CollegeFootballDigestfrom CooperSearch

2026 North Carolina Central

2–⁠5.

Schedule and results

North Carolina Central in 2026, game by game: lost at Texas Southern 30–42; won vs. Elizabeth City State 27–6; won vs. North Carolina A&T 30–22; lost at Gardner-Webb 20–44; lost at East Carolina 9–42; lost vs. Campbell 31–38; lost vs. William & Mary 14–17+21−33Lost 30–42 at Texas Southern-12Texas SouthernWon 27–6 vs. Elizabeth City State+21Elizabeth City …Won 30–22 vs. North Carolina A&T+8North Carolina …Lost 20–44 at Gardner-Webb-24Gardner-WebbLost 9–42 at East Carolina-33East CarolinaLost 31–38 vs. Campbell-7CampbellLost 14–17 vs. William & Mary-3William & Mary
Each game’s margin, wins above the line and losses below.
DateOpponentResultElo
Aug 29atTexas SouthernL 30–⁠4256%
Sep 5vsElizabeth City StateW 27–⁠685%
Sep 12vsNorth Carolina A&TW 30–⁠2284%
Sep 19atGardner-WebbL 20–⁠4453%
Sep 26atEast CarolinaL 9–⁠4217%
Oct 3vsCampbellL 31–⁠3859%
Oct 10vsWilliam & MaryL 14–⁠1764%
Oct 23atDelaware StatePreview38%
Oct 31vsHowardPreview61%
Nov 7atNorfolk StatePreview46%
Nov 14atSouth Carolina StatePreview25%
Nov 21vsMorgan StatePreview54%

Elo: a pregame chance from scores alone.

Record
2–⁠5
Conference
—
AP now
Unranked
Points
161–⁠211
Coach
—
Elo
1260 −103 this season
SP+ rating
—
SRS
−45.1 No. 109 of 128 in FCS
Recruiting class
—
Offensive coordinator
Chris Barnette
Defensive coordinator
Tommy Thigpen

Leaders

Passing yardsNelson Layne QB781 yds
Passing touchdownsNelson Layne QB4 TD
Rushing yardsPlez Lawrence RB317 yds
Rushing touchdownsNelson Layne QB4 TD
Receiving yardsChance Peterson WR348 yds
Receiving touchdownsBrendon Wyatt RB1 TD
TacklesJoshua Truesdale DB52 tkl
SacksZarion Walters DL6 sacks
InterceptionsJakarri Martin II DB2 INT

Roster 101

The 2026 roster

101 players, with numbers, heights, hometowns and each player’s 2026 line; 59 have a stat line. See the roster

Transfers in 3

The 2026 portal
Taeshawn Alston DE★★★from South Carolina
Jeremiah Laguerre LB★★★from St. Thomas
K.J. Liles DLfrom App State

Transfers out 9

Ja’Quan Sprinkle OL★★★to LSU
Thomas Johnson DE★★★to Cincinnati
Trevon Humphrey OT★★★to Boston College
Refeno Vangates WR★★★to Liberty
Wisdom Simms DL★★★to Purdue
Tomondrey Braxton CB★★★to Bowling Green
Donquarius Parker DLno new school on file
Eric Adams Sto App State
Malcolm Reed Sno new school on file