It’s cliche when football coaches say things like “We don’t rebuild, we just reload.” But that has been a true maxim for North Carolina Central football in the 2020s.
Head coach Trei Oliver has made winning the standard in Durham, and the Eagles have 41 victories to show for it over the last five seasons – more than any other FCS team in our state.
But Oliver will be the first to tell you – and did at MEAC Media Day last month – that averaging eight wins a year isn’t enough for his program. The Eagles also aim to contend for MEAC championships and post-season success on a regular basis, and those checkmarks have been missing since NCCU beat Deion Sanders and Jackson State in the 2022 Celebration Bowl.
The challenge in 2026 is a familiar one for successful programs: replacing key people without lowering the standard. North Carolina Central must break in two new coordinators, find the successor to All-MEAC quarterback Walker Harris and fill voids left by other veteran leaders.
If history under Oliver is any indication, though, the Eagles will be right back in the conference title chase when October rolls around.
North Carolina Central Football At A Glance
2025 Record: 8-4
2025 Conference: 3-2
2026 Season Opener: NCCU at Texas Southern | Saturday, Aug. 29
Head Coach: Trei Oliver (8th year here)
Record at School: 45-25
Offensive Coordinator: Chris Barnette (1st year here)
Defensive Coordinator: Tommy Thigpin (1st year here)
Predicted Finish in Conference: 2nd out of 6 teams (1 first-place vote)
Preseason All-Conference:
- WR Chance Peterson – Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, First Team Offense
- QB Josh Jones – First Team Offense
- OL A.C. McMoore – First Team Offense
- LB Isaiah Lawson – First Team Defense
- RS Mehki Wall – First Team Defense
- TE Rodney Lesane – Second Team Offense
- C Holly Saint-Melus – Second Team Offense
- OL Taron Williams – Second Team Offense
- OL Victor Goree – Second Team Offense
- DB Jakarri Martin – Second Team Defense
Five Things to Know About North Carolina Central Football
1. North Carolina Central has been the most consistent FCS winner in our state in the 2020s
Coach Trei Oliver has raised the floor significantly during his time as head coach of the Eagles. NCCU has not had a losing season since coming back from the missed COVID year, posting records of 6-5, 10-2 (Celebration Bowl champs), 9-3, 8-3 and 8-4 from 2021-2025. There is only one MEAC championship in there (2022), though, and that likely irks Oliver and the Eagles.
2. NCCU currently owns the Aggies-Eagles rivalry
North Carolina A&T enjoys a substantial edge in the all-time series, 54-38-5. But the Eagles have won the last four games, including victories of 62-20 last season and 66-24 (“Rout 66”) in 2024. If NCCU collects another “W” when the teams collide on Sept. 12, the school will have tied its longest win streak in the series, five triumphs from 1970-74.
3. NCCU enters preseason with a quarterback battle. Maybe.
Oliver said he came out of spring drills fairly certain former Westover High standout Joshua Jones would be his QB1. MEAC coaches agreed, voting Jones to the preseason all-conference first team at the quarterback position. But Oliver insinuated at MEAC media day in July that transfers Nelson Layne and Cobey Thompkins remain firmly in the mix. “Any one of them can start,” Oliver told HBCU Gameday.
Whether this is coachspeak to keep things spicy through camp or a genuine competition will reveal itself in the leadup to the opener at Texas Southern. Regardless of who takes the first snap Aug. 29, having three capable quarterbacks is a nice problem to have.
4. NCCU is putting its stamp on the MEAC Offensive Player of the Year Award
Quarterback Davius Richard captured the conference’s top offensive honor in both 2022 and 2023. QB Walker Harris collected it after a banner 2025 campaign. Wide receiver Chance Peterson may be next in line. The redshirt sophomore from Heritage High in Wake Forest has been voted the 2026 MEAC preseason offensive player of the year. Peterson caught 48 passes for 720 yards and one touchdown a year ago.
