BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its 2026 SWAC Football schedule on ESPN highlighted by several highly anticipated games on ESPN’s linear and digital platforms.
The Southern Jaguars and the Alabama State Hornets are slated to kickoff league coverage in an exciting clash between the two teams set to take place during Week 0 on Saturday, August 29
th at 3:00 pm EST.
Alabama A&M is also set to compete on the national stage during Week 0 when the Bulldogs travel to Atlanta to face Howard in the 2026 Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff, live on ABC at 7:30 p.m. EST.
The schedule of SWAC games is highlighted by several Classic match-ups, including the Orange Blossom Classic (South Carolina State vs. Florida A&M), the Labor Day Classic (Texas Southern at Prairie View A&M), the Boom Box Classic (Southern at Jackson State), the State Fair Classic (Grambling State vs. Prairie View A&M), the Magic City Classic (Alabama State vs. Alabama A&M), and the Florida Classic (Florida A&M vs. Bethune-Cookman).
The 2026 Pepsi SWAC Football Championship Game will air live on ESPN2 on Saturday, December 5
th at 2:00 pm EST.
| Date |
Matchup |
Platform |
| Sat, Aug 29 |
Southern vs. Alabama State |
ESPNU |
| Sat, Aug 29 |
Alabama A&M vs. Howard |
ABC |
| Sat, Sep 6 |
South Carolina State vs. Florida A&M |
ESPN |
| Sat, Sep 6 |
Texas Southern at Prairie View A&M |
ESPN2 |
| Sat, Sep 26 |
Grambling State vs. Prairie View A&M |
TBD |
| Sat, Sept 26 |
Southern at Jackson State |
TBD |
| Sat, Oct 17 |
Florida A&M at Jackson State |
TBD |
| Sat, Oct 31 |
Alabama A&M vs. Alabama State |
TBD |
| Sat, Nov 14 |
Jackson State at Alabama State |
TBD |
| Sat, Nov 21 |
Jackson State at Alcorn State |
TBD |
| Sat, Nov 21 |
Prairie View A&M at Alabama State |
TBD |
| Sat, Nov 21 |
Florida A&M vs. Bethune-Cookman |
ESPN+ |
| Sat, Dec 5 |
Pepsi SWAC Championship |
ESPN2 |
| Sat, Dec 12 |
Cricket Celebration Bowl |
ABC |
About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.
Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field and Tennis.
Women’s competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis and Volleyball.
Follow the SWAC
For complete coverage of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, please follow the SWAC on social media at @TheSWAC (Twitter), @TheSWAC (Facebook), and @TheSWAC (Instagram) or visit the official home of the Southwestern Athletic Conference at
www.swac.org.