With kickoff less than two months away, optimism is beginning to replace uncertainty around FAMU football.
After enduring a 5-7 season in 2025, the Rattlers enter 2026 with a new coaching staff, a new quarterback and renewed expectations. Those changes were reflected in NCAA Digital's first HBCU football power rankings of the preseason, where FAMU was slotted No. 12 nationally.
The ranking places the Rattlers outside the top tier of HBCU programs entering the season, but it also acknowledges what many around the program believe: FAMU could be one of the most improved teams in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) this year.
The NCAA ranking had Alabama State ranked No. 1; Jackson State No. 2; South Carolina State No. 3; Prairie View No 4. and Grambling State No. 5. The full ranking is here.
That optimism begins with head coach Quinn Gray.
One of the most accomplished quarterbacks in FAMU history, Gray returns to Tallahassee after leading Albany State, bringing with him a reputation for developing quarterbacks and producing explosive offenses. His arrival signals the beginning of a new chapter for a program that has spent the offseason reshaping its identity.
NCAA Digital identified perhaps the biggest reason for that optimism in quarterback Isaiah Knowles.
The publication projected that the Gray-Knowles partnership could significantly elevate a Rattler offense that struggled to find consistency last season. Under Gray's system, Knowles is expected to bring greater playmaking ability and efficiency to an offense looking to regain the explosiveness that has long been associated with the Rattlers.
The changes extend to the defensive side of the football.
Ryan Lewis Sr. takes over as defensive coordinator, giving Florida A&M an experienced defensive strategist expected to maintain the aggressive style that has traditionally defined the program. Together, Gray and Lewis inherit a roster with enough returning talent to compete immediately in a conference that figures to be among the nation's most competitive HBCU leagues.
The Rattlers, however, face a unique reality in 2026.
Because of NCAA Academic Progress Rate penalties, FAMU is ineligible for postseason competition, eliminating any opportunity to play in the Celebration Bowl regardless of its regular-season finish.
But that does not diminish the significance of the season ahead.
Every conference game still carries weight, and FAMU has an opportunity to shape the SWAC championship race even without postseason eligibility. A fast start under Gray could make the Rattlers one of the conference's toughest opponents, capable of disrupting the title hopes of every contender they face.
For a program accustomed to competing for championships, the postseason ban serves as motivation rather than a defining storyline. The greater focus is establishing the foundation of the Quinn Gray era, developing a winning culture and positioning FAMU for sustained success once postseason eligibility returns.
NCAA Digital's preseason ranking reflects cautious optimism.
Inside the FAMU program, the expectation is that the Rattlers will be remembered less for where they begin the season than for how much they improve before it ends.