2023 HBCU football: Schedule, scores, rankings and updates

The MEAC title and a Celebration Bowl berth is up for grabs. Here's the conference title scenario entering the final week.

• Howard
  • In with win over Morgan State
• North Carolina Central
  • In with win over Delaware State and Howard loss
• Morgan State
  • In with win over Howard and NC Central loss

HBCU football in the FCS returns in Week 11. Click or tap here for a live scoreboard.

Full Week 11 HBCU football schedule

All times Eastern. All rankings via FCS Coaches Poll. Click any of the games below for stats.

Teams with Byes: Jackson State

Friday, Nov. 10

• Grambling State 43, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 14

Saturday, Nov. 11

• Bethune-Cookman 31, Alabama A&M 14
• Morgan State 20, South Carolina State 17
• Norfolk State 44, Delaware State 21
• Rhode Island 31, North Carolina A&T 24
• William & Mary 31, Hampton 10
• Eastern Illinois 30, Tennessee State 17
• Prairie View A&M 27, Southern 21
• Alabama State 20, Mississippi Valley State 3
  • Click or tap here to rewatch Alabama State at Mississippi Valley State
• Howard 50, No. 7 North Carolina Central 20
• No. 9 Florida A&M 28, Lincoln (CA) 0

Sunday, Nov. 12

• Texas Southern 44, Alcorn State 10

Week 1 HBCU football Game of the Week

Here is Week 11's HBCU football Game of the Week from NCAA Digital's Stan Becton.

HBCU game of the week: No. 7 North Carolina Central at Howard

This game has lost some of its luster after Howard's loss last week, but it remains the game of the week because the Bison still have the best shot of any MEAC team to knock off the defending conference champions, North Carolina Central. Davius Richard, Latrell "Mookie" Collier and crew have the Eagles rolling, but Quinton Williams and his stable of running back have what it takes to compete when Howard is on its A-game. If both teams come to play, this game could have an exciting finish.

Week 10 of HBCU football shook up the conference races across conferences. Here's what you need to know.

MEAC games

The biggest win in HBCU football in Week 10 came when South Carolina State knocked off Howard. The win gave head coach Buddy Pough the 150th win of his career and the final homecoming win of his storied career. Howard's loss leaves North Carolina Central as the lone undefeated team in MEAC play.

See all MEAC results below.

• Morgan State 24, Delaware State 17
• South Carolina State 27, Howard 24
• No. 9 North Carolina Central 38, Norfolk State 24

SWAC games

Florida A&M clinched home-field for the SWAC Championship game with its win over Alabama A&M. Over in the SWAC West, Alcorn State sent a statement with its 23-point win over Southern to take first place in the division. Behind the Braves, Prairie View A&M remains a game behind first place, holding the head-to-head advantage over Alcorn State. The Panthers can solidify its second-place standing in the division with a win over Southern next week. Meanwhile, Grambling State is eliminated from SWAC West contention with its third conference loss today.

See all SWAC results below.

• Bethune-Cookman 20, Mississippi Valley State 7 
• No. 13 Florida A&M 42, Alabama A&M 28
• Alcorn State 44, Southern 21
• Jackson State 21, Texas Southern 19
• Prairie View A&M 38, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 14
• Alabama State 17, Grambling State 6

Other FCS games

Elsewhere among FCS HBCUs, Hampton moved its record to .500 while Tennessee State lost to Charleston Southern, likely knocking the Tigers out of FCS playoff contention.

See all scores and stats below.

• Hampton 42, Maine 35
• Towson 42, North Carolina A&T 32
• Charleston Southern 35, Tennessee State 21

HBCU football standings

MEAC

SWAC

Big South-OVC

CAA

HBCU football in the FCS returns in Week 10 as the season enters its final month. Click or tap here for a live scoreboard.

Full Week 10 HBCU football schedule

All times Eastern. All rankings via FCS Coaches Poll. Click any of the games below for stats.

Thursday, Nov. 2

• Bethune-Cookman 20, Mississippi Valley State 7 

Saturday, Nov. 4

• Hampton 42, Maine 35
• Towson 42, North Carolina A&T 32
• Morgan State 24, Delaware State 17
• No. 13 Florida A&M 42, Alabama A&M 28
• Alcorn State 44, Southern 21
• Jackson State 21, Texas Southern 19
• Prairie View A&M 38, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 14
• South Carolina State 27, Howard 24
• No. 9 North Carolina Central 38, Norfolk State 24
• Charleston Southern 35, Tennessee State 21
• Alabama State 17, Grambling State 6

Week 10 HBCU football Game of the Week

Here is Week 10's HBCU football Game of the Week from NCAA Digital's Stan Becton.

HBCU game of the week: Southern at Alcorn State

It's a four-team race at the top of the SWAC West and two teams, Southern and Alcorn State, meet in Week 10. The Braves enter on a four-game win streak and the Jaguars enter on a three-game win streak. Both teams have just one SWAC loss and a win will give the winner a key head-to-head win in a potential tiebreaker scenario — should it be needed — down the road.

Florida A&M clinched the SWAC East title with its win over Prairie View A&M. With the win, the Rattlers will play in the 2023 SWAC Championship Game on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023 at. 4 p.m. ET on ESPN2. That means Florida A&M will not be a candidate for the FCS Playoffs this year.

