2021 HBCU football schedule, scores and updates

Bethune-Cookman takes on Alabama A&M in a Thursday SWAC battle.

How to Watch:

• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• Date: Thursday, Sept. 16
• TV channel: ESPN
• Streaming: ESPN.com
• Location: Dayton Stadium in Dayton, Florida

Click or tap here for live stats.

After two weeks of thrilling games, Week 3 of HBCU football is here. Here are two games to watch in the opening week.

Thursday, Sept. 16

Alabama A&M at Bethune-Cookman | 7:30 p.m. | ESPNU

Bethune-Cookman will play their first SWAC game against the reigning SWAC champion Alabama A&M. There won’t be any easing into SWAC play for the Wildcats as they’ll have to contain a dynamic Bulldogs offense led by elite QB Aqeel Glass. The game will be a litmus test to see how Bethune-Cookman sizes up in its new conference.

Saturday, Sept. 18

Game of the Week: Hampton at Howard | 12 p.m. | NBCSN

The battle for the real HU is back! The storied Hampton vs Howard rivalry makes its return after a two-year absence. Although the two programs have struggled as of late, this game is sure to be intense as it is a rivalry renewed. Expect an insane game-day atmosphere as bragging rights are on the line for players, students, and alumni this week.
 

With two weeks in the books, it's time to take a look at the latest HBCU football power rankings.

The weekly rankings sort each HBCU football team at the FCS level based on their performances this season. Nicknamed The Road to Atlanta, the power rankings lead up to the annual meeting of HBCU football's two best teams at this year's Celebration Bowl held in Atlanta, GA.

See the power rankings below.

1. Alabama A&M | SWAC | 1-0 | LW: 1
   • The reigning SWAC champions were off in Week 2. However, the Bulldogs opened the season with a statement win over preseason MEAC favorite South Carolina State.
2. Jackson State | SWAC | 2-0 | LW: 3
   • Jackson State has shined in two nationally televised games to open the season. After defeating Florida A&M in the Orange Blossom Classic, the Tigers responded with a win over Tennessee State in the Southern Heritage Classic. QB Shedeur Sanders appears to have taken the next step.
3. North Carolina Central | MEAC | 1-1 | LW: 2
   • The Eagles put up 10 points in a loss to FBS opponent Marshall. After a week where many HBCU programs played FBS schools, North Carolina Central remains in the top 3 thanks to winning the MEAC/SWAC Challenge.
4. North Carolina A&T | Big South | 0-2 | LW: 4
   • North Carolina A&T fought hard in the first half against Duke before falling short. Despite opening the season 0-2, the Aggies remain one the more talented HBCU programs. However, All-American RB Jah-Maine Martin has been relatively quiet through two games with only 53 rushing yards.
5. South Carolina State | MEAC | 0-2 | LW: 5
   • South Carolina State wasn’t expected to defeat FBS powerhouse Clemson. Even in a loss, South Carolina State players like CB Decobie Durant performed well. Their performance in a loss to Alabama A&M still qualifies as a good loss.
6. Florida A&M | SWAC | 1-1 | LW: 8
   • The Rattlers rebounded after a loss with a Week 2 defeat of Fort Valley State.  Florida A&M’s defense only allowed seven points in consecutive weeks, but the offense still has a decision to make at quarterback.
7. Alcorn State | SWAC | 1-1 | LW: 6
   • Alcorn State won a close game against Northwestern State. QB Felix Harper was unable to score through the air but found paydirt on the ground.
8. Arkansas-Pine Bluff | SWAC | 1-0 | LW: 11
   • The Golden Lions were off in Week 2. In Week 1, QB Skyler Perry led Arkansas-Pine Bluff in passing and rushing as the team picked up an early-season victory.
9. Delaware State | MEAC |1-1 | LW: 7
   • Delaware State fell to Georgetown in overtime. The Hornets were held scoreless in the second half and overtime.
10. Prairie View A&M | SWAC | 1-1 | LW: 9
    • Prairie View A&M’s explosiveness on offense disappeared against UIW. However, the Panthers did pick up a conference win in Week 1.
11. Grambling State | SWAC | 1-1 | LW: 10
    • Grambling State was held scoreless against Southern Miss. The loss came after opening the season with a defeat of Tennessee State.
12. Norfolk State | MEAC | 0-2 | LW: 13
    • Norfolk State lost to Wake Forest but QB Juwan Carter and LG Jalen Powell performed well against an FBS opponent. The Spartans have caught the eyes of NFL scouts after two FBS games to open the season.
13. Bethune-Cookman  | SWAC | 0-2 | LW: 12
    • Bethune-Cookman opened the season with back-to-back FBS losses. They’ll get reigning SWAC champion Alabama A&M in their first ever SWAC game.
14. Southern | SWAC | 1-1 | LW: 17
    • Southern defeated Miles 41-24. It was Southern’s first win and Miles’s second loss to a SWAC opponent.
15. Hampton | Big South | 1-1 | LW: 14
    • Hampton’s ground game was unable to get going in Week 2. The Pirates drop one spot before they battle for the real HU.
16. Alabama State | SWAC | 1-1 | LW: 15
    • Alabama State played top-25 opponent Auburn. Auburn dominated this in-state game.
17. Tennessee State | Ohio Valley | 0-2 | LW: 16
    • Tennessee State lost their only two games against HBCUs this season. They’ll try and bounce back during the remainder of the season.
18. Howard | MEAC | 0-2 | LW: 18
    • Howard couldn’t find the endzone against Maryland. They’ll stay put in the rankings.
19. Mississippi Valley State | SWAC | 0-1 | LW: 21
    • Mississippi Valley State was off Week 2. 
20. Texas Southern | SWAC | 0-2 | LW: 19
    • Texas Southern fell to 0-2 after losing to Baylor 66-7.
21. Morgan State | MEAC | 0-2 | LW: 20
    • Even when positive play occurred, Morgan State’s loss to Tulane was marred with miscues. 

