North Carolina A&T and Hampton football teams have met 49 times through the years across four different conferences. Saturday’s 50th matchup doubles as the CAA opener for both schools and the home debut of new Aggies head coach Shawn Gibbs.
Elsewhere, Campbell, Gardner-Webb, North Carolina Central and Western Carolina also will be glad to play in front of home fans this week. Davidson travels to nationally ranked Tennessee Tech, while Elon hopes to spoil another day for WCU fans in Cullowhee.
Here’s a breakdown of Week 3 action in North Carolina FCS football:
NC FCS Football This Week | Sept. 13, 2025
Hampton (1-1) at NC A&T (0-2)
📅 7 pm | 📺 FloCollege
- Home opener for NC A&T (0-2), coming off a 68-7 loss at Big 12 member UCF last Saturday.
- Head coach Shawn Gibbs raised eyebrows after questioning the value of “money games” after three QB injuries vs. UCF (“Is it worth it? I don’t know.”).
- QB depth tested: Braxton Thomas and Champ Long are day-to-day, Gibbs said Monday; true freshman Jy Walls likely out for the season. “We feel like we’ve got a couple more guys that will be ready to go,” Gibbs said. “Of course, our team has to step up around those guys and support them. But we feel like we have the players that can do it.”
- Aggies on 12-game losing streak, longest in North Carolina; last win came Sept. 2024 vs. D2 Winston-Salem State.
- Hampton (1-1) dominated A&T 59-17 last year on the Aggies’ homecoming, returns to Greensboro again.
- Programs have shared four conferences: CIAA, MEAC, Big South, and now CAA.
- Saturday marks Shawn Gibbs’ first home game as head coach at A&T. “Having worked here for over a decade, it’s definitely not going to be the first time that I’ve been able to run out of the locker room and into the stadium for a game, but it’ll be the first time as the head coach,” Gibbs said. “It’s just going to make me reflect on this long journey.”
The Citadel (1-1) at Gardner-Webb (1-1)
📅 7 pm | 📺 ESPN+
- Gardner-Webb plays at home for the first time after falling 59-12 at Georgia Tech.
- Offense vs. GT: WR Anthony Lowe (8 rec., 88 yds., TD), QB Cole Pennington (164 yds., TD), RB Quasean Holmes (48 yds.) had respectable games vs ACC foe.
- Runnin’ Bulldogs are coming off their NC Football News Team of the Week honor after rallying from 35-7 down to stun Western Carolina 52-45 in Week 1.
- The Citadel (1–1, 1–0 SoCon) rebounded from a shutout loss at North Dakota State with a (surprising?) 40-17 win over Samford
- Citadel Defense forced 5 turnovers, returning 2 fumbles for scores.
- WR Javonte Graves-Billips had a breakout: 6 catches, 139 yds., 2 TDs (career-best).
- Citadel picked 8th in the SoCon preseason poll, but head coach Maurice Drayton emphasized their “blue collar mentality” after the Samford win.
Furman (1-1) at Campbell (0-2)
📅 3:30 pm | 📺 FloCollege
- First-ever meeting between the programs; Campbell’s home opener and Furman’s first road game of 2025. “We’re excited to be at home,” Camels coach Braxton Harris said. “We’re excited about that opportunity. And good football teams have got to win at home.”
- Campbell (0–2) fell 56–3 at ECU last week after nearly upsetting No. 9 Rhode Island in Week 1.
- QB Kamden Sixkiller completed 18-of-25 passes for 121 yards vs. ECU; Alex Crabb’s 29-yard FG kept Camels from a shutout.
- Furman (1-1) is coming off a stunning 39–38 OT loss to non-scholarship Presbyterian after leading 28–7.
- Paladins’ offense: QB Trey Hedden (442 yards, 2 TDs) spreads it around to freshman Evan James (157 yds, TD) and veteran targets Kerry King and Joshua Burrell.
- RBs Gavin Hall and Jayquan Smith (returning from major injury) pace the ground game.
- Furman’s defense thrives on turnovers — 4 INTs last week, including 2 from safety Billy Lewis. Safeties Taylen Blaylock and Lewis each have 2 INTs this season.
- Special teams: K Ian Williams (Charlotte/Weddington HS) is a preseason All-American; has hit 10 straight FGs, 46-for-60 in his career.
Davidson (0-2) at Tennessee Tech (1-1)
📅 1 pm | 📺 ESPN+
- Davidson (0–2) coming off lopsided losses to Georgetown (51–14) and Elon (55–7).
- Preseason All-American RB did not play last week; status uncertain for Saturday.
- Tennessee Tech (2–0, ranked No. 15) owns FCS’s longest active winning streak (7 games).
- Golden Eagles average 55.0 points and 541.5 yards per game (No. 1 in FCS scoring, No. 3 in total offense).
- Tech has scored TDs on its opening drive in both games this season.
- Davidson ranks No. 94 nationally in total offense (243.5 ypg) and No. 101 in scoring (10.5 ppg). Wildcats must find offense to keep pace.
Fayetteville State (0-2) at North Carolina Central (1-2)
📅 6 pm | 📺 ESPN+
- 34th all-time meeting between familiar foes from NCCU’s CIAA days (1928-70, 1980-2007); first matchup since 2012 (NCCU won 54-31).
- NCCU head coach Trei Oliver is 4-0 vs. CIAA teams, including a 47-21 win over Winston-Salem State in 2023.
- Eagles playmakers: RB Chris Mosley ranks 2nd in FCS in rushing yards (352, 117.3 ypg), DL Thomas Johnson has 4.5 TFL and QB Walker Harris has thrown for 458 yards (2 TD, 3 INT).
- Fayetteville State stars: RB Bryce Council (5.0 ypc), QB Demari Daniels (298 total yards), QB Joe Owens Jr. (73% completions in relief), and LB duo Matthew Leach (17 tackles) + Jamari Slade (2 sacks).
- Broncos appeared in 6 straight CIAA title games under coach Richard Hayes before streak ended last season; FSU has started 2025 with losses to Benedict (10-0) and UNC Pembroke (31-24).
- Series history: NCCU leads overall; last 10 meetings (2000–2012) were split 5–5, with plenty of close finishes.
Elon (1-1) at Western Carolina (0-2)
📅 2:30 pm | 📺 ESPN+
This feels like a must-win for both sides — the Phoenix look to build off last week’s 55-7 rout of Davidson, while the Catamounts try to avoid an 0-3 start. We devoted a whole story to this compelling matchup. 👉 Full Preview Here
