By HBCU Times Staff Writer
A late 51-yard touchdown lifted Howard over Alabama A&M in Atlanta, giving the Bison a statement win to open the 2026 HBCU football season.
ATLANTA (HBCU Times) | Howard vs Alabama A&M delivered a thrilling start to the 2026 HBCU football season Saturday night as Howard University defeated Alabama A&M 31-24 in the 20th annual Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff at Center Parc Stadium.
Before 17,320 fans and a national ABC audience, the Bison built an early lead, watched Alabama A&M storm back in the fourth quarter, then delivered the biggest play of the night when it mattered most.
Howard jumped out to a 13-0 advantage and carried a 20-14 lead into halftime. A third-quarter field goal extended the Bison’s advantage to 23-14.
Then the Bulldogs came charging back.
Alabama A&M quarterback Cornelious Brown IV capped an 80-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs later took their first lead of the night, 24-23, with 7:49 remaining. Brown finished with 254 passing yards and two touchdowns.
Howard vs Alabama A&M Comes Down to the Final Minutes
Howard had one more answer.
With 2:41 remaining, quarterback Ja’Shawn Scroggins connected with Se’Quan Osborne for a 51-yard touchdown, putting the Bison back in front. Scroggins then found Nathanial Clark for the two-point conversion, giving Howard a 31-24 lead.
Alabama A&M wasn’t finished.
The Bulldogs drove into Howard territory with a chance to tie the game, but linebacker Aidan Foster forced a fumble and Rodney Roane recovered it, ending Alabama A&M’s comeback bid.
Scroggins finished the night with a career-high 315 passing yards and three touchdowns, while adding 49 rushing yards. Howard produced 436 yards of total offense compared with Alabama A&M’s 405.
The victory also gave new Howard head coach Ted White his first win leading his alma mater. White, a former Howard quarterback, took over a program that finished 5-7 last season and entered 2026 picked to finish last in the MEAC preseason poll.
A National Showcase for HBCU Football
The significance of the Howard vs Alabama A&M matchup stretched beyond the final score.
The Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge has become a signature opening event for HBCU football, bringing programs from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and Southwestern Athletic Conference together on a national stage.
Saturday marked the 20th edition of the showcase. Howard’s victory improved the MEAC’s all-time record in the series to 13-7.
The game also gave both universities an opportunity to showcase their programs, student-athletes and HBCU football traditions before a national television audience.
For Howard, the moment became even bigger.
The Bison were underdogs entering the game and had endured back-to-back losing seasons after winning the MEAC title in 2023. Saturday night’s victory offered an early indication that a new chapter may be beginning in Washington.
Alabama A&M, meanwhile, showed resilience. After falling behind 13-0, the Bulldogs fought back to take a fourth-quarter lead and remained within striking distance until the final possession.
But Saturday night belonged to Howard.
The Bison leave Atlanta 1-0, with a signature victory, a first win for their new head coach and momentum heading into the season.
For HBCU football, the game provided something equally important: another opportunity to command a national stage and remind college football fans of the competition, culture and tradition these programs bring every season.
What Comes Next
For Howard, the victory provides early momentum as the Bison begin a new season under head coach Ted White. One game will not define the season, but opening with a win on a national stage gives Howard something to build on as conference play approaches.
For Alabama A&M, the final score does not erase the fight the Bulldogs showed in Atlanta. After falling behind early, Alabama A&M battled back, took the lead in the fourth quarter and had an opportunity to tie the game on its final possession. The Bulldogs leave Atlanta with a loss, but also with plenty to build on.
More importantly, Saturday night’s matchup delivered the type of excitement that continues to make HBCU football special. The game featured momentum swings, standout performances, a fourth-quarter comeback and a game-winning touchdown, all before a national television audience.
As the 2026 season gets underway, the Howard vs Alabama A&M thriller provided an early reminder that HBCU football is about more than what happens on the scoreboard. These games provide national exposure for universities, student-athletes and the traditions that surround HBCU athletics.
For Howard, however, the first chapter of the season could not have been written much better.
A new coach. A late touchdown. A national audience. And one memorable way for Howard to kick off the 2026 HBCU football season.