Here are the conference standings after Week 2. Click or tap here for more standings.

Conference records in parentheses.

MEAC

1. Delaware State | 1-1 (0-0)
   • Last Game: Loss 20-14 to Georgetown
2. North Carolina Central | 1-1 (0-0)
   • Last Game: Loss 44-10 to Marshall
3. South Carolina State | 0-2 (0-0)
   • Last Game: Loss 49-3 to Clemson
4. Howard | 0-2 (0-0)
   • Last Game: Loss 62-0 to Maryland
5. Morgan State | 0-2 (0-0)
   • Last Game: Loss 69-20 to Tulane
6. Norfolk State | 0-2 (0-0)
   • Last Game: Loss 41-16 to Wake Forest

SWAC

East

1. Jackson State | 2-0 (1-0)
   • Last Game: Win 38-16 over Tennessee State
2. Alabama A&M | 1-0 (0-0)
   • Last Game: Off Week 2
3. Alabama State | 1-1 (0-0)
   • Last Game: Loss 62-0 to Auburn
4. Mississippi Valley State | 0-1 (0-0)
   • Last Game: Off Week 2
5. Bethune-Cookman | 0-2 (0-0)
   • Last Game: Loss 63-14 to UCF
6. Florida A&M | 1-1 (0-1)
   • Last Game: Win 34-7 over Fort Valley State

West

1. Prairie View A&M | 1-1 (1-0)
   • Last Game: Loss 40-9 to UIW
2. Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 1-0 (0-0)
   • Last Game: Off Week 2
3. Grambling State | 1-1 (0-0)
   • Last Game: Loss 37-0 to Southern Miss
4. Alcorn State | 1-1 (0-0)
   • Last Game: Win 13-10 over Northwestern State
5. Southern | 1-1 (0-0)
   • Last Game: Win 41-24 over Miles
6. Texas Southern| 0-2 (0-1)
   • Last Game: Loss 66-7 to Baylor

Other

• North Carolina A&T fell to 0-2 (0-0) after a 45-17 loss to Duke. They are tied for last in the Big South, but no conference games have been played.
• Hampton moved to 1-1 (0-0) after a 47-7 loss to Old Dominion. They are tied for second in the Big South, but no conference games have been played.
• Tennessee State fell to 0-2 (0-0) after a 38-16 loss to Jackson State. They are tied for second in the Ohio Valley, but no conference games have been played.

