It’s football season at historically Black colleges. Here are 7 questions up for debate

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and Southwestern Athletic Conference are entering the 2025 football season with a wave of fresh leadership that could signal a new era of competition in both conferences and reshape the landscape of football for historically Black colleges and universities.

From high-profile MEAC hires Michael Vick (Norfolk State) and DeSean Jackson (Delaware State) to first-year SWAC coaches Terrell Buckley (Mississippi Valley State), Sam Shade (Alabama A&M) and Tremaine Jackson (Prairie View A&M), the sidelines will look noticeably different this fall.

The MEAC/SWAC Challenge, with North Carolina Central facing Southern University, will kick off the 2025 HBCU football season on Aug. 23 in Atlanta. Andscape reporters Mia Berry and Cayla Sweazie and Rhoden Fellows Calandrea Carter, Ciara Latham, Raigan Lydon and Alauna Marable answer several questions on fans’ minds.

Which team has the best chance of making the Celebration Bowl?

Mia Berry: After last year’s Celebration Bowl win, Jackson State is the team to beat. The Tigers, who ended the 2024 season with an 8-0 conference record and a 10-game win streak, enter this season as the only HBCU team ranked in the preseason FCS Coaches Top 25 poll. Despite losing several key seniors to graduation, the Tigers return starting quarterback JaCobian Morgan, and head coach T.C. Taylor has reloaded his offense and defense thanks to the transfer portal.

Cayla Sweazie: With three previous Celebration Bowl appearances – including its first win in 2024 – Jackson State is a favorite heading into this season. The dominance the Tigers showed in Atlanta last year was reflective of their high-scoring season and the prowess of Morgan, the SWAC’s 2025 preseason offensive player of the year.

Ciara Latham: Jackson State is tied with Alcorn State for the most Celebration Bowl appearances in the SWAC. Taylor has brought in a promising freshman class featuring three-star recruits such as wide receiver Jabari Jones and linebacker Kam Evans. With another season of eligibility for Morgan, the 2024 Celebration Bowl offensive MVP, the Tigers have major potential for a rerun in Atlanta.

Which team poses a threat to Jackson State’s mission to repeat as Celebration Bowl champion?

Berry: Aside from Jackson State’s Taylor, the only other current HBCU football coach with a Celebration Bowl victory is North Carolina Central’s Trei Oliver. Over the past four seasons, the Eagles have consistently proven themselves to be one of the top teams in the MEAC, securing a conference championship and a Celebration Bowl win over Jackson State in 2022. Oliver heads into this season with the most experienced quarterback in the conference in Walker Harris, who has been a part of the NCCU program for six seasons. Harris earned All-MEAC second-team honors in 2024, throwing for 1,882 yards and 18 touchdowns with a 61.2% completion rate. North Carolina Central is the only MEAC team to defeat Jackson State in the past three seasons and has enough experience to compete against the Tigers if this year’s Celebration Bowl is a rematch of the 2022 game.

Sweazie: South Carolina State, which lost the 2024 Celebration Bowl to Jackson State, has the chance to flip last year’s script. Selected to finish as the top team in the MEAC in a preseason poll, the Bulldogs are a strong contender to defeat Jackson State in Atlanta. However, South Carolina State head coach Chennis Berry’s offense will be key after scoring only once in last year’s bowl game. The Bulldogs open their season with seven non-conference games before starting MEAC play, so they have time to make adjustments before kicking off conference competition at Norfolk State on Oct. 25.

Raigan Lydon: Southern poses the strongest threat to Jackson State’s bid to repeat. The Jaguars finished 8-5 overall and 7-1 in SWAC West play, posting the second-best conference record behind Jackson State’s undefeated 8-0 SWAC East run. Last season, Southern had the best passing defense in the SWAC, allowing a conference-low 152.3 yards per game. After winning the SWAC West title last season and with the return of the 2024 SWAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year Ckelby Givens, Southern has the structure to push Jackson State out of championship contention.

Which former NFL-player-turned-HBCU coach will have the most success this season?

