BOWIE, MD -- A new era of Bowie State football officially begins on Saturday, Sept. 5. The Bulldogs will open the 2026 season on the road against Virginia State at Rogers Stadium in Ettrick, Va., with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m. The match-up will serve as the first CIAA contest of the season for both programs.
When: Saturday, Sept. 5 at 1 p.m. (ET)
Where: Rogers Stadium – Ettrick, Va.
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CIAA Preseason Poll
Bowie State football enters the 2026 season with a chip on its shoulder after being selected eighth in the 2026 CIAA Preseason Predicted Order of Finish back in July. The Bulldogs were voted behind Elizabeth City State and ahead of Bluefield State. For a program with a proud football tradition, the preseason prediction provides added motivation as Bowie State prepares to open a new chapter under first-year head coach Dawson Odums. Rather than allowing a preseason ranking to define the team, the Bulldogs will have an opportunity to rewrite the narrative once the season begins. Three Bulldogs were selected to the 2026 Preseason All-CIAA Team, including junior running back Micah Robinson and defensive linemen Dalan Johnson and Deshawn Willoughby. Robinson returns after earning Second Team All-CIAA honors in 2025, when he led Bowie State with 624 rushing yards and five touchdowns.
 
Looking at the 2026 Schedule
Bowie State enters the 2026 football season with a demanding schedule that will test the Bulldogs early and often. The campaign begins with four consecutive road games, including CIAA rival Virginia State and Division I FCS opponents Delaware State and Alabama A&M before returning to conference play at Elizabeth City State. The Bulldogs return home Oct. 3 to open their four-game home slate against Shaw, followed by key CIAA matchups against Virginia Union and Johnson C. Smith—including the 91st Homecoming on Oct. 24. Bowie State closes the regular season Nov. 7 against Lincoln (PA).With a challenging road stretch, marquee HBCU matchups, and important CIAA contests, the 2026 schedule provides Bowie State with opportunities to compete, build momentum, and position itself for a run at the CIAA Championship. The conference title game is set for Nov. 14 in Durham, N.C.

Bowie State's Offense                                                                                                                                               
One of the most intriguing returning offensive weapons is junior running back Maximus Jones. In 2025, Jones rushed for 572 yards on 128 carries, averaging 4.5 yards per attempt, while leading the Bulldogs with seven rushing touchdowns. He also contributed seven receptions for 82 yards and finished the season with 42 total points. His combination of production and experience gives Bowie State an important piece in the ground game heading into the opener. The Bulldogs also return senior wide receiver Antwain Banks, who emerged as one of Bowie State's most productive playmakers last season. Banks recorded 18 receptions for 230 yards and three touchdowns in 2025, averaging 12.8 yards per catch. He also contributed in the return game, giving the Bulldogs another experienced weapon capable of changing field position and creating explosive plays. At receiver, Challenger Valentine returns after catching 26 passes for 278 yards and a touchdown last season. Carlos Smith also returns after producing 19 receptions for 164 yards and a touchdown, while Michael Estremara enters the season with six games of experience from 2025. Together, the returning receiving corps gives Bowie State a group that has already experienced the speed and physicality of college football and can help ease the transition into a new offensive system.

The Bulldogs Defense                                                                                                                                                   
The Bulldogs will enter the 2026 season with a veteran presence on the defensive side of the football, led by several returning players who gained valuable experience last season. Dalan Johnson, a redshirt senior defensive lineman, returns after recording 24 tackles, five tackles for loss and three sacks in 2025, while senior defensive lineman Deshawn Willoughby also returns after contributing 24 tackles, three tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.                                                                                                                                                                           

New Start for Coach Odums                                                                                                                                      
Bowie State University enters the 2026 football season with a new voice leading the program as Dawson Odums takes over as the Bulldogs' 11th head football coach. Named to the position in February 2026, Odums brings more than 25 years of collegiate coaching experience, and a résumé highlighted by championship success, player development and a strong emphasis on discipline and accountability. With a blend of returning Bulldogs, new talent and an experienced coaching staff, Odums begins his first season in Bowie with the opportunity to establish a new standard for Bulldog football—and to build a program capable of competing for championships in the CIAA. The Bulldogs begin a new chapter under Coach Odums, who inherits a program that finished the 2025 season with a 3-7 overall record and a 2-6 mark in CIAA play, averaging 311.9 yards of total offence and 20.9 points per game.
 
Scouting the Trojans
Playing in front of its home crowd at Rogers Stadium, the Trojans overwhelmed Barton College 44–17, putting together a dominant offensive performance and finishing the night with 470 total yards last week. The victory gave Virginia State an early 1–0 record and plenty of momentum heading into its first CIAA matchup of the season against Bowie State. Quarterback Rahsaan Matthews, Jr. threw for 262 yards and two touchdowns, and Vincent Ordenes along with Jaylen Pretlow earned over 80 receiving yards. The offense was flowing through the entire team as Kevin Gates scored a touchdown and Javon Whitfied rushed for 66 yards. Virginia State University enters its 2026 season looking to build on a 6-4 overall record and 4-3 mark in CIAA play in 2025. The Trojans finished the season on a strong stretch, winning four of their final six games, including a 28-21 road victory over Bowie State on Oct. 11. Virginia State's offense averaged 27.5 points and 420.6 yards per game last season, while the defense held opponents to 24.2 points per contest. Adding an intriguing storyline to the season opener is Virginia State head coach Dr. Henry Frazier III, who is a Bowie State alumnus and former Bulldogs head coach. Frazier, who was named Virginia State's 26th head coach in 2022, previously led Bowie State from 1999 through 2003, making his return to face his alma mater particularly significant. His experience with both programs adds another layer to the matchup and gives the Virginia State-Bowie State rivalry a personal connection when the two teams meet to open the Bulldogs' 2026 season.
 
Up Next
Following Saturday's tilt at Virginia State, the Bulldogs will then travel to Delaware State for 1-of-2 FCS matchups this season. Bowie State and the Hornets will meet on the gridiron for the fourth time since 2021 as DSU holds a slight 2-1 advantage. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m., from Alumni Stadium.
 
For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State Athletics and its 14 varsity sport teams, please visit bsubulldogs.com.