The MEAC and SWAC have announced their Week 2 awards. Find them listed below.

MEAC

• Offensive Player of the Week: Norfolk State QB Juwan Carter (195 pass yards, 2 TDs)
• Defensive Player of the Week: South Carolina State CB Decobie Durant (3 TAK, 2 INT, 2 PBU)
• Specialist of the Week: North Carolina Central P Juan Verlade (43.8 yards per punt, 3 50-yard punts)
• Rookie of the Week: Delaware State RB Sy'Veon Wilkerson (98 yards, 1 TD)
• Offensive Lineman of the Week: Norfolk State LG  Jalen Powell (4 pancake blocks, 0 sacks)

SWAC

• Offensive Player of the Week: Jackson State QB Shedeur Sanders (362 pass yards, 3 pass TDs, 30 completions, 75% completion percentage)
• Defensive Player of the Week: Jackson State LB James Houston (10 TAK, 4.5 SK, 5 TFL)
• Specialist of the Week: Jackson State WR Warren Newman (81-yard punt return TD)
• Rookie of the Week: Florida A&M LB Deonte Williams (3 TFL, 2 SK, 1 FF)

Warren Newman goes into the Southern Heritage Classic record books with the 81-yard punt return score. pic.twitter.com/kUQgFI2yrf

— The Undefeated (@TheUndefeated) September 12, 2021

HBCU football is back in action with an exciting weekend of Week 2 games. Click or tap here for a live scoreboard.

Teams not in action Week 2: Alabama A&M, Mississippi Valley State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Week 2

Friday, Sept. 10

• Duke 45, North Carolina A&T 17

Saturday, Sept. 11

• Auburn 62, Alabama State 0
• Wake Forest 41, Norfolk State 16
• Tulane 69, Morgan State 20
• Georgetown 20, Delaware State 14
• No. 3 Clemson 49, South Carolina State 3 
• Florida A&M 34, Fort Valley State 7
• Marshall 44, North Carolina Central 10
• UCF 63, Bethune-Cookman 14
• Alcorn State 13, Northwestern State 10
• Baylor 66, Texas Southern 7
• ODU 47, Hampton 7
• Southern Miss 37, Grambling State 0
• Jackson State 38, Tennessee State 16
• Southern 41, Miles 24 
• Maryland 62, Howard 0
• UIW 40, Prairie View A&M 9

North Carolina A&T lost to Duke 45-17 in the lone Friday night game. See the stats here.

After an exciting opening week of action, Week 2 of HBCU football continues with intriguing games. Here are three games to watch in the opening week.

Saturday, September 11

• Tennessee State vs. Jackson State (Liberty Memorial Bowl Stadium in Memphis, TN) | 7 p.m. | ESPN3
  • Two NFL Hall of Famers will meet on Saturday in Memphis, but as head coaches not players. Tennessee State's Eddie George and Jackson State's Deion Sanders will lead their teams into the Southern Heritage Classic. Tennessee State is still looking for their first win while Jackson State is looking to build upon a 1-0 start.
  • Players to watch: QB Shedeur Sander (JSU), WR Josh Lanier (JSU), LB Aubrey Miller (JSU), RB Devon Starling (TSU), WR Dayron Johnson (TSU)
• Miles at Southern | 7 p.m. | TBD
  • After almost beating Alabama State, the DII Miles football team will once again try to upset a SWAC opponent. Southern will look to bounce back after a tough loss in Week 1.
  • Players to watch: DE Jordan Lewis (SU), QB Ladarius Skelton (SU)
• Prairie View A&M at UIW | 8 p.m. | TBD
  • This game is shaping up to be a shootout. Each team's quarterback threw for 350+ passing yards and three or more touchdowns in Week 1. Expect fireworks in this showdown.
  • Players to watch: QB Juwon Pass (PVAMU), QB Cameron Ward (UIW)

One game is in the books for HBCU teams across the board. Here are the conference standings after Week 1. Click or tap here for more standings.

