​Voters expect Florida A&M football to be in the bottom half of the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s East division during the 2026 season, as released on Wednesday, July 15, during Media Day in Birmingham, Alabama.The Rattlers were picked fourth out of six teams in the SWAC East in the league’s 2026 predicted order of finish. They received 70 points in the voting panel of head coaches and sports information directors.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe East, in order, is led by Alabama State (131 points, 16 first-place votes), and followed by Jackson State (122 points, seven first-place votes), Bethune-Cookman (71 points), FAMU (70 points), Alabama A&M (66 points), and Mississippi Valley State (29 points).1 / 13Florida 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.(Gerald Thomas, III // Tallahassee Democrat, USA TODAY Co.)In contrast, the SWAC West’s six teams in order of prediction are Prairie View A&M (130 points, 19 first-place votes), Grambling State (93 points, two first-place votes), Alcorn State (90 points, one first-place vote), Texas Southern (79 points, one first-place vote), Southern (65 points, one first-place vote), and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (32 points).That means FAMU received the eighth-most points out of the SWAC’s 12 teams.After their first losing season in nearly a decade last year, going 5-7, the Rattlers haven’t gotten much preseason love as they turn to newly hired head coach and former FAMU record-setting quarterback Quinn Fordham Gray Sr.Quinn Fordham Gray Sr. hosted his first prospect camp as the Florida A&M Rattlers head football coach on FAMU’s campus on Saturday, June 6, 2026. Nearly 400 players participated and worked out in front of the FAMU Rattlers coaching staff.The Rattlers had no players included on the All-SWAC preseason team and also picked 10th in the inaugural Black College Football top-10 poll.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDespite being on an NCAA-imposed Level Two sanctions and a postseason ban due to Academic Progress Rate, FAMU will still have opportunities to prove the doubters wrong.The Rattlers will have 12 regular games and eight SWAC football matchups in the 2026 season.Their season starts in Tallahassee for a non-conference matchup against NCAA Division II’s Albany State on Aug. 29 at Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium at 7 p.m. SWAC games begin with FAMU hosting Alabama A&M on Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.The Rattlers’ season concludes on Nov. 21 against longtime rivals Bethune-Cookman in Orlando’s Florida Classic at Camping World Stadium at 3 p.m.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAll FAMU games will be televised in 2026.The Florida A&M Rattlers defensive back Justin Bostic drops back in coverage during the ‘Friday Night Strike’ Orange and Green Spring Football Game on Ken Riley F