UPDATE: The NC A&T at North Carolina Central game has been moved to a noon kickoff on Saturday in anticipation of inclement weather in the evening, NCCU announced Thursday. “The decision to adjust the kickoff time was made with the safety and well-being of the participating student-athletes, coaches, staff, fans, game officials, and others attending or working the game as the top priority,” NCCU stated in a release.
One of North Carolina’s oldest and most energetic college football rivalries renews Saturday when North Carolina A&T visits North Carolina Central for the 98th meeting of the Aggie-Eagle Classic.
A&T still owns the historical advantage, leading the series 54-38-5, but recently bragging rights have belonged to Central. The Eagles have won four straight in the series, including blowouts of 66-24 in Durham in 2024 and 62-20 last season in Greensboro. North Carolina Central hasn’t won five consecutive games in the series since taking five straight from 1970-74.
This year’s matchup arrives with plenty still unknown about both teams. NCCU is 1-1 after rebounding from a season-opening loss at Texas Southern with a 27-6 win over Elizabeth City State. North Carolina A&T is 0-2 after losses to Morgan State and FBS Georgia State.
And Saturday adds another wrinkle: North Carolina Central starting quarterback Nelson Layne spent last season on the other side of the rivalry.
🔄 Last Updated: September 10, 2026 3:13 pm
🏟️ North Carolina A&T (0-2) at North Carolina Central (1-1)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026
Time: 12:00 p.m. ET (NOTE: new kickoff time)
Location: O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium (Durham, NC)
TV/Stream: ESPN+
Weather Forecast: Warm and humid with temperatures in the low to mid-80s.
Spread: NCCU -24.5
Over/Under: 54.5 points
Moneyline: NC A&T +1100 | NCCU -4000
Lines via FanDuel, updated on Sept. 10, 2026
🔍 What to Know About NC A&T at NCCU
Nelson Layne faces his former team
Layne wasn’t the presumed starter at North Carolina Central when he arrived from the transfer portal in the spring. But the former A&T quarterback has made the job his own.
He has accounted for five touchdowns through two games and was named MEAC Rookie of the Week after producing 247 total yards and three touchdowns against Texas Southern. He’s also Central’s leading rusher. Now his third start as an Eagle comes against the program he left after last season.
Kevin White gets another shot at Central
NC A&T will be without starting quarterback Braxton Thomas, per coach Shawn Gibbs earlier in the week. Thomas left last week’s loss at Georgia State with a leg injury and did not return.
That puts Kevin White in position to return to the starting role. White started much of last season amid a revolving door of quarterback injuries for the Aggies, including the 2025 rivalry game against Central.
He completed 10 of 16 passes for 232 yards with a touchdown and an interception and also ran for a score in the 62-20 loss. This season, White is 9-for-20 for 122 yards and a touchdown.
Can A&T establish the run?
Aggies coach Shawn Gibbs made building a bigger, stronger and more physical team — and improving the running game at a school that refers to itself as Running Back U — priorities entering his second season.
The early returns haven’t been there yet. North Carolina A&T is averaging just 86 rushing yards per game and 2.6 yards per carry. Central enters allowing 158 rushing yards per game. This feels like a particularly important test of the identity Gibbs is trying to establish.
One thing A&T has done well offensively, though, is protect the football: The Aggies have not committed a turnover through two games. They have yet to put the ball on the deck even once.
Keep an eye on Zarion Walters
North Carolina Central’s junior defensive lineman Zarion Walters, a former Richlands High standout, has been one of the most disruptive defenders in the FCS through two weeks. Walters has 14 tackles, four tackles-for-loss and three sacks, with the three sacks ranking him second nationally at 1.5 per game. A&T, meanwhile, has allowed seven sacks and hasn’t recorded one itself.
Central may have found its new kicker
The Eagles lost both their primary kicker and punter to Campbell during the offseason, but freshman Riley Daniels has made that transition considerably less painful. Daniels is perfect on five field-goal attempts and six PATs and already leads Central with 21 points.
That’s particularly noteworthy if Saturday’s rivalry game is tighter than the last two. Central appears to have a special teams weapon it can trust.
📊 NC A&T vs NCCU Stats & Leaders
2026 statistics entering Saturday’s game.
NC A&T Individual
Passing: Braxton Thomas – 21-for-34 (61.8%), 243 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs
Rushing: JT Smith – 30 carries, 95 yards
Receiving: Anthony Rucker – 6 catches, 109 yards, 1 TD
Tackles: Tyrek Brown – 11
Sacks: None
Kicking: Asher Holland – 1-for-3 FG, 2-for-2 PAT, 5 points
NC Central Individual
Passing: Nelson Layne – 28-for-49 (57.1%), 291 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs
Rushing: Nelson Layne – 19 carries, 157 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving: Chance Peterson – 9 catches, 132 yards, 1 TD
Tackles: Zarion Walters – 14
Sacks: Zarion Walters – 3
Kicking: Riley Daniels – 5-for-5 FG, 6-for-6 PAT, 21 points
NC A&T Team
Scoring offense: 8.5 ppg
Scoring defense: 38.0 ppg
Total offense: 268.5 ypg
Total defense: 419.5 ypg
Rushing offense: 86.0 ypg
Rushing defense: 196.5 ypg
Passing offense: 182.5 ypg
Passing defense: 223.0 ypg
Yards per play: 4.4
Yards per play allowed: 7.5
Time of possession: 31:28
Time of possession allowed: 28:32
Turnovers/Takeaways: 0 / 1
Third-down conversions: 12-for-29 (41.4%)
Third downs allowed: 8-for-19 (42.1%)
NC Central Team
Scoring offense: 28.5 ppg
Scoring defense: 24.0 ppg
Total offense: 323.5 ypg
Total defense: 303.5 ypg
Rushing offense: 178.0 ypg
Rushing defense: 158.0 ypg
Passing offense: 145.5 ypg
Passing defense: 145.5 ypg
Yards per play: 4.8
Yards per play allowed: 5.6
Time of possession: 32:00
Time of possession allowed: 28:00
Turnovers/Takeaways: 3 / 4
Third-down conversions: 10-for-25 (40.0%)
Third downs allowed: 10-for-24 (41.7%)
📚 Series History
- All-time series: North Carolina A&T leads 54-38-5
- Last Meeting: NCCU 62, NC A&T 20 (Sept. 20. 2025, in Greensboro)
- First Meeting: NC A&T 26, NCCU 0 (Nov. 23, 1922, in Greensboro)
- One of the state’s most passionate football rivalries has been owned in recent years by North Carolina Central, which has won the past four meetings by a combined 186-73. NC A&T won the previous four games (2017-2021), including shutouts of 45-0 and 54-0.
- This will be the 98th meeting all-time. NC A&T’s longest winning stretch went from 1989-2001 – 12 victories in a row.
🔗 More North Carolina College Football Coverage
- North Carolina A&T Football Schedule
- North Carolina Central Football Schedule
- CAA Football Standings
- MEAC Football Standings
- 2026 week-by-week schedule
- North Carolina college football scores