Conference records in parentheses.

MEAC

1. Delaware State | 1-0 (0-0)
   • Last Game: Win 32-24 over Bowie State
2. North Carolina Central | 1-0 (0-0)
   • Last Game: Win 23-14 over Alcorn State
3. South Carolina State | 0-1 (0-0)
   • Last Game: Loss 42-41 to Alabama A&M
4. Howard | 0-1 (0-0)
   • Last Game: Loss 38-14 to Richmond
5. Morgan State | 0-1 (0-0)
   • Last Game: Loss 31-0 to Towson
6. Norfolk State | 0-1 (0-0)
   • Last Game: Loss 49-10 to Toledo

SWAC

East

1. Jackson State | 1-0 (1-0)
   • Last Game: Win 7-6 over Florida A&M
2. Alabama A&M | 1-0 (0-0)
   • Last Game: Win 42-41 over South Carolina State
3. Alabama State | 1-0 (0-0)
   • Last Game: Win 14-13 (OT) over Miles College
4. Bethune-Cookman | 0-1 (0-0)
   • Last Game: Bethune-Cookman Loss 38-28 to UTEP
5. Mississippi Valley State | 0-1 (0-0)
   • Last Game: Loss 35-0 to Murray State
6. Florida A&M | 0-1 (0-1)
   • Last Game: Loss 7-6 to Jackson State

West

1. Prairie View A&M | 1-0 (1-0)
   • Last Game: Win 40-17 over Texas Southern
2. Grambling State | 1-0 (0-0)
   • Last Game: Win 16-10 over Tennessee State
3. Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 1-0 (0-0)
   • Last Game: Win 34-16 over Lane
4. Alcorn State | 0-1 (0-0)
   • Last Game: Loss 23-14 to North Carolina Central
5. Southern | 0-1 (0-0)
   • Last Game: Loss 55-3 to Troy
6. Texas Southern| 0-1 (0-1)
   • Last Game: Loss 40-17 to Prairie View A&M

Other

• North Carolina A&T fell to 0-1 (0-0) after a 29-18 loss to Furman. They are tied for last in the Big South, but no conference games have been played.
• Hampton moved to 1-0 (0-0) after a 42-28 win over Virginia Union. They are tied for first in the Big South, but no conference games have been played.
• Tennessee State fell to 0-1 (0-0) after a 16-10 loss to Grambling State. They are tied for second in the Ohio Valley, but no conference games have been played.

The MEAC and SWAC have announced their Week 1 awards. Find them listed below.

MEAC

• Offensive Player of the Week: Delaware State RB Sy'Veon Wilkerson (92 rush yards, 3 TDs)
• Defensive Player of the Week: Delaware State DB Esaias Guthrie (2 INTS, 1 TD)
• Specialist of the Week: Delaware State DT Kevin DeShields (2 blocked XP)
• Rookie of the Week: Delaware State RB Sy'Veon Wilkerson

SWAC

• Offensive Player of the Week: Alabama A&M QB Aqeel Glass (426 pass yards, 4 pass TDs, 1 rush TD)
• Defensive Player of the Week: Jackson State LB Aubrey Miller (9 TAK, 1 SK, 1 TFL, 1 PBU)
• Specialist of the Week: Grambling State K/P Garrett Urban (24-yard FG)
• Rookie of the Week: Prairie View A&M QB Jawon Pass (354 pass yards, 3 TDs, 67 % comp)

After the 2021 season officially kicked off with the MEAC/SWAC Challenge, a full slate of games returned for Week 1. Click or tap here for a live scoreboard.