5. The Eagles have loaded up on North Carolina competition
North Carolina Central will jet to Texas for a game for only the second time in its history when the season opens Aug. 29. But after that, NCCU will keep feet firmly planted in the Old North State for awhile, facing five in-state opponents in a row from three different divisions – Elizabeth City State (D2), North Carolina A&T (FCS), Gardner-Webb (FCS), East Carolina (FBS) and Campbell (FCS).
Players To Watch
QB Joshua Jones (or Nelson Layne or Cobey Thompkins)
The quarterback battle will be one of the most intriguing storylines of the preseason. Jones has been on campus since 2023 and has been an understudy to both Davius Richard and Walker Harris (though he’s thrown only 43 passes in games). Layne transfers in after showing promise at NC A&T. Thompkins saw action in 12 games at The Citadel in 2025, throwing for 503 yards and 4 TDs.
WR Chance Peterson
The Eagles will have a new offensive coordinator in Chris Barnette, and his offenses at Alabama State focused on getting the ball to playmakers. Peterson is one of NCCU’s best in that department and could be poised for another big season.
OL A.C. McMoore
The 6-2, 311-pound junior has played 32 games with the Eagles the past three seasons, garnering second-team All-MEAC status a year ago. His veteran presence will be paramount.
LB Isaiah Lawson
Second-team all-conference performer from 2025 was one of the MEAC’s top tacklers (71 stops, 4 tackles-for-loss). He has played in 34 games across four seasons for the Eagles, starting 12.
RS Mehki Wall
The redshirt junior, who played at Dudley High in Greensboro, returned kicks and punts last season, averaging 26.2 yards on 17 kick returns. He also caught 28 passes for 510 yards and four touchdowns. The versatile weapon could thrive this fall.
Games That Could Define The Season
North Carolina A&T at North Carolina Central | Sept. 12
This game needs no introduction in our state and is one of the top rivalries from any level. NCCU has had the upper hand recently, including scoring 60+ the past two seasons. NC A&T is climbing under second-year coach Shawn Gibbs. Can the Eagles continue their mastery?
North Carolina Central at Delaware State | Oct. 24
The Hornets, coached by former NFL great DeSean Jackson, burst onto the scene a year ago, winning eight games and surprising the Eagles in Durham. The MEAC schedule again starts with Delaware State, and this is a must win if North Carolina Central aims to win the conference and contend for a Celebration Bowl berth in 2026.
North Carolina Central at South Carolina State | Nov. 14
SCSU has ascended to the top of the MEAC the past two seasons, and this game could serve as the de facto conference championship game if both teams take care of business beforehand. NCCU’s last win in the series came in 2023, a wild 62-28 triumph on a Thursday night at The Nest.
Quotable
“The expectations don’t change. It’s about winning championships. People tell you that you need to be happy with eight wins. Eight wins isn’t enough … We spend too much time in this thing not to win it.” – NCCU coach Trei Oliver at MEAC media day in Baltimore
“When I was in school, we didn’t go on their campus and they didn’t come on our campus. You know, much respect to homeboy (NC A&T coach Shawn) Gibbs over there – I love him to death – but it’s going to go down when we play them.” – Oliver playfully hyping up the NCCU-A&T rivalry during a podcast segment at MEAC media day.
The Final Word
Sustained success changes expectations, and Trei Oliver has elevated expectations at North Carolina Central. An eight-win season is no longer viewed as a breakthrough in Durham. It is more the baseline.
Getting to eight wins or beyond will be a challenge for the program in 2026, though. Replacing an accomplished quarterback like Walker Harris along with both coordinators is no small task, and the Eagles will need new leaders to emerge on both sides of the ball. The schedule will be tough, with in-state non-conference games against ECU, Gardner-Webb and Campbell.
But that’s also why North Carolina Central has become one of the state’s model FCS programs. Every season brings roster turnover, yet the Eagles continue to find themselves in the conversation.
If the blend of new pieces come together quickly, expect North Carolina Central to once again be playing meaningful football deep into November with another MEAC title very much within reach.
🔗 More NCCU and FCS Football Coverage
- 2026 North Carolina Central football schedule
- MEAC football standings
- North Carolina FCS football schedules
- Game Day Central: North Carolina College Football
