​The 2026 college football season opens with Florida A&M hosting the Albany State Golden Rams on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium.On paper, the Rattlers have the clear advantage as an NCAA Division I team, a part of the Football Championship Subdivision, compared to Albany State’s Division II status. But having more depth and higher levels of talent won’t guarantee the Rattlers a victory this Saturday, Aug. 29.Just a year ago, FAMU head coach Quinn Fordham Gray Sr. was leading Albany State, his third and final season there. When the teams met in 2025, Gray’s Albany State squad put FAMU on upset alert, building a 14-3 lead, but ultimately faltering 33-25.David Bowser is now Albany State’s head coach.All-time, the Rattlers hold a 13-3 advantage over the Golden Rams, according to College Football Results.Who will win this round in the Week 0 regional Black College Football matchup?Let’s meet the teams.FAMU football vs Albany State: Tale of the tapeStarting with the Golden Rams, they have a new starting quarterback in Jeffrey ‘JD’ Davis II, a junior transfer from Alabama A&M. Coincidentally, he replaces FAMU’s starter, Isaiah Knowles, who won consecutive Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year awards in 2024 and 2025 for the Golden Rams.Davis played in four games at Alabama A&M, completing 18-of-32 passes, tossing two touchdowns, and three interceptions.Defensively, Albany State’s “Dirty Blue Defense” is led by Derrick Drayton, a redshirt senior defensive lineman who didn’t transfer after Gray’s departure to FAMU. In 2025, Drayton had 32 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, and forced two fumbles, recovering both. He was named to the All-SIAC first team. Albany State’s other all-conference player is return man Cameron Watts.The Rattlers are adopting a fast-paced offense, similar to the Gulf Coast Offense, with Knowles running the show. The quarterback is equipped with a speedy running back, Jamal Hailey, who scored nine all-purpose touchdowns last season. Wide receivers listed as starters are Jamar Taylor Jr. and former Albany State players Kieren Jackson and Corey ‘Deuce’ Petty.FAMU hopes its beloved “Dark Cloud Defense” returns under new coordinator Ryan Lewis Sr. The reemergence starts up front, with last season’s team sack leader, defensive end Antonio Camon Jr., recording four sacks, and returning starter Daryl ‘DJ’ Jones.It’ll create quite an intriguing matchup between the Rattlers and the Golden Rams.FAMU football vs Albany State final score predictionGerald Thomas III score prediction: 34-13Reasoning: Saturday is not a guaranteed win for the Rattlers, but the chances for failure are unlikely. Though two new head coaches are debuting, FAMU has a clear advantage, as its coach-quarterback already understands the system that made their tenure at Albany State successful. The Golden Rams have to get their starting quarterback acclimated, which could