Week 1

Thursday, Sept. 2

• Murray State 35, Mississippi Valley State 0

Saturday, Sept. 4

• Furman 29, No. 25 North Carolina A&T 18
• Richmond 38, Howard 14
• Towson 31, Morgan State 0
• Delaware State 32, Bowie State 24
• Hampton 42, Virginia Union 28
• Alabama State 14, Miles College 13 (OT)
• Arkansas-Pine Bluff 34, Lane 16
• Toledo 49, Norfolk State 10
• Alabama A&M 42, South Carolina State 41
• Troy 55, Southern 3
• Prairie View A&M 40, Texas Southern 17
• UTEP 38, Bethune-Cookman 28

Sunday, Sept. 5

• Jackson State 7, Florida A&M 6
• Grambling State 16, Tennessee State 10 

Week 1 of HBCU football is underway! There are exciting games everywhere with 12 games on the schedule today. See all of the early games listed below. Click or tap here for a live scoreboard.

• Furman 29, No. 25 North Carolina A&T 18
  • Halftime Update:  Furman leads North Carolina A&T 10-3 at half. Furman has scored 10 straight points, largely holding North Carolina A&T's offense in check. The Aggies have dealt with injuries during the first half.
  • Final: Rust showed with North Carolina A&T in their first game since 2019. The Paladins shutdown All-American RB Jah-Maine Martin holding him to just 33 rushing yards on the day. Furman also took advantage of North Carolina A&T's secondary with Hamp Sisson passing for 362 yards and three touchdowns. WR Ron Hunt was a bright spot for the Aggies catching five passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns.
• Richmond 38, Howard 14
  • Halftime Update: Richmond leads Howard 23-14 at half. Richmond has been powered by a strong rushing attack that has three touchdowns so far. Howard's biggest play offensively was a 64 yard passing touchdown from QB Quinton Williams to WR Christion Carter.
  • Final: The Bison could not get anything going offensively in the second half as Richmond pulled away to secure the victory. The few Howard drives into Richmond territory ended with turnovers on downs as Richmond star defenders DE Kobie Turner and LB Tristan Wheeler made their presence known. 
• Towson 31, Morgan State 0
  • Halftime Update: Towson leads Morgan State 17-0 at half. Towson has struggled to run the ball, only gaining 37 yards, but the Tigers have had their way through the air with 194 yards. Morgan State has struggled to get anything going with only one first down in the half.
  • Final: The Battle for Greater Baltimore went to Towson today; the Tigers were in control of the game throughout. Towson QB Chris Ferguson completed 60% of his passes including a 73 yard pass to WR Darian Street. The Bears used three different quarterbacks this afternoon and will look to bounce back next week.
• Delaware State 32, Bowie State 24
  • Halftime Update: Delaware State leads Bowie State 26-3 at half. The Hornets opened the game in dominant fashion recovering a fumble, getting an interception, and blocking a punt en route to a 19-0 lead. Bowie State was able to get a field goal out a red zone trip, but the Delaware State defense responded getting a pick-six to close the first half.
  • Final: Delaware State holds off a Bowie State comeback to get a 32-24 win. The Hornets were able to capitalize off mistakes all game to keep the Bulldogs at bay. Delaware State RB Sy'veon Wilkerson powered through the Bowie State defense to secure the win over the DII power.
• Hampton 42, Virginia Union 28
  • Halftime Update: Virginia Union leads Hampton 14-13 at half. After Hampton got out to a 13-0 lead to end the first quarter, Virginia Union responded with 14 unanswered points to close the half. The Pirates have moved the ball offensively with over 300 yards through two quarters, but two interceptions in Panther territory have them behind.
  • Final: A dominant fourth quarter spurred the Hampton Pirates to a season-opening win. Tied at 21 entering the final frame, Hampton doubled their scoring total to pull away and secure the victory. Hampton RB Darran Butts led the team in rushing with 143 yards and a touchdown.
• Alabama State 14, Miles 13
  • Halftime Update: Alabama State leads Miles 7-0. The Hornet defense limited Golden Bears to just five passing attempts in the first half. Alabama State's offense has been led by QB Ryan Nettles who has the game's only touchdown.
  • Final: The Alabama edition of the Labor Day Classic was decided in overtime as Alabama State's K Cosmin Diancou hit the game-winning extra point. After the Hornets led most of the game, Golden Bear RB Octavius Griffin tied the game with a five yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. In overtime, Miles scored a touchdown on the opening possession but missed the extra point, opening the door for Alabama State to win.

