North Carolina A&T ruled much of HBCU football in the second half of the 2010s, winning four Celebration Bowl titles, making the FCS playoffs in another year and posting an undefeated season.
The Aggies also proved to be giant-killers when stacking up against FBS opponents. During a three-year stretch from 2016-18, NC A&T topped Kent State, Charlotte and East Carolina – one FBS victim per season – to add to the magic.
Whether it was a four-overtime thriller, a last-minute pick-six, or a backup quarterback engineering a comeback, each win carried its own dramatic storyline. In two of the victories, lightning strikes forced game delays – but certainly didn’t douse NC A&T’s spark once play resumed.
As North Carolina teams prepare for eight FCS vs. FBS games this coming season (read more about those match-ups HERE), North Carolina A&T’s upsets serve as a reminder: the scholarship gap doesn’t always guarantee an FBS victory. Sometimes, all it takes is the right team, the right moment—and maybe a little lightning in the air.
2016: NC A&T Stuns Kent State in 4OT Thriller
North Carolina A&T earned its first-ever win over an FBS opponent in dramatic fashion, outlasting Kent State 39-36 in four overtimes despite a lightning delay and a third-string quarterback at the helm. Backup QB Oluwafemi Bamiro, a fifth-year senior, stepped in and threw two touchdowns, including the game-winning 15-yard pass to Denzel Keyes in the fourth overtime.
Future NFL running back Tarik Cohen powered the Aggies’ offense with 133 rushing yards, 125 receiving yards and a touchdown, while linebacker Jeremy Taylor dominated on defense with 15 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception, and a forced fumble. After holding Kent State to a field goal in the fourth OT, A&T capitalized, with Keyes’ catch sealing one of the most exciting victories of the season.
While the Aggies went on to lose at Tulsa the following week, the program was just getting started defying the FCS underdog role.
2017: McCain’s Pick-Six Lifts NC A&T Past Charlotte
North Carolina A&T stunned an FBS opponent for the second straight season, edging Charlotte 35-31 behind a game-winning 74-yard pick-six by Franklin “Mac” McCain III in the final minute.
McCain, a redshirt freshman, had two interceptions on the night, both leading to Aggie touchdowns. His first INT helped A&T build a 28-10 third-quarter lead, but Charlotte stormed back with three late touchdowns to cut the deficit. With the 49ers driving for a potential go-ahead score, McCain jumped a sideline route and raced to the end zone, sealing the win with 29 seconds left.
Quarterback Lamar Raynard led the Aggies with 259 passing yards and a touchdown, while linebacker Marcus Albert paced the defense with nine tackles and a sack. A&T overcame a fumbled opening kickoff and a late Charlotte rally.
2018: Backup QB Carter Leads NC A&T Past ECU
For the third straight season, North Carolina A&T took down an FBS opponent, rallying past East Carolina 28-23 with backup quarterback Kylil Carter leading two fourth-quarter touchdown drives.
Carter entered late in the third quarter after starter Lamar Raynard left with an injury and immediately made an impact, finding Zachary Leslie for a 5-yard touchdown to give A&T a 21-20 lead entering the final period. After ECU reclaimed the lead with a field goal, Carter delivered again, hitting Malik Wilson for 49 yards on 3rd-and-14, setting up a 17-yard game-winning touchdown pass to Elijah Bell with 7:05 to play.
Defensively, Mac McCain III shined with 11 tackles and a first-quarter 100-yard pick-six, while Timadre Abram sealed the win with a game-ending interception. The victory extended A&T’s winning streak to 14 games, matching UCF for the longest active streak in Division I football at the time.
Follow NC Football News as we follow North Carolina A&T football at the start of a new era under coach Shawn Gibbs. How many wins can the 2025 Aggies pull off this season? Give us your NC A&T take on Twitter/X HERE.
