HBCU Gameday

Delaware State had a seven-point lead and faced fourth-and-2 at its own 31-yard line against Stony Brook. DeSean Jackson left his offense on the field. He trusted the Hornets to convert rather than surrender possession. Samari Collier was stopped, and Stony Brook took advantage of the short field. Delaware State soon found itself tied after previously holding an 18-point lead.

Benedict College is mourning Willie Washington, the longtime HBCU athletic director and former basketball coach whose leadership helped transform Tiger Athletics. The college announced Washington’s passing in a statement honoring his more than 38 years of service. It did not include a cause of death or funeral arrangements. Washington joined Benedict in 1988 as head men’s basketball coach and assistant athletic director.

Daylin Lee didn’t get the win in his Division I debut. But he definitely proved he can play at a higher level. The Tennessee State senior quarterback nearly led the Tigers to a stunning upset over Jackson State in the 2026 HBCU football season opener. Jackson State entered the matchup as one of the SWAC’s top teams and a popular pick to compete for the conference championship. Tennessee State, however, had the Tigers on the ropes late in the game.

Tennessee State’s move to Nike is already paying dividends. NBA superstar Kevin Durant gifted the Tennessee State men’s basketball team pairs of his latest signature sneaker, giving the HBCU an exclusive delivery before the start of the 2026-27 season. A video shared by the program showed Tennessee State players unboxing the Nike KD19s, the newest model in Durant’s signature line.

The Jackson State University Choir transformed a Dolly Parton classic into something that sounded right at home inside an HBCU music hall. In a tribute honoring the life and legacy of the country music icon, the JSU ensemble performed a soul-stirring rendition of “Light of a Clear Blue Morning.” Sophomore music education major Asha White stepped forward for a solo that helped the performance travel far beyond the Jackson, Mississippi, campus. White does not imitate Parton’s original recording.

Elijah Williams has done it again. The former HBCU football star out of Morgan State has earned a spot on the Minnesota Vikings’ initial 53-man roster for the 2026 NFL season. It marks another important step in a journey that began without Williams hearing his name called in the NFL Draft—or even receiving an immediate free-agent contract. Minnesota officially included Williams among the six defensive linemen it retained when the organization announced its initial roster.

Last season, FAMU head coach Quinn Gray led the Albany State Golden Rams to the most wins in program history. The historic run included an SIAC championship and an opening-round victory in the NCAA playoffs. This season, Gray traded Albany State’s blue and gold for the orange and green of his alma mater, Florida A&M University. Joining him at FAMU is Isaiah Knowles, his former quarterback at Albany State.

Michael Vick and Norfolk State gave HBCU football something Saturday night that was hard to find during his first season: visible evidence of growth. I was at Vick’s coaching debut against Towson in August 2025. The day felt like an event. ESPN’s First Take brought Stephen A. Smith and Cam Newton to campus. Then came a nationally televised Thursday night game. Once the football started, Vick looked like a fish out of water. He did not have a headset. His security guard tripped while following him.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Benedict College opened the 2026 HBCU football season with a statement. The Tigers scored 16 unanswered points after Johnson C. Smith pulled within one possession, defeating the Golden Bulls 32-10 in the Battle of the Border Classic on Saturday at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium. The victory came against a JCSU team that entered the HBCU football season ranked No. 1 in the Division II Black College Football Poll.

Shannon Sharpe turned an episode of Nightcap into an HBCU football intervention after South Carolina State demolished his alma mater, Savannah State, 87-0. Sharpe and Nightcap co-host Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson could hardly believe the final score. Johnson initially joked that the teams must have played basketball rather than football. “I know that ain’t the Savannah State that you went to,” Johnson said. “They got the number two jersey retired.