Florida A&M's remaining schedule consists of Alabama A&M, Lincoln (CA) and Bethune-Cookman.

4TH | 1:35

THE GAME IS NOT OVER YET!

Tevin Griffey with a PICK-6 late in the 4th!

FAMU - 46
PVAMU- 7

📺https://t.co/jXkNskaFGe#FAMU | #Rattlers | #OurTime pic.twitter.com/CRjiVcr2vA

— Florida A&M Football 🏈 (@FAMU_FB) October 28, 2023

HBCU football in the FCS returns in Week 9 with big-time conference showdowns that could shake up championship races. Click or tap here for a live scoreboard.

Full Week 9 HBCU football schedule

All times Eastern. All rankings via FCS Coaches Poll. Click any of the games below for stats.

Thursday, Oct. 26

• North Carolina Central 62, South Carolina State 28

Saturday, Oct. 28

• Howard 17, Delaware State 10
• Morgan State 32, Norfolk State 28
• Hampton 26, North Carolina A&T 24
• Tennessee State 43, Lindenwood 20
• Grambling State 28, Bethune-Cookman 14
• Alcorn State 24, Mississippi Valley State 3
• Jackson State 40, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 14
• Florida A&M 45, Prairie View A&M 7
• Alabama State 31, Alabama A&M 16
• Southern 23, Texas Southern 17 (OT)

Week 9 HBCU football Game of the Week

Here is Week 9's HBCU football Game of the Week from NCAA Digital's Stan Becton.

HBCU game of the week: Prairie View A&M at Florida A&M

It's not the SWAC Championship game, but we'll get to see the SWAC East and SWAC West leaders battle on the gridiron when Prairie View A&M meets Florida A&M. The Panthers lead the SWAC West with just one conference loss while the Rattlers are undefeated against FCS opponents this year. We might get an early preview of the SWAC Championship game in October. Oh, and it's Florida A&M's homecoming game too.

*Update: Florida A&M won the HBCU football Game of the Week and clinched the SWAC East

Week 8 of HBCU football saw a near full conference slate. Here's a look at what you may have missed.

Conference games

The MEAC opened conference play this week, and the conference featured a pair of exciting games. No. 10 North Carolina Central defeated Morgan State in a Thursday night clash and Howard avoided a homecoming upset with a fourth-quarter rally against Norfolk State.

In the SWAC, divisional contenders Florida A&M, Jackson State, Alcorn State and Southern all handled business. Meanwhile, the CAAs HBCU teams got blown out.

See every conference result below:

• No. 10 North Carolina Central 16, Morgan State 10
• South Carolina State 35, Delaware State 7
• Howard 27, Norfolk State 23
• Richmond 33, North Carolina A&T 10
• No. 7 Delaware 47, Hampton 3
• Jackson State 21, Mississippi Valley State 6
• Alcorn State 31, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 7 
• Southern 28, Bethune-Cookman 18
• No. 18 Florida A&M 31, Texas Southern 21

Rewatch the Southern vs. Bethune-Cookman game below

HBCUs vs non DI opponents

In the only nonconference FCS HBCU game of the week, Tennessee State shut out Lincoln (CA) behind running back Jordan Gant's four rushing touchdowns and linebacker Terrell Allen's four sacks.

• Tennessee State 54, Lincoln (CA) 0

HBCU football standings

SWAC

MEAC

CAA

Big South-OVC

HBCU football in the FCS returns in Week 8, and the MEAC finally enters conference play. Click or tap here for a live scoreboard.

Full Week 8 HBCU football schedule

All times Eastern. All rankings via FCS Coaches Poll. Click any of the games below for stats.

Saturday, Oct. 21

• South Carolina State 35, Delaware State 7
• Howard 27, Norfolk State 23
• Richmond 33, North Carolina A&T 10
• No. 7 Delaware 47, Hampton 3
• Tennessee State 54, Lincoln (CA) 0
• Jackson State 21, Mississippi Valley State 6
• Alcorn State 31, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 7 
• Southern 28, Bethune-Cookman 18
• No. 18 Florida A&M 31, Texas Southern 21

Thursday, Oct. 19

• No. 10 North Carolina Central 16, Morgan State 10

Week 8 HBCU football Game of the Week

Here is Week 8's HBCU football Game of the Week from NCAA Digital's Stan Becton.

HBCU game of the week: No. 10 North Carolina Central at Morgan State

This week's HBCU game of the week is the first MEAC conference game of the year: No. 10 North Carolina Central at Morgan State. North Carolina Central is the top team in HBCU football and its looking to continue its undefeated start against FCS teams. Meanwhile, Morgan State hasn't played in two weeks, but lost four straight games after a surprising, season-opening ranked win. T'his game will show either how dominant of a team North Carolina Central is or it will show that Morgan State isn't far behind in the MEAC.

Southern and Alabama A&M  are on the rise in Week 8's HBCU football power rankings after big-time wins. Let's take a look at the latest rankings from NCAA Digital's Stan Becton.

Here are Week 8's top five teams.

Click or tap here to see the full Week 8 HBCU football power rankings of all 21 FCS HBCU teams.

Here are the standings for FCS HBCU football teams as of Oct. 15, 2023, entering Week 8 of play.

SWAC

MEAC

CAA

Big South-OVC