There will be much Florida A&M football to go around on the television airwaves during the 2026 season.
As the Rattlers debut a new era under first-year head coach and FAMU Sports Hall of Fame quarterback Quinn Fordham Gray Sr., the Orange and Green are scheduled to play eight televised matchups out of their 12-game slate.
Four of those will be on ESPN Networks.
Sept. 6’s Orange Blossom Classic in Miami Gardens between FAMU and the defending Black College Football National Champions, South Carolina State, will kick off at 3 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPNU for the Labor Day weekend showdown.
The Rattlers will then remain in South Florida to play the College Football Playoff runner-up Miami Hurricanes on Sept. 10 at 8 p.m. on the Atlantic Coast Conference network through the ESPN app.
FAMU visits the defending Southwestern Athletic Conference East champions, Jackson State, on Oct. 17 at 3 p.m. to continue the 2026 ESPN schedule. It’ll be the Jackson State Tigers’ homecoming game. The specific network is to be announced.
The Rattlers’ season finale and most anticipated game, Orlando’s Florida Classic, will air on ESPN+ against longtime rivals Bethune-Cookman on Nov. 21. The kickoff time is TBA.
The remaining televised FAMU football games will be on the free HBCU GO platform.
FAMU and Tennessee State will renew their Atlanta Football Classic rivalry with a home-and-home series starting at Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium on Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. on HBCU GO.
Led by the defending SWAC Offensive Player of the Year quarterback Andrew Body, Alabama State has selected the Rattlers as its homecoming opponent on Oct. 10 at 3 p.m., another HBCU GO game.
Alabama State quarterback Andrew Body (1) celebrates his rushing touchdown against Alabama A&M during the Magic City Classic at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., on Oct. 25, 2025.
FAMU’s 2026 homecoming game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Oct. 24 at 3 p.m. gets HBCU GO treatment alongside the Halloween matchup with the Southern Jaguars on Oct. 31 at 3 p.m.
The non-televised Rattler games are the season opener at home against Albany State on Aug. 29, Alabama A&M on Sept. 26, Alcorn State on Nov. 7, and Mississippi Valley State on Nov. 14. Those could potentially get picked up by SWAC TV.
Florida A&M fans cheer for the Ratters after scoring a touchdown Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025.
Florida A&M football 2026 schedule
All times are Eastern
Saturday, Aug. 29: vs. Albany State, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 6: vs. South Carolina State, Orange Blossom Classic at Miami Gardens’ Hard Rock Stadium, 3 p.m., ESPNU
Thursday, Sept. 10: at Miami, 8 p.m., ACC Network
Saturday, Sept. 19: vs. Tennessee State, 7 p.m., HBCU GO
Saturday, Sept. 26: vs. Alabama A&M (SWAC), 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 10: at Alabama State (SWAC), 3 p.m., HBCU GO
Saturday, Oct. 17: at Jackson State (SWAC), 3 p.m., ESPN Network
Saturday, Oct. 24: vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (SWAC/Homecoming), 3 p.m., HBCU GO
Saturday, Oct. 31: vs. Southern (SWAC), 3 p.m., HBCU GO
Saturday, Nov. 7: at Alcorn State (SWAC), 3 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 14: vs. Mississippi Valley State (SWAC), 3 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 21: vs. Bethune-Cookman (SWAC/Florida Classic), ESPN+
Gerald Thomas, III, is a multi-time national award-winning reporter for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.
Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU football 2026 schedule: Homecoming, Florida Classic picked for TV