Berry: Alabama State’s Eddie Robinson Jr. is the longest tenured coach in the SWAC and knows how to win. The former Houston Oilers linebacker has led the Hornets to three winning seasons and a combined 14-10 conference record. Despite quarterback issues plaguing the Hornets a season ago, the team still finished the season 7-5 overall and was runner-up in the SWAC East title race. With the hopeful return of quarterback Andrew Body from injury, the Hornets are expected to compete again for the SWAC East title.

Sweazie: Vick, a four-time Pro Bowler, has the opportunity to come back to his Virginia roots and rebuild a collegiate football program about 30 miles from his hometown of Newport News, Va. He has a solid foundation for a winning season with several Norfolk State players earning preseason All-MEAC honors and running back Kevon King being named to the preseason watch list for the Walter Payton Award, given annually to the offensive player of the year in Division I FCS football.

Alauna Marable: Based on the track record of Tennessee State head coach Reggie Barlow, he could have the most success this season. He started his collegiate coaching career as quarterback coach for two seasons at Alabama State, his alma mater, then transitioned to head coach there for eight seasons, helping earn three SWAC East titles while with the program. As head coach at Virginia State, he made history in 2017 when he led the team to its first undefeated regular season in school history and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship, earning CIAA Coach of the Year honors. Before coming to Tennessee State, he coached the UFL’s D.C. Defenders. In 2023, his first season as head coach, he led the Defenders to a league-best 9-1 record and a championship appearance en route to receiving the XFL Coach of the Year Award.

Which first-year head coach will make an immediate impact?

Berry: Vick’s name has reverberated throughout the HBCU football community since Norfolk State announced his hiring in December. Before ever playing a game, Vick’s presence as a hometown hero already has made an impact and instantly elevated the Spartans’ profile and recruiting appeal. Norfolk State’s spring game featured appearances from NBA legend Allen Iverson and NFL quarterback Tyrod Taylor, and the Norfolk State community has rallied around the former Virginia Tech star and NFL sensation. With a fresh coaching staff featuring former NFL players and coordinators, Vick believes he has built a foundation for success.

Sweazie: Delaware State football hasn’t had a winning record since 2012, when the Hornets went 6-5 overall. New head coach Jackson has a chance to turn the program around this season. The former three-time Pro Bowler has expressed excitement about the challenge of rebuilding the program, and his collegiate and professional experience could be just what the Hornets need. While achieving a winning record in his first season may be a reach, the team has plenty of room for improvement after capturing just one win last season.

Latham: Alabama A&M head coach Shade played eight seasons in the NFL before building a coaching résumé with nearly 20 years of experience. Shade already has experience beating a SWAC team; he led Division II Miles College (Ala.) to a victory over Alabama State in 2023 and compiled an 18-15 overall record over his three seasons at Miles.

Which team will experience the most growth this season?

Berry: At MEAC Media Day, Howard head coach Larry Scott said that last year’s season didn’t live up to the program’s standards. Last season, a year removed from a Celebration Bowl berth, the Bison went from the top of the MEAC standings to the bottom of the conference, finishing 4-8 overall and 1-4 in conference play. Dual-threat quarterback Ja’Shawn Scroggins was a first-year starter for Howard and showed flashes of potential, winning MEAC Offensive Player of the Week honors twice. With a year of game experience under his belt, the Bison offense, which ranked No. 5 in the conference a season ago, should be able to make the jump back to the top half of the conference standings. Scott took over the program in 2020, and by 2023 turned Howard into a conference champion and title contender. After a rough 2024 campaign, Scott is preparing his team to bounce back.

Sweazie: Under the leadership of head coach Damon Wilson, Morgan State has been teetering on the line of success for the past few years. Last season, the Bears earned their best record (6-6) since Wilson’s hiring in 2022. While the Bears’ defense has been top tier with the likes of linebacker Erick Hunter, the MEAC’s preseason defensive player of the year, the offense has not been as efficient in recent years. However, with the preseason MEAC Offensive Player of the Year in running back Jason Collins Jr., Morgan’s offense is looking to elevate. With six quarterbacks fighting for a spot this season, Wilson believes he will find the right arm to lead the team, which could prove to be the missing piece.

