The Florida A&M Rattlers will open the 2026 campaign on August 29 with a Week 0 contest against Albany State, marking the start of a new era for the program.
Under first‑year head coach Quinn Fordham Gray Sr., the Rattlers hope to rebound from a 5‑7 season in 2025 and the departure of James Colzie III, who guided the team through a turbulent year.
Gray brings a proven track record, having led Albany State to a program‑record 12 wins and a Division II Black College Football Championship during his tenure from 2023 to 2025.
The Rattlers will navigate a 12‑game schedule that is fully televised or streamed, facing a slate of SWAC rivals and non‑conference opponents that includes South Carolina State, Miami, Tennessee State, Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Jackson State, Arkansas‑Pine Bluff, Southern, Alcorn State, Mississippi Valley State, and a much‑anticipated Florida Classic against Bethune‑Cookman on November 21.
Key contributors returning from the previous roster include running back Jamal Hailey, defensive end Antonio Camon Jr., and a host of other athletes such as Armand Burris and Gerald Thomas III, all of whom will be looked to stabilize a unit eager to shed the losing streak that plagued the 2025 campaign.
Looking ahead
Despite an NCAA Level Two postseason ban stemming from Academic Progress Rate concerns, the team’s official win projections range from 7‑5 to 9‑3, and the coaching staff remains focused on building momentum toward a competitive finish.