Much excitement surrounds Florida A&M football’s 2026 season.
This fall, the Rattlers will feature a new head coach, Quinn Fordham Gray Sr., who starred at quarterback for the Historically Black College and University from 1998 to 2001 before heading to the National Football League.
Gray takes over his alma mater in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision ranks after spending three seasons at the Division II level at Albany State, where he won a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title and the Black College National Championship.
Gray’s FAMU roster includes standout players like quarterback Isaiah Knowles and running back Jamal Hailey on offense, as well as the defensive end tandem of Caden Brown and Antonio Camon Jr.
The season starts at home on Aug. 29 against Albany State on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium.
Florida A&M Rattlers quarterback Armond Parker warms up for the 'Friday Night Strike' Orange and Green Spring Football Game on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, April 3, 2026.The Florida A&M Rattlers hosted their 'Friday Night Strike' Orange and Green Spring Football Game on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, April 3, 2026.Florida A&M Rattlers quarterback James Hayes warms up for the 'Friday Night Strike' Orange and Green Spring Football Game on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, April 3, 2026.Florida A&M Rattlers quarterback James Hayes warms up for the 'Friday Night Strike' Orange and Green Spring Football Game on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, April 3, 2026.Florida A&M Rattlers quarterback Isaiah Knowles warms up for the 'Friday Night Strike' Orange and Green Spring Football Game on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, April 3, 2026.Florida A&M Rattlers head coach Quinn Gray Sr. leads his team during warmups for the 'Friday Night Strike' Orange and Green Spring Football Game on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, April 3, 2026.Florida A&M Rattlers defensive back Daylyn Ditson during the 'Friday Night Strike' Orange and Green Spring Football Game on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, April 3, 2026.Florida A&M Rattlers wide receiver Quan Lee warms up for the 'Friday Night Strike' Orange and Green Spring Football Game on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, April 3, 2026.Florida A&M Rattlers wide receiver Quan Lee warms up for the 'Friday Night Strike' Orange and Green Spring Football Game on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, April 3, 2026.The Florida A&M Rattlers hosted their 'Friday Night Strike' Orange and Green Spring Football Game on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, April 3, 2026.Florida A&M Rattlers head coach Quinn Gray Sr. leads his team during warmups for the 'Friday Night Strike' Orange and Green Spring Football Game on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, April 3, 2026.Florida A&M Rattlers head coach Quinn Gray Sr. leads his team during warmups for the 'Friday Night Strike' Orange and Green Spring Football Game on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, April 3, 2026.Florida A&M Rattlers head coach Quinn Gray Sr. leads his team during warmups for the 'Friday Night Strike' Orange and Green Spring Football Game on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, April 3, 2026.1 / 13FAMU football's spring game 2026: 'Friday Night Strike' in photosFlorida A&M Rattlers quarterback Armond Parker warms up for the 'Friday Night Strike' Orange and Green Spring Football Game on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, April 3, 2026.1 / 13FAMU football's spring game 2026: 'Friday Night Strike' in photosFlorida A&M Rattlers quarterback Armond Parker warms up for the 'Friday Night Strike' Orange and Green Spring Football Game on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, April 3, 2026.2 / 13FAMU football's spring game 2026: 'Friday Night Strike' in photosThe Florida A&M Rattlers hosted their 'Friday Night Strike' Orange and Green Spring Football Game on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, April 3, 2026.3 / 13FAMU football's spring game 2026: 'Friday Night Strike' in photosFlorida A&M Rattlers quarterback James Hayes warms up for the 'Friday Night Strike' Orange and Green Spring Football Game on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, April 3, 2026.4 / 13FAMU football's spring game 2026: 'Friday Night Strike' in photosFlorida A&M Rattlers quarterback James Hayes warms up for the 'Friday Night Strike' Orange and Green Spring Football Game on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, April 3, 2026.5 / 13FAMU football's spring game 2026: 'Friday Night Strike' in photosFlorida A&M Rattlers quarterback Isaiah Knowles warms up for the 'Friday Night Strike' Orange and Green Spring Football Game on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, April 3, 2026.6 / 13FAMU football's spring game 2026: 'Friday Night Strike' in photosFlorida A&M Rattlers head coach Quinn Gray Sr. leads his team during warmups for the 'Friday Night Strike' Orange and Green Spring Football Game on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, April 3, 2026.7 / 13FAMU football's spring game 2026: 'Friday Night Strike' in photosFlorida A&M Rattlers defensive back Daylyn Ditson during the 'Friday Night Strike' Orange and Green Spring Football Game on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, April 3, 2026.8 / 13FAMU football's spring game 2026: 'Friday Night Strike' in photosFlorida A&M Rattlers wide receiver Quan Lee warms up for the 'Friday Night Strike' Orange and Green Spring Football Game on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, April 3, 2026.9 / 13FAMU football's spring game 2026: 'Friday Night Strike' in photosFlorida A&M Rattlers wide receiver Quan Lee warms up for the 'Friday Night Strike' Orange and Green Spring Football Game on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, April 3, 2026.10 / 13FAMU football's spring game 2026: 'Friday Night Strike' in photosThe Florida A&M Rattlers hosted their 'Friday Night Strike' Orange and Green Spring Football Game on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, April 3, 2026.11 / 13FAMU football's spring game 2026: 'Friday Night Strike' in photosFlorida A&M Rattlers head coach Quinn Gray Sr. leads his team during warmups for the 'Friday Night Strike' Orange and Green Spring Football Game on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, April 3, 2026.12 / 13FAMU football's spring game 2026: 'Friday Night Strike' in photosFlorida A&M Rattlers head coach Quinn Gray Sr. leads his team during warmups for the 'Friday Night Strike' Orange and Green Spring Football Game on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, April 3, 2026.13 / 13FAMU football's spring game 2026: 'Friday Night Strike' in photosFlorida A&M Rattlers head coach Quinn Gray Sr. leads his team during warmups for the 'Friday Night Strike' Orange and Green Spring Football Game on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, April 3, 2026.The Rattlers are on an NCAA-imposed postseason ban due to low Academic Progress Rate scores, but that doesn’t mean they can’t spend the fall playing spoiler to Southwestern Athletic Conference and FCS playoff hopefuls.
How many wins will FAMU football get under former superstar quarterback-turned-head coach Gray?
Sunday, Sept. 6: vs. South Carolina State, Orange Blossom Classic at Miami Gardens' Hard Rock Stadium
Saturday, Oct. 24: vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (SWAC/Homecoming)
Saturday, Nov. 14: vs. Mississippi Valley State (SWAC)
Saturday, Nov. 21: vs. Bethune-Cookman (SWAC/Florida Classic)
Gerald Thomas, III, is a multi-time national award-winning reporter for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.
Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida A&M football's 2026 schedule win-loss record. Fans vote here