By LUT WILLIAMS BCSP Editor
Three weeks into the 2026 black college football season and there are only three teams left with unblemished records – South Carolina State, Jackson State and Benedict.
South Carolina State (3-0) sits atop the Black College Sports Page FCS Top Five with Jackson State (2-0) just behind at No. 2. Benedict (2-0) is the top team in the BCSP Div. II Top Five (see below).
Each of the three has a different kind of test this week.
Chennis Berry’s AFCA FCS 16th-ranked South Carolina State Bulldogs, who have outscored their three opponents by a combined score of 184-13 (61.6 ppg. to 4.3 ppg.), should have their first real challenge Saturday when they travel to Greenville, S. C. to face 2-1 Furman.
The Paladins, led by 10th-year head coach Clay Hendrix, are coming off a stunning, down-to-the wire 20-13 win on the road in Macon, Ga. over FCS No. 14 and defending Southern Conference champion Mercer (2-1). Furman entered the AFCA FCS poll Tuesday at No. 24.
Furman is led by fifth-year senior quarterback Jake Garcia (41-73-3, 377 yards, 1 TD). Fifth-year running back Ben Croasdale (19 car., 148 yds. 3 TDs), who scored the winning touchdown vs. Mercer, leads a trio of backs who all average over 6 yards per carry. Joshua Stoneking, who led the nation in sacks last season with 14.5, leads the defense.
SCSU currently has the stingiest defense in the FCS giving up just 130.7 yards, 43.0 rushing yards, 87.7 passing yards and 4.33 points per game, all tops in the division. Those numbers have come while playing against two Div. II teams (Savannah State and Virginia State) in its three wins.
Offensively, Berry has employed two quarterbacks, dropback passer Keely Watson (34-50-2, 456 yards, 6 TDs) and dual-threat Ronnie Robinson (15-21-0, 182 yds. 2 TDs), while featuring the running of Mason Pickett-Hicks (37 carries, 425 yards, 11.2 ypc., 3 TDs).
The MEAC continues the non-conference portion of its schedule Saturday with Norfolk State hosting Hampton in its annual Battle of the Bay Classic (4 p.m., ESPN+), Morgan State playing at Towson, N. C. Central at Gardner-Webb and Delaware State at South Florida. Howard is off this week.
Jackson State is hosting Tuskegee (1-1, 1-0 SIAC) Saturday (6 p.m., SWAC TV) in a SWAC vs. SIAC affair. There is one other SWAC vs. SIAC game Saturday (4 p.m., SWAC TV) with Central State (1-2) at Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-2). All SWAC games this week are non-conference match-ups.
Benedict has its first SIAC match up as the Tigers hit the road Saturday (1 p.m., ESPN+) to play at Fort Valley State (1-1, 0-1 SIAC). There are four other SIAC conference games Saturday with Albany State at Allen (2 p.m., SIAC Network), Morehouse at Lane (4 p.m.), Savannah State at BCSP D2 No. 2 Edward Waters (6 p.m., SIACN) and Miles at Clark Atlanta (6 p.m, SIACN).
BCSP D2 No. 3 Kentucky State (2-1, 2-0 SIAC) has an out-of-conference 2 p.m. date hosting Saginaw Valley State (2-1).
The big CIAA game this Saturday has defending champion J. C. Smith (2-1, 1-0) hosting BCSP D2 No. 4 Fayetteville State (2-1, 1-0) at 1 p.m. (CIAAN). Another game to watch is Elizabeth City State (0-2) looking for its first win at home (1 p.m., CIAAN) vs. BCSP No. 5 Virginia State (2-1).
That same theme is in play as 0-2 Lincoln (Pa.) is at 2-1 Shaw (1 p.m., CIAAN), 0-2 Winston-Salem State plays at 1-2 Livingstone (6 p.m.) and Blufield State (0-3, 0-1) is at (2-1, 1-0) Virginia Union (6 p.m.).
The only non-CIAA game has 0-2 Bowie State, also looking to get off the schneid, travelling to SWAC country in Huntsville, Ala. to meet 2-1 Alabama A&M (6 p.m., SWAC TV).
