HBCU football's offseason heated up early, and the road to the 2026 Celebration Bowl already has a clear top tier. Preseason honors and power rankings point to a three-team arms race at the top of the SWAC.
Alabama State Leads the Buzz
The Hornets enter 2026 with the most preseason respect in the league, leading all SWAC teams with nine preseason All-SWAC selections. Quarterback Andrew Body is the consensus favorite for SWAC Offensive Player of the Year, and preseason HBCU power rankings slot Alabama State at the top.
There's history behind the hype: since 2019, the team that led the conference in preseason All-SWAC selections has gone on to win the SWAC championship every single time.
Jackson State Stays Dangerous
Despite roster turnover, Jackson State remains a fixture in the SWAC East, having claimed the division in four of the last five years. The Tigers placed six players on the preseason All-SWAC team, including Defensive Player of the Year candidate Kam Sallis, and check in at No. 2 in the HBCU power rankings.
JSU also made offseason noise off the field, hiring former NBA veteran Kendrick Perkins as general manager of the men's basketball program — a sign the athletic department is thinking big.
Prairie View Defends Its Crown
The reigning SWAC champion and 2025 Celebration Bowl participant, Prairie View A&M, is the team to beat in the SWAC West. Under second-year coach Tremaine Jackson, the Panthers have earned what analysts call "championship credibility," even as questions linger at quarterback.
The Deion Sanders Connection
Though Deion Sanders now coaches at Colorado, his ties to the HBCU game remain strong. In March 2026 he hosted Prairie View's Tremaine Jackson and his staff at Colorado for a two-day exchange of ideas, calling the 2025 SWAC champion a "gift" to the sport. Sanders has also continued to pull from the HBCU pipeline, promoting former Prairie View player Dante Carter to defensive line coach.
The Bottom Line
Alabama State, Jackson State, and Prairie View A&M are the class of HBCU football entering 2026, with little separation between them heading into a season that kicks off in late August.
*Reported by the Urban City Podcast Sports newsroom — urbancitypodcastsports.com. Verified as of July 2026.*