Twenty-three games. Five networks. And a season that opens on ESPN+ and closes on ABC. The MEAC Football TV Schedule 2026 is out, and it gives the conference its widest television footprint of the year — including a Friday night showcase and two national broadcasts on ABC.
MEAC Football TV Schedule 2026
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Aug. 29 | Savannah State at SC State | 6:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| Sat, Aug. 29 | Alabama A&M vs. Howard (MEAC/SWAC Challenge, Atlanta) | 7:30 PM | ABC |
| Sun, Sep. 6 | SC State vs. Florida A&M (Miami) | 3:00 PM | ESPN |
| Sat, Sep. 12 | North Carolina A&T at NC Central | 6:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| Sat, Oct. 10 | Robert Morris at Morgan State | 12:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| Sat, Oct. 10 | William & Mary at NC Central | 1:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| Sat, Oct. 17 | Morehouse at Howard | 3:30 PM | ESPN+ |
| Fri, Oct. 23 | NC Central at Delaware State | 5:00 PM | ESPN2 |
| Sat, Oct. 24 | Norfolk State at SC State | 1:30 PM | ESPN+ |
| Sat, Oct. 24 | Howard at Morgan State | 3:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| Thu, Oct. 29 | SC State at Morgan State | 7:00 PM | ESPNU |
| Sat, Oct. 31 | Howard at NC Central | 2:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| Sat, Oct. 31 | Delaware State at Norfolk State | 2:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| Thu, Nov. 5 | SC State at Howard | 5:00 PM | ESPNU |
| Sat, Nov. 7 | NC Central at Norfolk State | 12:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| Sat, Nov. 7 | Morgan State at Delaware State | 1:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| Sat, Nov. 14 (Wildcard) | Norfolk State at Morgan State | 12:00 PM | ESPN Networks |
| Sat, Nov. 14 (Wildcard) | Delaware State at Howard | 1:00 PM | ESPN Networks |
| Sat, Nov. 14 (Wildcard) | NC Central at SC State | 1:30 PM | ESPN Networks |
| Sat, Nov. 21 (Wildcard) | Howard at Norfolk State | 12:00 PM | ESPN Networks |
| Sat, Nov. 21 (Wildcard) | Delaware State at SC State | 1:30 PM | ESPN Networks |
| Sat, Nov. 21 (Wildcard) | Morgan State at NC Central | 2:00 PM | ESPN Networks |
| Sat, Dec. 12 | Cricket Celebration Bowl (MEAC champion vs. SWAC champion) | 12:00 PM | ABC |
Two National Broadcasts on ABC Bookend the Season
The MEAC 2026 ESPN schedule opens with a doubleheader on August 29 — South Carolina State hosting Savannah State on ESPN+ at 6:00 p.m., followed immediately by the MEAC SWAC Challenge 2026 between Howard and Alabama A&M at Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta, airing nationally on ABC at 7:30 p.m. That’s the same national platform the conference gets back for its season finale: the Cricket Celebration Bowl 2026 closes the slate on December 12, also on ABC, from Atlanta.
A Friday Night Showcase in October
One matchup gets pulled out of the Saturday rotation entirely. Delaware State hosting North Carolina Central on Friday, October 23, airs on ESPN2 at 5:00 p.m. ET — the only Friday night game on the schedule and a clear bid for standalone national attention outside the usual college football Saturday crowd.
Thursday Night Football Twice in Two Weeks
South Carolina State gets the conference’s two Thursday night ESPNU slots back to back — first on the road at Morgan State on October 29, then on the road at Howard on November 5. Both kick off in the early evening window, giving the Bulldogs consecutive weeks of standalone national exposure.
The Wildcard Weeks Close Out the Regular Season
November 14 and November 21 both carry three-game “Game of the Week” wildcard slates, with Norfolk State, Morgan State, Delaware State, Howard, NC Central, and SC State all playing in both weeks. Worth noting: the official release states final times and network assignments for these two weekends won’t be locked until 12 days before each kickoff, even though specific matchups are already known.
The Bottom Line
Between the Celebration Bowl, the MEAC/SWAC Challenge, and a Friday night showcase, this is one of the conference’s widest television footprints in recent memory. The rest of the games on ESPN+ give every program regular streaming exposure, but how the wildcard weekends shake out in mid-November will determine which teams get the extra spotlight down the stretch.
FAQ
Q: When does the 2026 MEAC football season open on TV?
A: The MEAC Football TV Schedule 2026 opens Saturday, August 29, with South Carolina State hosting Savannah State at 6:00 p.m. ET on ESPN+, followed by the MEAC/SWAC Challenge between Howard and Alabama A&M at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
Q: When is the Cricket Celebration Bowl in 2026?
A: The Cricket Celebration Bowl 2026 is set for Saturday, December 12, at noon ET on ABC, featuring the MEAC and SWAC champions in Atlanta.
Q: How many MEAC football games air on national TV in 2026?
A: The MEAC Football TV Schedule 2026 includes 23 games total, with two on ABC, two on ESPNU, one on ESPN, one on ESPN2, and the remainder streaming on ESPN+.
Q: When do the MEAC’s Game of the Week wildcard games take place?
A: The two “Game of the Week” wildcard slates are Saturday, November 14, and Saturday, November 21, each featuring three matchups; official times and TV networks for those games are announced no later than 12 days before kickoff.
