DURHAM, N.C. - North Carolina Central University head football coach Trei Oliver announced the Eagles' 2026 football schedule on Wednesday, a slate that includes six home games, a first since the 2017 football season.

For the first time since the 2019 season, the Eagles will not play in a classic or any other special game.

They will instead open the season on the road for the third consecutive season when they travel to Houston, Texas, to face Texas Southern University for the first time in program history. This marks the fifth consecutive season in which NCCU will face a team from the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). 

In all, the Eagles will play at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium six times in 2026. Among the opponents will be an old CIAA opponent in Elizabeth City State, which will come to campus in early September.

Then, the Eagles will also play host to North Carolina A&T, Campbell and William & Mary, before welcoming Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) foes Howard and Morgan State to campus this year. 

The 98th installment of the Aggie-Eagle Classic will take place in Durham this year, on Sept. 12, as the Eagles look to claim their fifth consecutive win in the historic series. 

Campbell will serve as the Hall of Fame game for the athletics department. In addition, NCCU will host William & Mary for the first time in program history, celebrating Homecoming as alumni and friends return to celebrate. 

2025 North Carolina Central Football Schedule
Home games BOLDED; conference games marked *
All games on Saturdays unless otherwise noted

• Aug. 29: at Texas Southern 
• Sept. 5: vs. ELIZABETH CITY STATE
• Sept. 12: vs. NORTH CAROLINA A&T 
• Sept. 19: at Gardner-Webb
• Sept. 26: at East Carolina 
• Oct. 3: vs. CAMPBELL 
• Oct. 10: vs. WILLIAM & MARY (Homecoming) 
• Oct. 24: at Delaware State*
• Oct. 31: vs. HOWARD*
• Nov. 7: at Norfolk State*
• Nov. 14: at South Carolina State*
• Nov. 21: MORGAN STATE*

A complete list of gameday designations for the 2026 season will be announced at a later date, along with all kickoff times and broadcast information.

Tickets and parking for the 2026 North Carolina Central football season are currently on sale for renewals through April 30. Fans looking to renew their tickets can do so by CLICKING HERE or contacting the NCCU ticket office at (919) 530-6530.

More information on ticketing for the 2026 season will be available at NCCUEaglepride.com/FootballTickets.

The team plans to hold its annual Spring Game at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 11. 

GAME BY GAME
Aug. 28 • at Texas Southern • Shell Energy Stadium • Houston, Texas 
The Eagles will make their second trip to Texas, and their first to Houston in program history, to face the Tigers of Texas Southern. While this is the first meeting between NCCU and Texas Southern, the Eagles are no strangers to facing teams from the SWAC. This will mark the fifth straight season in which NCCU faces a SWAC school. The Eagles are 6-3 against the SWAC since rejoining the MEAC in 2010, and Oliver is 6-1 after defeating two different SWAC opponents last season (Southern, Florida A&M).    

SEPT 5 • ELIZABETH CITY STATE • O'KELLY-RIDDICK STADIUM • DURHAM, N.C.  
The Eagles will welcome a familiar opponent, Elizabeth City State, to O'Kelly-Riddick for the first time since 2019. The Vikings, from the CIAA, were a team the Eagles had faced 29 times in the past. The Eagles hold a 21-8 lead in the series, 11-3 in games played at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium. NCCU has won eight of the last 10 games in the series.  

SEPT. 12 • NORTH CAROLINA A&T • O'KELLY-RIDDICK STADIUM • DURHAM, N.C.
The 98th version of the annual Aggie-Eagle Classic will take place on Sept. 12 in Durham. This will be the 38th meeting all-time on NCCU's campus. The Eagles are looking for their fifth win in a row in the series; they have won the last four games by an average score of 46.5 points, and they have eclipsed the 60-point mark in the last two games. Last season, the Eagles had two running backs rush for over 100 yards in Chris Mosley and Arthur Rodgers, and quarterback Walker Harris threw for 380 yards and three touchdowns. Mosley also accounted for five touchdowns in the win, tying a program record set back on Sept. 27, 1986, by Robert Clark.    

SEPT. 19 • at Gardner-Webb • Ernest W. Spangler Stadium • Boiling Springs, N.C. 
The Eagles will travel to Boiling Springs for the fourth time in program history to face the Runnin' Bulldogs. The Eagles are 3-3 all-time against Gardner-Webb, and 2-1 in those games played in Boiling Springs. NCCU last faced the Runnin' Bulldogs in 2019, during Oliver's first season, in Boiling Springs. Gardner-Webb is under the direction of the first-year head coach Kris McCullough.   

SEPT. 26 • at East Carolina • Dowdy-FIcklen Stadium • Greenville, N.C. 
The Pirates return to the schedule for just the second time in program history. The last meeting took place in 2014 in Greenville, N.C. The Pirates are led by head coach Blake Harrell, in his sixth season at ECU and his second full season as head coach after taking over on an interim basis in 2024. The Pirates are coming off a nine-win season, defeating Pitt in the Military Bowl.

