The North Carolina Central University Eagles are set to kick off the 2026 college football season in a unique Week 0 contest against Texas Southern University, scheduled for Saturday at W.W. Thorne Stadium in Durham, North Carolina. The game marks the first-ever meeting between the two programs and arrives as both squads look to build on recent progress.
Coaches and storylines
Head coach Trei Oliver, now in his fourth year at NCCU, has guided the Eagles to four consecutive seasons with eight or more wins, a streak that includes an 8‑win campaign in 2025 and a 5‑1 record in road games last year. Across the field, Texas Southern enters its third season under head coach Cris Dishman, who posted a 6‑5 record in 2025 and is working to elevate a program that finished the season with a 6‑5 overall slate.
Among the key returners for the Eagles is wide receiver Chance Peterson, who earned MEAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year honors and led the team in receiving yards last season. The offensive line, which ranked second in the MEAC for yards per game and allowed the fewest sacks, should provide Peterson with ample protection as he looks to extend his impact.
The matchup also adds a layer of regional intrigue, pitting the Eagles against a Texas Southern team that boasts preseason all‑conference selections Kordell Rodgers, Jayden Daniels and Roriyon Richardson. Both schools have a history of competing against other SWAC members, with NCCU having faced a conference opponent each of the past four seasons.
Fans can expect a high‑energy atmosphere as the game serves as an early barometer for both teams’ non‑conference ambitions. With the Eagles’ recent success against North Carolina rivals such as Fayetteville State and North Carolina A&T, the contest promises to be a showcase of rising talent and strategic adjustments under new leadership.