FAMU's men’s basketball team will kick off its 2025–2026 regular season tonight night in Tampa, facing the University of South Florida Bulls in a non-conference matchup that marks the official beginning of the Charlie Ward era.
The Rattlers, led by the first-year head coach and former Heisman Trophy winner, will take the court at the Yuengling Center at 8 p.m. ET. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Ward, who won the Heisman in 1993 as Florida State’s quarterback and went on to play 11 seasons in the NBA, was hired in the offseason to revitalize a FAMU program seeking consistency and competitive fire.
Fans have already had a glimpse of the team’s potential—and its challenges—through two preseason exhibitions. On October 21, the Rattlers delivered an emphatic 100–54 victory over Edward Waters University, a fellow Florida HBCU, led by 13 points, six rebounds, and three assists from Anquan Boldin Jr., son of the former NFL star.
But just five days later, the team struggled in a tough environment, falling to in-state power Florida State, 88–54, at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center in Tallahassee.
“We saw some good things, things we can build on,” Ward said after the Florida State game. “But we also saw where we need to get better—especially defensively and in managing tempo.”
Monday’s game against USF offers an immediate measuring stick against an American Athletic Conference opponent. The Bulls return several key players from last year’s squad and are favored on their home floor.
The Rattlers will then return to Tallahassee for their home opener on Saturday, November 8, against Kennesaw State at the Al Lawson Center. That game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. tipoff.
For Ward, the start of the season represents more than just a new job—it’s a homecoming. After starring at Florida State and enjoying a long professional career, he has spent years coaching high school basketball in Florida before getting his first NCAA head coaching opportunity just miles from where he became a college football legend.
How quickly his team adapts to his system—and his leadership—will shape not only this season but the future of the program. Tonight in Tampa will provide the first real answer.