Left tackle Terron Armstead (New Orleans Saints, Arkansas-Pine Bluff) and linebacker Darius Leonard (Indianapolis Colts, South Carolina State) highlight the former players from HBCUs that made the initial 53-man 2021 NFL rosters. The MEAC led all conferences with five former players on active rosters. North Carolina A&T, South Carolina State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and Grambling State were the only HBCUs with multiple former players on rosters.

Click here for the full list. 

Congrats to Darius Leonard for being named the 2016 @meacsports Defensive Player of the Year! #GoBulldogs #WeAreSCState #FearTheBite pic.twitter.com/MXNdiWoW83

— SC State Athletics (@SCStateAthletic) December 6, 2016

Alabama A&M quarterback Aqeel Glass was the first player selected for the HBCU Legacy Bowl. Glass is the spring 2021 Deacon Jones Player of the Year and has agreed to participate in the post-season all-star game that features the best players from HBCUs around the country. 

The HBCU Legacy Bowl will be held February 19, 2022 at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans, LA.

BREAKING: We're excited to announce that @AAMUBulldogs QB AQEEL GLASS (@Aqeel_Glass4) is the first player ever to be selected for the @HBCULegacyBowl! ✊🏿⁰https://t.co/dsHhTftr0D@nflnetwork @NFL @BCFHOF pic.twitter.com/EzgHc2uhm2

— HBCU Legacy Bowl (@HBCULegacyBowl) September 1, 2021

The MEAC/SWAC Challenge is in the books! North Carolina Central defeated Alcorn State 23-14 to open the 2021 HBCU football season.

Click here for a full recap.

NCCU GETS THE W.

The Eagles take down Alcorn State in the @MEAC_SWAC Challenge 🦅

Coach was ducking from that Gatorade bath 😂 pic.twitter.com/OIzKPy2RSd

— ESPN (@espn) August 29, 2021

The 2021 season officially begins in Week 0 with the MEAC/SWAC Challenge. A full slate of games are set for Week 1. Click or tap here for a live scoreboard.

Week 0

Saturday, Aug. 28

• North Carolina Central 23, Alcorn State 14 (Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta, Ga.)

Week 1

Thursday, Sept. 2

• Mississippi Valley State at Murray State | 8 p.m. | ESPN+

Saturday, Sept. 4

• No. 25 North Carolina A&T at Furman | 2 p.m.
• Howard at Richmond | 2 p.m. | FloFootball / NBC Sports Washington
• Towson at Morgan State | 4 p.m. | ESPN3/ESPN+
• Bowie State at Delaware State | 4 p.m. | ESPN3/ESPN+
• Virginia Union at Hampton | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
• Miles at Alabama State | 6 p.m.
• Lane at Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 7 p.m. | UAPB Sports Network
• Norfolk State at Toledo | 7 p.m. | ESPN3
• South Carolina State at Alabama A&M | 7 p.m.
• Southern at Troy | 7 p.m. | ESPN3
• Prairie View A&M at Texas Southern | 8 p.m. | ESPN3
• Bethune-Cookman at UTEP | 9 p.m. | ESPN3

Sunday, Sept. 5

• Jackson State vs. Florida A&M (Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Fla. | 3 p.m. | ESPN2
• Grambling State vs. Tennessee State (Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio)  | 3 p.m. | NFL Network

The 2021 college football season gets underway with Week 0 and a primetime HBCU battle when Alcorn State takes on North Carolina Central in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge.

