It’s a loaded Saturday across the Carolinas. Homecoming in Winston-Salem, the oldest rivalry in Black college football in Salisbury, a Triangle grudge match in Raleigh, and CIAA title spots on the line a week before championship weekend in Durham. Here’s your full game day guide, with every kickoff in Eastern time.
Today’s Kickoff Board
- 12:00 PM – N.C. A&T at Monmouth – FloSports
- 12:00 PM – NC Central at Norfolk State – ESPN+
- 12:00 PM – UNC at UConn – CBS Sports Network
- 12:30 PM – Duke at NC State – The CW
- 1:30 PM – Fayetteville State at Winston-Salem State (Homecoming) – CIAA Sports Network
- 2:00 PM – Johnson C. Smith at Livingstone (Commemorative Classic) – CIAA Sports Network
- 2:30 PM – Georgia State at App State – ESPN+
- 3:30 PM – Charlotte at UAB – ESPN+
- Off today: Shaw (bye) and ECU (played Friday night)
Schedules via NC Football News and FBSchedules. Times and channels can change, so double-check before you post up.
HBCU Spotlight: Paint the City Red in Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem State closes its home slate with Homecoming against Fayetteville State at 1:30 PM. WSSU is billing it as “Paint the City Red for Homecoming.” So wear your red and get there early.
On the field, the stakes sit with the Broncos. Fayetteville State came into the week at 6-3 overall and 5-2 in the CIAA, riding a four-game win streak, according to NC Football News’ CIAA standings. WSSU sits at 2-7 (2-5 CIAA), but nothing gets a team up like a Homecoming crowd. A spoiler win would shake up the race.
The Original HBCU Rivalry: JCSU vs. Livingstone
This one is history. Johnson C. Smith visits Livingstone in Salisbury at 2:00 PM for the Commemorative Classic, which also doubles as Livingstone’s Senior Day.
The first Black college football game ever played was between these two schools on December 27, 1892, in Salisbury. Biddle Institute (now JCSU) won it 5-0. The matchup was renamed the Commemorative Classic in 2009, and JCSU leads the all-time series 48-32-3, per Livingstone Athletics. Livingstone took last year’s meeting 15-10.
The Golden Bulls come in at 7-2 overall and 6-1 in the CIAA, tied for second in the standings. Livingstone is 2-6 (2-5 CIAA) and on a four-game skid, so a Senior Day upset would mean a lot in Salisbury.
CIAA Title Race: Championship Weekend Is Next
The CIAA rolled out an expanded championship format this year. The teams that finish third and fourth play Friday, Nov. 13, and the top two meet in the 56th CIAA Football Championship on Saturday, Nov. 14, per HBCU Sports. Both games are set for Durham County Memorial Stadium.
Going into today, Virginia Union led at 7-0 in league play, with JCSU and Virginia State at 6-1 and Fayetteville State at 5-2. That means both Carolina contenders, JCSU and FSU, are playing for their seeding today.
MEAC and CAA: A&T and NCCU Hit the Road
N.C. A&T is coming off its 100th Greatest Homecoming on Earth and heads to Monmouth for a noon kickoff on FloSports.
NC Central visits Norfolk State at noon on ESPN+. It’s an HBCU road trip with MEAC bragging rights in play.
Triangle Rivalry: Duke at NC State
The ACC headliner in the state kicks off at 12:30 PM on The CW at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh. Duke comes in 6-2 (3-2 ACC) after a 47-2 blowout of Boston College. NC State is 4-4 (2-3 ACC) after beating Cal 31-10, per ABC11 and Fox Sports.
Players to watch: Duke running back Nate Sheppard (972 rushing yards, 14 TDs) and Wolfpack QB C.J. Bailey (1,955 passing yards, 13 TDs). The Wolfpack has won three of the last four in the series, including a 45-33 win in 2025. Duke has a trip to No. 1 Miami next week, so this one matters for both sides.
Around the State
- UNC travels to UConn at noon on CBS Sports Network.
- App State hosts Georgia State at 2:30 PM on ESPN+.
- Charlotte is at UAB at 3:30 PM on ESPN+ after a 38-31 loss to Tulane.
- ECU already handled business, beating South Florida 20-17 on Friday night to move to 5-4. The Pirates visit Charlotte next Saturday, per NC Football News.
- Shaw is off this week after a 42-45 Homecoming loss to Bluefield State, per NC Football News.
Sources
- NC Football News: 2026 North Carolina master schedule
- FBSchedules: TV selections for Nov. 7, 2026
- NC Football News: CIAA standings
- WSSU Athletics: 2026 game times and themes
- Livingstone Athletics: 2026 schedule
- Livingstone Athletics: Commemorative Classic history
- HBCU Sports: CIAA expanded championship format
- ABC11: Duke and NC State meet in ACC action
- Fox Sports: Duke vs. NC State
- NC Football News: ECU schedule
