GAME: Johnson C. Smith at Benedict
Time: 5 p.m.
Tickets, parking, tailgate: Benedicttickets.com
Watch: TheSIACNetwork.tv
Live Stats: Benedict Live Stats

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- In one of the most highly anticipated season opening football games in Benedict football history, the Tigers open the 2026 season on Saturday against the defending CIAA champion Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls in the Battle of the Border Classic at 5 p.m. in Charlie W. Johnson Stadium.

The Tigers, coming off an impressive 10-3 season which saw them advance to the SIAC championship game and win their first-ever NCAA playoff game, enter this year with equally high expectations. Benedict was picked to finish second in the SIAC race, behind Edward Waters. They also start the season ranked second in the inaugural Division II Black College Football Poll, behind this week's opponent, Johnson C. Smith. The Golden Bulls are also ranked No. 23 nationally in the D2 AFCA Coaches Poll.

The contest will feature a pair of head coaches who have quickly built powerhouse programs. Benedict's Ron Dickerson Jr. followed the two-year championship run by Chennis Berry, but had to rebuild the program after stepping into a depleted roster. He was able to take the Tigers back to the SIAC championship game in just his second season. Johnson C. Smith football had traditionally not been successful until coach Maurice Flowers took over the program in 2022. In four years, he has taken the Golden Bulls to new heights, going an impressive 25-8 over the past three seasons.

"I'm encouraging everybody to come out because you're going to see great football," Dickerson said at last week's Battle of the Border press conference. "As Coach (Flowers) mentioned, they are very good. They have a great team. He has earned the rankings that he gets, but as Coach knows, on Saturday the 29th, we both have brand-new teams. The one thing that we both—and I'm speaking for Coach because I know Coach—we're going to put two great teams out there. And that's what's the most important thing. It's going to be exciting."

"We took over a program that for 40 years had averaged 2.3 wins a year, and in the last four seasons we've turned that thing around," Flowers said. "It didn't come by anything less than hard work."

Flowers is also impressed with the job Dickerson has done at Benedict in a short time.

"It's not a secret a bunch of players were gone when coach (Dickerson) came in," Flowers said. "For him to come in and do the things that he's done in his short period of time, that's what I think is the value of a coach. The value of a coach is, you could put a program on cruise control if you've got talent every year. The real test of a coach and his staff is, can you develop a program and develop players? Coach Dickerson definitely is a builder and a developer of players."

Benedict returns five preseason All-SIAC players, including three on their deep and veteran offensive line. They will protect new quarterback Jett Peddy, a transfer from Florida A&M, and pave the way for a strong stable of running backs, including David Smith, the reigning SIAC champion in the 100-meter dash. Dickerson and his staff had to replenish the entire roster of wide receivers, but he has said this may be the best group of receivers he has ever coached.

Last year, the Tigers led the nation in scoring defense and ranked among the leaders in multiple other defensive categories. Expect the Tigers to be strong once again on the defensive side.

That defense will have a big job slowing down the Golden Bulls. They bring back six preseason All-CIAA performers, including running back Bobby Smith, who rushed for nearly 1,000 yards last season. The Golden Bulls also added Allen transfer Fabian Duncan, who finished with more than 1,100 yards last season for the Yellow Jackets. They also have All-CIAA receiver Brian Lane, named to the HBCU Player of the Year watch list, and a new 6-foot-7 transfer quarterback. The defense is led by All-CIAA linebacker Vincent Hill.

The buildup for this game has been growing. Both Benedict and Johnson C. Smith personnel see this as a chance to build this contest into one of the biggest HBCU rivalry classics.

"I've played in some and I've coached in some really great HBCU games," Dickerson said. "I coached when we were at Alabama State in the Turkey Day Classic. I coached in the Magic City Classic. When I was at Jackson State, we went up and played Tennessee State. So, there's been a lot of great classics, but we're about to have the two institutions in Johnson C. Smith and Benedict turn this into probably the best one in HBCU football. We're 60 miles apart. You have North Carolina versus South Carolina. So, it's not just Johnson C. Smith versus Benedict. It's state versus state. It's blood versus blood. It's family versus family."