In a affirmation of the growing appeal and visibility of FAMU football, for the third consecutive year, the entire 2026 football schedule will be broadcast nationally.
FAMU's 12-game slate will be picked up by multiple broadcast partners, ensuring that every snap of the Rattlers’ season will be available to a nationwide audience. The lineup is split across four major platforms: four games on ESPN networks, four on HBCU GO TV, three on the conference’s SWAC TV, and one on the ACC Network.
"This level of access validates the excellence of our program and the powerful narrative of our Rattler football," said FAMU AD John Davis. We are no longer just playing games; we are sharing our story, our tradition, and our brand with the entire country, every single week."
The television schedule underscores the program's high-profile matchups. The season kicks off with significant exposure, beginning with the Aug. 29 opener against Albany State on SWAC TV. A marquee early-season test comes just over a week later, as the Rattlers travel to face the University of Miami on Thursday, Sept. 10, in an 8 p.m. showdown on the ACC Network—a rare non-conference prime-time slot.
The heart of the SWAC schedule features several key broadcasts. The annual Orange Blossom Classic against South Carolina State on Sept. 6 at Hard Rock Stadium will air on ESPNU. A highly anticipated matchup against SWAC rival Jackson State will occur on Oct. 17, when FAMU visits the Tigers in a 3 p.m. contest slated for an ESPN network.
Traditional rivalries will also enjoy the spotlight. The Florida Classic against Bethune-Cookman on Nov. 21 will be carried on ESPN+, while the Homecoming game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Oct. 24 will be featured on HBCU GO TV.
The breadth of the deal, particularly the four-game commitment from ESPN networks and the extensive slate on HBCU GO TV, signals a sustained shift in media investment toward HBCU sports. This follows a period of increased attention fueled by the vibrant game-day culture, and elite player talent that has captured broader public interest.
"For our players, this means their hard work will be seen from coast to coast," said FAMU head football coach Quinn Fordham Gray. "For recruits, it shows the platform FAMU provides. And for our fans who can't make it to Bragg Stadium, they won't have to miss a moment. It creates a powerful sense of unity and pride."
The schedule ensures that iconic venues and events central to the HBCU experience—from Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium to the sold-out frenzy of the Florida Classic in Orlando—will be transmitted into living rooms across America, offering a national window into a uniquely passionate brand of college football.
Here is the complete 2026 Florida A&M University football television schedule:
Saturday, Aug. 29: vs. Albany State, 7 p.m. – SWAC TV
Saturday, Sept. 6: vs. South Carolina State (Orange Blossom Classic, Miami Gardens), 3 p.m. – ESPNU
Thursday, Sept. 10: at Miami, 8 p.m. – ACC Network
Saturday, Sept. 19: vs. Tennessee State, 7 p.m. – HBCU GO TV
Saturday, Sept. 26: vs. Alabama A&M, 7 p.m. – SWAC TV
Saturday, Oct. 10: at Alabama State, 3 p.m. – HBCU GO TV
Saturday, Oct. 17: at Jackson State, 3 p.m. – ESPN Network
Saturday, Oct. 24: vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Homecoming), 3 p.m. – HBCU GO TV
Saturday, Oct. 31: vs. Southern, 3 p.m. – HBCU GO TV
Saturday, Nov. 7: at Alcorn State, 3 p.m. – SWAC TV
Saturday, Nov. 14: vs. Mississippi Valley State, 3 p.m. – SWAC TV
Saturday, Nov. 21: vs. Bethune-Cookman (Florida Classic, Orlando), TBA – ESPN+