OCT. 3 • CAMPBELL • O'KELLY-RIDDICK STADIUM • DURHAM, N.C. 
The Eagles will welcome Campbell to O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium, after the two teams met in Buies Creek, N.C., during the 2024 season. NCCU won that game 45-14. The Eagles hold a 2-1 edge in the all-time series, having won the last two meetings between the two teams. The Fighting Camels are looking to improve upon last season's 2-10 mark, and they'll do so entering their third season under head coach Braxton Harris.

OCT. 10 • WILLIAM & MARY • O'KELLY-RIDDICK STADIUM • DURHAM, N.C. 
The Eagles' Homecoming contest this season will also be their final non-conference game of the campaign. NCCU will face off against William & Mary for the first time in program history, with the Tribe making its own history as it transitions from the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) to the Patriot League. After going 7-5 overall and 6-2 in the CAA last season, the Tribe enter their eighth season under head coach Mike London — a University of Richmond alum who got his coaching start at William & Mary, and whose coaching resume also includes a stint as head coach at Howard University.

Oct. 24 • At Delaware State • Alumni Stadium • Dover, Del. 
NCCU will head to Dover, Del., to open MEAC play with revenge on its mind. The Hornets defeated the Eagles in Durham one season ago, snapping NCCU's five-game winning streak in the series. NCCU leads the all-time series 23-8, including a 9-4 mark in Dover. Delaware State, in its second season under head coach DeSean Jackson, looks to improve upon a 2025 season that saw the Hornets win eight games and go 4-1 in MEAC play.

OCT. 31 • HOWARD • O'KELLY-RIDDICK STADIUM • DURHAM, N.C.
Howard University will bring a new head coach when it visits Durham this season for the Eagles' first home conference game, as quarterback legend Ted White returns to The Mecca to take over the Bison. NCCU leads the all-time series 18-10-1 after last season's 35-14 win, and the Eagles have won 12 of the last 13 meetings between the two teams. NCCU is 8-5-1 against the Bison in O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium.

Nov. 7 • At Norfolk State • William "Dick" Price Stadium • Norfolk, Va. 
The Eagles will head to Norfolk, Va., where year two of the Michael Vick era will be underway at Dick Price Stadium. NCCU edged out the Spartans 31-28 last season in Durham, and the Eagles have won the last five meetings between the two teams. Head coach Trei Oliver is 5-1 against Norfolk State, and NCCU holds a 15-7 edge in the all-time series — including a 5-3 edge at Dick Price Stadium.

Nov. 14 • At South Carolina State • Oliver C. Dawson Stadium • Orangeburg, S.C.
The back-to-back defending MEAC champion Bulldogs of South Carolina State will likely once again be in the mix this season, and the Eagles will look to visit Orangeburg with a shot at the conference title. SC State has won five of the last six meetings between the two teams, with the Eagles' lone win in that span coming in 2023, and the all-time series is tied at 15-15. The Bulldogs have made the Cricket Celebration Bowl in back-to-back seasons under third-year head coach Chennis Berry, winning over Prairie View A&M last season to wrap up a 10-win campaign.

NOV. 21 • MORGAN STATE • O'KELLY-RIDDICK STADIUM • DURHAM, N.C. 
NCCU will close out the 2026 regular season at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium, welcoming Morgan State to Durham. This will be the 48th meeting on the gridiron between the two teams, with the Bears holding a 23-21-2 lead in the series, despite the Eagles winning the last eight meetings. The Bears will be looking for a bounceback 2026, in their fifth year under head coach Damon Wilson.

SCHEDULE NOTES AND ODDITIES 

• The Eagles will play a 12-game schedule for the 12th time in program history, aiming to win eight or more games for the fifth consecutive year. 
• NCCU will face five new coaches for the first time with the 2026 schedule, including an alum from a MEAC foe, Ted White (Howard). 
• Keeping with the theme, since taking over as head coach, Oliver has played numerous schools from North Carolina, and there are five on this year's schedule. At least two teams from the state have been on the schedule each year since he has taken over the program. 
• The Eagles have won a combined 156 games against opponents on the 2026 schedule. NCCU's 2026 opponents combined to win 56 games in 2025, and two of the Eagles' opponents this season won bowl games in 2025 (East Carolina, South Carolina State).
• North Carolina Central enters the season having won its most recent meeting with six of the 12 teams on its schedule. The Eagles have an active winning streak against Elizabeth City State (8), North Carolina A&T (4), Campbell (2), Howard (2), Norfolk State (5) and Morgan State (8).
• The Eagles will be facing two programs for the first time: Texas Southern and William & Mary.