Lydon: Alabama State is positioned to leap in 2025 after finishing second in the SWAC East for two straight seasons. The Hornets closed 2024 with a 7-5 overall record and a 5-3 conference record. Their growth this year will hinge on offensive consistency and red zone execution to complement a defense that has proven reliable. The SWAC’s 2025 preseason honors spotlight Alabama State’s potential, with four Hornets earning All-SWAC recognition: offensive lineman Desmond Daniels (first-team offense), defensive back Keane Lewis (first-team defense) and offensive linemen Cameron Smith (second-team offense) and Dezmond Penn (second-team offense). With veteran leadership and a strong offensive line core, Alabama State has the pieces to contend for the division.

Which non-HBCU conference HBCU team will have the most success this season?

Berry: Although North Carolina A&T has won but two games over the past two seasons, the Aggies believe first-year head coach Shawn Gibbs can restore the program to its winning ways. Gibbs was a member of the coaching staff that led North Carolina A&T to four Celebration Bowl titles in five years. Since taking the program reins, Gibbs has added former championship-winning Aggies Tony McRae and Denzel Jones as position coaches to help rebuild the culture. North Carolina A&T finished last season 1-11 overall and winless in Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) play. At a minimum for the Aggies, doubling their win total would be considered a success this season.

Sweazie: Trenton Boykin, who was named Hampton’s interim head coach ahead of last season and earned the permanent title in October 2024, has taken the program to new heights in just one year. After a winless season in 2023, Hampton improved to a 5-7 overall record in 2024, a tie for its best record since 2019. While four of last season’s wins came against HBCU competition, Hampton still faces the hurdle of improving its play against CAA opponents. The program has the potential for more success in Boykin’s second season as head coach.

Marable: As a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC), Tennessee State is coming off a stellar 2024 season with a 9-4 overall record (6-2 OVC). New head coach Barlow has years of experience under his belt and is known for bringing success to his teams. Barlow has built a coaching staff filled with NFL experience, including Super Bowl titles. Though Tennessee State’s program has experienced changes with players transferring, graduating and pursuing pro aspirations, the 2025 roster includes six players named to the OVC/Big South preseason watch list.

Which HBCU classic game will have the most competitive matchup this season?

Berry: The annual Aggie-Eagle Classic, scheduled on Sept. 20 this year, has a lot on the line beyond the football field this season for North Carolina A&T’s head coach Gibbs and North Carolina Central head coach Trei Oliver – the two coaches are also fighting for familial bragging rights. Their relationship goes back over three decades, when Gibbs and Oliver were teammates and roommates at North Carolina Central. They also were a part of the same coaching staff at North Carolina A&T (2011-2015). Since 2009, North Carolina A&T has an 8-7 edge over North Carolina Central in the series, but last season Central cruised to a 42-point victory over A&T. Oliver is looking to extend the Eagles’ win streak in the classic to four games, while Gibbs is looking to secure the Aggies’ first win since 2021.

Sweazie: The inaugural Las Vegas HBCU Classic will add another HBCU matchup hosted in an NFL stadium. With Allegiant Stadium as the backdrop, Grambling State and Jackson State will compete in the classic on Oct. 25. After Grambling State’s 41-20 win over Jackson State last season, Jackson State coach T.C. Taylor is still looking for his first win against Grambling since taking over Jackson State’s program in 2022 and will make the contest all the more competitive. 

Calandrea Carter: The 2025 HBCU football season is filled with marquee matchups, but few carry the tradition, talent and stakes of the annual BoomBox Classic between Jackson State and Southern, scheduled on Sept. 27. Jackson State currently holds a six-game winning streak against Southern. The matchup is also famous for its halftime battle of the bands, pitting Jackson State’s Sonic Boom of the South against Southern’s Human Jukebox. Jackson State, the defending SWAC champion, finished last season with the conference’s top-ranked scoring offense. Southern looks to close the gap with one of the conference’s top defenses, led by reigning SWAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year Ckelby Givens.