2024 HBCU football: Schedule, scores, rankings and updates

Jackson State defeated Southern 41-13 to win the 2024 SWAC Championship Game. The Tigers used a 17-point third quarter to pull away from a 10-10 halftime tie and never look back.  Click or tap here for stats from the game.

Jackson State will represent the SWAC in the Celebration Bowl, facing MEAC champion South Carolina State.

Jackson State is now tied with Southern for the 2nd-most SWAC FB titles all-time with 20. Grambling State leads with 25.

JSU is tied for the 2nd-most SWAC Title Game wins with Alcorn State's 4. Grambling leads with 8

JSU is the 1st team to win 3 SWAC titles in 4 years since '02

— Stan Becton (@stan_becton)

The 2024 HBCU football season is almost finished, but talented players shined throughout the FCS season. A select group of players stood out among their peers thanks to on-field performances. Here are the top players, by position, from the 2024 HBCU football season.

Click or tap here for the full list of 30 players.

After a thrilling regular season, the 2024 SWAC Championship is here. SWAC East champion Jackson State hosts SWAC West champion Southern with a conference title and a Celebration Bowl berth on the line. 

2024 SWAC Championship Game: Southern at Jackson State | 2 p.m. ET | ESPN2

Here's a preview of the game from players to watch, coaches and stakes. Click or tap here for more

HBCU football continued over the Thanksgiving weekend with three regular season games and a playoff game. Click or tap here for a live scoreboard.

Week 14

All times Eastern. Click any of the games below for stats.

Thursday, Nov. 28 

• Alabama State 34, Tuskegee 6 (Turkey Day Classic)

Friday, Nov. 29

• Florida A&M 28,  Alabama A&M 20 

Saturday, Nov. 30 

• Southern 24, Grambling State 14 (Bayou Classic)
• No. 14 Montana 41, Tennessee State 27 (FCS Playoffs) 

Click or tap here to see every 2024 HBCU football classic and homecoming in the FCS

Norfolk State fired head coach Dawson Odums. McDowell was the coach of the Spartans since 2021 and went 15-30 during his four seasons, finishing 4-8 in 2024.

Prairie View A&M will not renew head coach Bubba McDowell's contract. McDowell was the coach of the Panthers since 2022 and went 17-18 during his three seasons, finishing 5-7 in 2024.

The final weekend of the FCS regular season is here and HBCU football continues. There will be three games to close the regular season next week, but for some teams, this weekend will be the last we see them play/ Click or tap here for a live scoreboard.

Week 13

All times Eastern. All rankings via FCS Coaches Poll. Click any of the games below for stats.

Saturday, November 23

• Tennessee State 28, Southeast Missouri State 21

  🤯 Meonta Kimbrough with the strip sack leading to a 22-yard fumble recovery touchdown from former SEMO player and OVC sack leader Keandre Booker.
  
  1Q | 7:08
  TSU — 14
  SEMO — 0

  — Tennessee State Football (@TSUTigersFB)

• Elon 31, North Carolina A&T 21
• UAlbany 41, Hampton 34
• North Carolina Central 52, Delaware State 10
• Morgan State 35, Howard 21

  Another one, thank you 😁 Jason Collins Jr. closes out the third quarter with his second touchdown of the day❕ 🔷🔶

  — Morgan State Football (@MSUBearsFB)

• Alabama A&M 49, Mississippi Valley State 35
• South Carolina State 53, Norfolk State 21
• Alabama State 9, Prairie View A&M 6

  Caleb Offord with pick! x

  — Alabama State Football (@BamaStateFB)

• Jackson State 48, Alcorn State 10
• Texas Southern 31, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 23
• Florida A&M 41, Bethune-Cookman 38 (Florida Classic in Orlando, FL)

  ANOTHER RATTLERS TD!
  
  Kelvin Dean Jr. gets in to extend the lead.
  
  FAMU - 41
  bcu - 31
  📺 …
  📊 | | |

  — Florida A&M Football 🏈 (@FAMU_FB)

Click or tap here to see every 2024 HBCU football classic and homecoming in the FCS

The top five teams hold steady while the defending Celebration Bowl champions continue to fall in the second-to-last HBCU football power rankings from NCAA Digital's Stan Becton.

Week 13 rankings

1. Jackson State
2. South Carolina State
3. North Carolina Central
4. Tennessee State
5. Southern

Click or tap here for the complete 21-team rankings.

We're getting closer to finalizing the Celebration Bowl matchup. Here's where things stand after Week 12.

South Carolina State wins the MEAC

South Carolina State routed Morgan State 54-7 to clinch at least a share of the MEAC championship. The Bulldogs are undefeated in MEAC play with a head-to-head win over North Carolina Central, the only one-loss team in MEAC play. This will be South Carolina State's first Celebration Bowl appearance since 2021 and second in program history. 

Click or tap here for more information about the Celebration Bowl.

Southern, Jackson State to meet in SWAC Championship

Southern will represent the SWAC West and Jackson State will represent the SWAC East in the 2024 SWAC Football Championship game. The Jaguars clinched the West Division with a 31-9 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Tigers clinched the East Division with a 16-10 win over Alabama State.

The two teams previously met on Sept. 14 in a nonconference game. Jackson State won, 33-15, at home.

Click or tap here for more information about the SWAC Championship game

HBCU football continues with a weekend full of action! That's right, we have FCS HBCU on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Click or tap here for a live scoreboard.

Week 12

All rankings via FCS Coaches Poll. Click any of the games below for stats.

Thursday, November 14

• Alabama A&M 22, Grambling State 17

  Alabama A&M RB Donovan Eaglin breaks free for 18 yards against Grambling
  📽️ESPN+

  — HBCU Premier Sports & More (@HBCUSports1)

Friday, November 15

• North Carolina Central 26, Howard 3

Saturday, November 16

• Towson 31, North Carolina A&T 13
• No. 7 Richmond 24, Hampton 21
• Norfolk State 38, Delaware State 19
• Mississippi Valley State 24, Florida A&M 21
• Tennessee State 23, Gardner-Webb 20
• No. 20 Jackson State 16, Alabama State 10

  The SWAC Runs Through Thee Jack!!!

  — Jackson State Football (@gojsutigersfb)

• Alcorn State 26, Prairie View A&M 13
• Southern 31, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 9

  The Rumblin', Bumblin', and Stumblin' from Willie Miles.
  
  Pure art.

  — Kevin Batiste (@KBatisteJr)

• Texas Southern 17, Bethune-Cookman 14
• No. 23 South Carolina State 54, Morgan State 7

  
  
  STUBBLEFIELD to TONEY for the TOUCHDOWN
  🔴🔵🐶🏈

  — South Carolina State Football (@SCState_Fb)

Click or tap here to see every 2024 HBCU football classic and homecoming in the FCS