The 2021 MEAC/SWAC Challenge will be played at Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta on Saturday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. Alcorn State and North Carolina Central will also open the season for College GameDay as the game will air live on ESPN.

Click here for a game preview and everything you need to know for the MEAC/SWAC Challenge game.

The future matchups for the MEAC/SWAC Challenge have been announced through 2024. All games will be played in Atlanta, GA to open the HBCU football season. See all of the exciting matchups below:

• 2022
  • Alabama State vs. Howard
• 2023
  • Jackson State vs. South Carolina State
• 2024
  • Florida A&M vs. Norfolk State
• 2025
  • Southern vs. TBA

This year's MEAC/SWAC challenge will feature Alcorn State vs. North Carolina Central on August 28, 2021 at 7 p.m. 

When it comes to football at HBCUs, the setting is just as important as the product on the field. The fans, the bands, the stadiums, and more create a unique environment for teams to play in.

Here are some can’t miss game-day atmospheres in HBCU football.

THE BAYOU CLASSIC IS ONE OF HBCU FOOTBALL'S PREMIER EVENTS

HBCU football returns this fall after a year where teams navigated the challenges of a pandemic that caused some teams to play in the spring while others opted out altogether. The long-awaited return to a traditional schedule has captivated players, fans, students and alumni as they prepare to dive into a compelling season.

Here are six preseason storylines to watch as the season approaches.

The Walter Payton Award and the Buck Buchanan Award are given annually to the best offensive and defensive players, respectively, at the FCS level.

The following HBCU players found their names on the preseason watch list for these awards.

Walter Payton Award

• QB Juwan Carter, Norfolk State
• QB Aqeel Glass, Alabama A&M (2020-21 finalist)
• QB Felix Harper, Alcorn State (2019 finalist)
• RB Jah-Maine Martin, North Carolina A&T (2019 finalist)

Buck Buchanan Award

• DL Jordan Lewis, Southern (2020-21 recipient)
• DB Markquese Bell, Florida A&M
• DB Decobie Durant, South Carolina State

Southern's Jordan Lewis enters the 2021 season with a chance at becoming the second multiple-time winner of the Buck Buchanan Award.

During the summer, conference head coaches and sports information directors predicted their order of finish for their respective teams. Below are the preseason predictions for HBCU teams.

MEAC

1. South Carolina State (5 first-place votes)
2. Norfolk State (2)
3. North Carolina Central (2)
4. Delaware State (1)
5. Morgan State (1)
6. Howard (1)

More info here.

SWAC

Eastern Division

1. Alabama A&M
2. Florida A&M
3. Jackson State
4. Alabama State
5. Bethune-Cookman
6. Mississippi Valley State

Western Division

1. Alcorn State
2. Southern
3. Grambling State
4. Prairie View A&M
5. Arkansas-Pine Bluff
6. Texas Southern

More info here.

Other

• North Carolina A&T is predicted to finish third in the Big South during their inaugural season.
• Hampton is predicted to finish seventh in the Big South.
• Tennessee State is predicted to finish fifth in the Ohio Valley.

Since 2015, the MEAC and SWAC conference champions face off in a postseason football clash known as the Celebration Bowl. In the Celebration Bowl, two of the premier HBCU football programs in a particular year at the FCS level meet to determine who is the best. Traditionally, the game is in Atlanta, Georgia, a hub for HBCU culture. The Celebration Bowl celebrates great football and HBCU tradition on a national stage.

This year's Celebration Bowl will be at 12 noon December 18, 2021 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Here's the list of Celebration Bowl champions. The MEAC leads the SWAC in the all-time series 4-1.

Here's the list of SWAC champions. Grambling State has the most championships with 25.