SIAC powers kick off Golden Bulls 2026 football schedule

TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Johnson C. Smith running back Bobby Smith scores on a 14-yard pass against Bluefield State in the Golden Bulls’ 69-13 win on Sept. 27, 2025. JCSU opens the 2026 season at Benedict Aug. 29 and Albany State Sept. 6 in the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic in Canton, Ohio.

Johnson C. Smith’s 2026 football schedule includes a nationally televised showcase and a pair of games against 2025 Division II playoff teams.

The Golden Bulls, who earned their first postseason berth, the CIAA title and a school best 10-2 record last year, open with nonconference games against SIAC powers Benedict and Albany State. The Benedict game – JCSU’s fifth straight season-opener on the road – is Aug. 29 in Columbia, S.C., followed by Albany State in Canton, Ohio, for the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic. That game will be broadcast on NFL Network.

Benedict went 10-3 in 2025 and advanced to the second round of the playoffs, where the Tigers lost to Albany State, Smith’s Sept. 6 opponent. The Golden Rams have a new coach in David Bowser, JCSU’s linebackers coach from 2023-25 who inherits a program that posted a 12-2 record and advanced to the national quarterfinals for the first time.

“We’ve been going for four years here at JCSU, and there has not been much staff turnover at all with us, and that's one of the keys to our success,” coach Maurice Flowers said. “But with success comes change. I told our players, ‘You have success, you’re going to have some change because people want your guys.” 

The final eight games are against CIAA opponents, starting Sept. 12 at Winston-Salem State. The Golden Bulls have won three straight against WSSU, which has a new coach in Tory Woodbury, Smith’s offensive coordinator from 2015-17.

JCSU’s home opener is Sept. 19 against Fayetteville State in a rematch of the Golden Bulls’ last-minute 17-14 road win last year to keep their CIAA title aspirations alive. 

After an open week, the Golden Bulls go to Bluefield State on Oct. 3. Smith’s 69-13 win against Big Blue 69-13 for last year’s homecoming was the Golden Bulls’ largest margin of victory and most points scored since an 83-7 romp against Livingstone in 1964.

The next two dates are at McGirt Field: Shaw on Oct. 10 and the following week against Lincoln (Pa.) for homecoming. A road trip to Bowie State – which is still looking for a head coach – on Oct. 24, followed by the home finale Oct. 31 against Virginia State.

The regular season finale is Nov. 7 at Livingstone in the Commemorative Classic, a renewal of the oldest rivalry in Black college football that dates to 1892. JCSU scored a come-from-behind 26-21 win last year to clinch a berth in the CIAA title game.

Johnson C. Smith 2026 football schedule:

August

29 at Benedict

September

6 vs Albany State (Canton, Ohio)

12 at Winston-Salem State

19 Fayetteville State

October

3 at Bluefield State

10 Shaw

17 Lincoln (Pa.)

24 at Bowie State

31 Virginia State

November

7 at Livingstone

Comments