Norfolk State to Open 2026 Season at Home vs. Winston‑Salem State

Norfolk State will open its 2026 season at William "Dick" Price Stadium against Winston‑Salem State on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, the school announced following an initial report by FBSchedules. The home opener is notable as the first meeting between the programs since 2008 and gives the Spartans an early chance to set a tone under second‑year head coach Michael Vick.

Vick returns after a difficult 2025 campaign in which Norfolk State went 1-11, with its lone win coming in overtime against Virginia State University. Sports Yahoo framed the matchup as a key moment for Vick, writing, "The game will be significant for Vick as he looks to rebuild momentum after a disappointing season in 2025. He looks to change the strategy for his Spartans after going 1‑11, with their only win coming against rival Virginia State University in an overtime thriller." The Spartans face a tough early stretch on the road at FBS opponents Old Dominion on Sept. 5 and Virginia on Sept. 12, making the Aug. 29 home date against Winston‑Salem State a valuable opportunity for confidence and roster evaluation.

Winston‑Salem State competes in Division II's Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association and finished 4-6 overall and 2-5 in league play in 2025. Sports Yahoo notes that "Winston‑Salem State is now led by former Norfolk State Special Teams coordinator Tory Woodbury." The matchup carries personal weight for Woodbury: "The game also has significance for Woodbury as, not only is he facing his former employer and a fellow NFL star, it also will be his first game coaching his alma mater." As a player at Winston‑Salem State, Woodbury "threw for over 4,500 yards and rushing for over 1,000 yards while scoring 60 touchdowns during his college career" and helped the Rams to back-to-back CIAA championships. His NFL stops included the Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, and New York Jets, and he served as Tight Ends coach at Howard in 2024 before moving to Winston‑Salem State.

The programs have a long history. The two schools first met in 1941 and have played 23 times overall; Norfolk State leads the all‑time series 11-7-4, with one additional Norfolk State victory later vacated due to NCAA sanctions. That historical edge adds local spice to a matchup that blends nostalgia with practical roster-building.

Norfolk State described the addition of Winston‑Salem State as completing its non‑conference slate for 2026 on a tentative basis. Other early opponents listed include Old Dominion on Sept. 5, Virginia on Sept. 12, Hampton on Sept. 19, Robert Morris on Oct. 3, North Carolina A&T on Oct. 17, and Virginia‑Lynchburg on Oct. 10. The full MEAC slate remains unannounced; two conference dates have been confirmed by opponents as road games at South Carolina State on Oct. 24 and at Morgan State on Nov. 14, while Delaware State, North Carolina Central, and Howard are slated to visit Norfolk with dates to be announced.

FBSchedules first reported the matchup on Feb. 6, 2026, and the Norfolk State announcement included a photo credited to Peter Casey‑Imagn Images. Kickoff time and broadcast or ticketing details have not been provided; those items will be important next steps for fans planning to attend the season opener. For Norfolk State, the Rams represent a regional test and a narrative-rich beginning to Vick's second season; for Winston‑Salem State, a win in Norfolk would signal early momentum under Woodbury and validate a program-building push.