A Historic Preseason Ranking
The inaugural Black College Football preseason poll, released this week, places Florida A&M at No. 10 among the nation’s top programs. The Rattlers earned 32 points in a poll that includes all Southwestern Athletic Conference and Mid‑Eastern Athletic Conference members.
Defending champions South Carolina State captured the top spot with 185 points and 36 first‑place votes, while Prairie View A&M, the 2025 SWAC titleholder, sits second.
A New Era Under Coach Gray
The ranking comes on the heels of a 5‑7 season in 2025 and the hiring of Quinn Fordham Gray Sr. as head coach. Gray, who previously served as an assistant at the university, inherits a roster eager to rebound after a challenging year.
Quarterback Isaiah Knowles and defensive end Antonio Camon Jr. are among the key returners, but the team will be without any preseason All‑SWAC first or second team selections, making the Rattlers the only SWAC program without a player on those lists.
Opening the 2026 Season at Home
The Rattlers open their 2026 campaign on August 29 with a home game against Albany State, kicking off at 7 p.m. The matchup will be streamed on SWAC TV, giving fans an early glimpse of the team’s progress under Gray.
The season will conclude on Saturday, November 21, when Florida A&M travels to Orlando to face Bethune‑Cookman in the annual Florida Classic, a game that traditionally draws a large statewide audience.
Media Day and Representation
At the SWAC Media Day on Wednesday, July 15, in Birmingham, Gray will be joined by Knowles and Camon to speak on behalf of the program. Their presence underscores the team’s intent to make an immediate impact in the upcoming season.
The Rattlers’ schedule also includes a slate of conference opponents such as Jackson State, Alabama State, North Carolina Central, Delaware State, Grambling State, and Texas Southern, each of which brings its own tradition and competitive spirit to the field.