🏈 FINAL: Morgan State 17, NC A&T 7
North Carolina A&T couldn’t turn a promising start into a season-opening victory Saturday night.
Morgan State scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to rally past the Aggies 17-7 at Truist Stadium in the first meeting between the former MEAC rivals since 2019.
NC A&T (0-1) controlled the ball for more than 35 minutes and outgained Morgan State 328-276, but the Aggies failed to score after Braxton Thomas’ 2-yard touchdown run capped a 17-play, 70-yard drive in the first quarter.
🎯 Key Moments
- A&T strikes first: Thomas finished the Aggies’ marathon opening possession with a 2-yard touchdown run, giving A&T a 7-0 lead with 3:08 left in the first quarter.
- Points left on the field: A&T missed a 43-yard field goal in the second quarter, then drove to the Morgan State 4 late in the third before a 22-yard field-goal attempt was blocked.
- One play changes the game: Cameron Edge connected with Joseph Towler for a 68-yard touchdown just 37 seconds into the fourth quarter, putting Morgan State ahead 10-7.
- Morgan State puts it away: Jordan Barnett’s 22-yard touchdown run with 1:03 remaining supplied the final margin.
📊 By the Numbers
Thomas, who won the starter’s job in a tough competition with Kevin White and others, completed 20 of 32 passes for 240 yards and rushed for 24 yards and A&T’s only touchdown.
J.T. Smith led the Aggies on the ground with 51 yards on 19 carries. A&T finished with 328 total yards, but managed only 88 rushing yards and went 1-for-2 in the red zone.
Barnett provided most of Morgan State’s ground production, rushing for 114 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.
The loss is A&T’s fifth straight dating to last season.
⏭️ What’s Next
NC A&T faces an even bigger challenge in Week 1, traveling to Atlanta to face FBS opponent Georgia State on Friday, Sept. 4. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+
🔄 Last Updated: August 29, 2026 10:32 pm
🏟️ Pregame Center
Morgan State at North Carolina A&T
Date: Saturday, August 29, 2026
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Truist Stadium (Greensboro, NC)
TV/Stream: FloSports
🔍 What to Watch
After a two-win campaign in his debut at NC A&T, Gibbs set about to make the Aggies bigger, faster and stronger through the portal and high school recruiting. A&T put extra emphasis on beefing up the offensive line and finding more playmakers who can compete in the CAA.
The opener against Morgan State should provide an early glimpse at whether those roster changes are beginning to pay off.
🔗 More NC Football Coverage
- North Carolina A&T schedule
- CAA standings
- 2026 week-by-week schedule
- North Carolina college football scores
