Black Athletes in the Spotlight: HBCU Sports & Local Highlights
Week two of the HBCU football season was bizarre to say the least, with the forces of nature leading to some unpredictable circumstances all weekend.
Despite this adversity, this weekend’s action did not disappoint, producing some fascinating storylines that will certainly add intrigue as we inch closer to the start of conference play.
Among the topics of conversation were a pair of monumental first-career coaching wins in the MEAC, a Division II HBCU stamping itself as a contender, and an unheralded team having its best start in over 50 years.
These are the 5 takeaways from week two of the HBCU football season.
1. Weather delays all around
The weather was very unkind to HBCU football fans this weekend, with several games being forced to halt in action due to unsafe conditions.
Delaware State’s home opener against the University of Albany was the worst victim of this, having to endure a four-hour delay before playing out the game’s final four minutes.
North Carolina A&T and South Carolina State’s contests against respective FBS opponents got started nearly an hour later than expected as a result of weather conditions.
Livingstone and Allen’s game had to be stopped as it neared the end of the third quarter.
Finally, Clark Atlanta and Florida Memorial also had a nearly two-hour delayed start, forcing the four quarters to be shortened from 15 minutes to 10 minutes due to travel restrictions.
Here’s hoping that the weather is much more kind as the season continues, so we can enjoy the great football our HBCU programs have to offer uninterrupted.
2. Monumental first career coaching wins
First of many 🔰#GoldStandard🔰 pic.twitter.com/6gq839CHRq
— Norfolk State Football 🔰 (@NorfolkStateFB) September 7, 2025
This was a big weekend for the MEAC’s two former NFL star coaches, DeSean Jackson and Michael Vick, who each notched their first career wins in their respective contests.
Jackson and Delaware State overcame the aforementioned four-hour weather delay, scoring a go-ahead touchdown with 34 seconds remaining to beat the University of Albany 37-32.
The win snapped an 11-game losing streak for the Hornets dating back to last season, while also giving them their first home win against an NCAA Division I opponent since October 2022.
On the other hand, Vick and Norfolk State had a much tougher task to overcome, entering the fourth quarter trailing by 13 points against Virginia State.
In the end, a quarterback change was what the doctor ordered for the Spartans, leading to a 21-point fourth quarter that helped send the game to overtime, followed by a game-winning field goal in the extra period.
These major milestones serve as the first in what both programs hope is a long line of wins ahead on the road to becoming championship contenders for the first time in decades.
3. Johnson C. Smith takes down Division II contender
2-0 🤘🐂#Goldenbullspride | #EVERYTH1NGEVERYDAY pic.twitter.com/LKsPrYzhW4
— Golden Bulls (@JCSUFootball) September 6, 2025
Johnson C. Smith pulled off a landmark victory to improve to 2-0 on the season, knocking off perennial Division II contender Valdosta State 28-16.
This was the Golden Bulls’ first time playing against the reigning DII National Championship runner-ups, that has had a history of being a thorn in the side of HBCU football teams for over a decade.
Before this season, Valdosta State had held a 25-2 record against HBCU programs since 2011, including a perfect 5-0 record in the Division II playoffs.
The most notable win came against Winston-Salem State in 2012 to claim the school’s second-ever Division II National Championship.
In addition, they ended the historic playoff runs of Miles and Virginia Union last season on their road to a national championship berth.
Johnson C. Smith’s win shows they are ready to contend not only in the CIAA, where they have not claimed a conference title since 1969, but they are also ready to be national contenders.
4. Close, but not close enough
After seemingly years of getting blown out in their Battle for Greater Baltimore rivalry against Towson, Morgan State has inched closer and closer to finally getting over the hump in recent years, to no avail.
This weekend’s contest was no different, with the Bears succumbing to their eighth straight loss against their Baltimore foe.
In their last four matchups against Towson, Morgan State has lost by an average of a touchdown after previously losing by over four touchdowns in the four games that preceded.
Before the game, head coach Damon Wilson made it clear that “enough is enough,” signaling that it was time for Morgan State’s losing streak against Towson to come to an end.
Despite allowing a 96-yard kickoff return touchdown and a 66-yard pick-six, Morgan State was seemingly seconds away from accomplishing its goal.
With 4:22 remaining in the fourth quarter, MEAC Preseason Player of the Year Jason Collins Jr. scored a two-yard touchdown run to give the Bears a 22-21 lead.
However, despite a strong defensive performance all afternoon, only surrendering 144 offensive yards before the final drive, Towson drove the ball downfield for a go-ahead score with 24 seconds left to secure the win.
5. Lincoln (MO)’s historic start
Week two of the HBCU football season concluded with five teams keeping their records unblemished, improving to 2-0 (three unbeaten teams were idle this weekend).
Easily the most shocking among the teams still among the ranks of the unbeaten is Lincoln (MO), recording its first 2-0 start to a season since 1972.
Even more remarkably, the Blue Tigers’ two wins equal their win total over the last five seasons (they held a 2-55 record since 2019 before this year).
Lincoln is in its second season as a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), having left the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) in 2022.
They will have their chance to win their first conference game since 2019 when they play against Quincy University.
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