Under Center: How New Starting Quarterbacks Shaped the 2026 HBCU Football Landscape
Following major quarterback departures after the 2025 season, HBCU football programs turned to the transfer portal, returning backups, and unexpected depth chart promotions in 2026. Standout transitions at programs like South Carolina State and Johnson C. Smith contrasted with injury-plagued rotations and lingering battles elsewhere.
The 2026 HBCU football season underscored just how rapidly a program's fortunes can shift depending on play under center. Several prominent programs across the MEAC, SWAC, and CIAA entered the campaign with critical vacancies after losing starting passers, prompting head coaches to lean on the transfer portal, returning reserves, and unexpected freshmen, according to reporting from HBCU Sports.
South Carolina State delivered perhaps the smoothest transition in the MEAC after Atkins entered the transfer portal following a 2025 conference crown and Celebration Bowl championship. Senior signal-caller Watson stepped up decisively, guiding the Bulldogs to a 7-2 record and a 2-0 league start entering November. Watson tallied 1,647 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and three interceptions while completing nearly 65 percent of his throws through nine games, highlighted by a four-touchdown performance against Morgan State on Oct. 29. Robinson provided additional depth with 502 yards and three touchdowns as the Bulldogs averaged 42 points per contest.
Elsewhere in the MEAC, North Carolina Central navigated the departure of 2025 MEAC Offensive Player of the Year Walker Harris. Head coach Trei Oliver utilized a multi-quarterback competition involving Layne, Thompkins, and Jones. Layne earned the lion's share of snaps, completing 83 of 134 passes for 836 yards, five touchdowns, and four interceptions across eight games. While the Eagles stood at 4-5 overall heading into November, HBCU Sports reported that they remained undefeated in conference play at 2-0.
In the SWAC, Prairie View A&M tasked Tevin Carter with filling the shoes of Peters following the Panthers' 2025 conference title. Carter, who went 2-1 in relief duty a year prior, held off newcomers Smith and Brown. Across nine games, Carter compiled 1,516 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and five interceptions, while rushing for 455 yards and six touchdowns. His play featured explosive outings against Tarleton State and Alcorn State alongside inconsistent showings against Southern and Mississippi Valley State.
At Texas Southern, head coach Cris Dishman brought in McCoy, an experienced passer with prior stops at Jackson State and Southern. McCoy guided the Tigers with 1,264 passing yards, seven passing scores, 258 rushing yards, and five rushing touchdowns through eight games, including an overtime scramble victory against Grambling State. Texas Southern sat at 3-5 overall and 2-3 in the SWAC entering November, keeping their division title hopes mathematically alive.
Florida A&M experienced a far more turbulent path after Albany State transfer Isaiah Knowles suffered a season-ending thumb injury against South Carolina State in the Orange Blossom Classic on Sept. 6. When backup Dustin Fletcher was also sidelined with an injury, true freshman Armond Parker rose from third on the depth chart to starting quarterback. Parker stepped into the starting lineup against Alabama A&M and finished his initial six-game stretch with 1,244 yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
In the CIAA, Johnson C. Smith head coach Maurice Flowers rebuilt his quarterback room through the transfer portal following the departures of Attmore and Floyd. After former UCLA recruit McQuarrie started the opener, Wagner transfer Mazil took command, throwing for 1,691 yards, 16 touchdowns, and three interceptions in nine games to guide the Golden Bulls to a 7-2 start.