an early 7-0 advantage. Tennessee State answered immediately. On the ensuing drive, quarterback Daylin…

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South Carolina State Blasts Savannah State 87-0 Behind Explosive First Half

Brandon King

ORANGEBURG, S.C. — South Carolina State opened the season with an emphatic 87-0 victory over Savannah State. The Bulldogs scored 21 points in the first quarter. Quarterback Keely Watson threw touchdown passes to Malaqhi Jones from 23 yards and Mason Pickett-Hicks from 9 yards, while Ronnie Robinson added a 30-yard touchdown run. SC State added 31 points in the second quarter to take a 52-0 halftime lead, emphatically slamming the door on the competitive portion of the evening’s festivities. Watson connected with Tyler Smith for his third touchdown pass, Zaivan…

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