HBCU football standings 2026 and the Celebration Bowl
The Celebration Bowl matchup fills in once both conferences have played conference games.
5 teams share the SWAC lead at 2-1; the MEAC has not played a conference game. The SWAC's champion comes out of its title game, Saturday, Dec. 5; the MEAC's is its table's leader. They meet Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026, noon ET on ABC, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta.
HBCU football by record
Morgan State MEAC0-04-0
Jackson State SWAC2-13-1
Grambling SWAC2-12-1
Norfolk State MEAC0-02-1
Alabama A&M SWAC2-13-2
South Carolina State MEAC0-03-2
Alcorn State SWAC2-12-2
Mississippi Valley State SWAC2-12-2
Alabama State SWAC2-22-2
Bethune-Cookman SWAC1-12-2
Delaware State MEAC0-02-2
Howard MEAC0-02-2
Arkansas-Pine Bluff SWAC1-11-1
Prairie View A&M SWAC2-22-4
Florida A&M SWAC1-11-3
Southern SWAC1-31-3
Texas Southern SWAC0-31-4
North Carolina Central MEAC0-01-4The SWAC and MEAC clubs ordered by overall record, then conference record. Overall records count FCS games we store; a game against an FBS club is on the club's own page.
Questions
When is the 2026 Celebration Bowl?
Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026, noon ET on ABC, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta. It matches the SWAC and MEAC champions.
Who would play in the Celebration Bowl if the season ended today?
Not set yet: conference play has barely started.
When is the SWAC Championship Game?
Saturday, Dec. 5, 2 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Do HBCU teams play in the FCS playoffs?
The SWAC and MEAC champions play the Celebration Bowl instead, so neither conference sends its champion to the FCS playoffs. Other teams from both can still be picked at-large.