Team Gaither edged Team Robinson 27-23 in the 2026 Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl on Saturday at Tulane University, closing out a weeklong celebration of Black excellence with a game defined by timely defense and standout performances.
The fifth annual showcase featured some of the top draft-eligible talent from historically Black colleges and universities, with momentum swings on both sides before Team Gaither secured the victory in the final minutes.
Winston-Salem State University running back JaQuan Kelly, a Winston-Salem native, earned offensive MVP honors after scoring the game’s only two touchdowns by a single player in the HBCU Legacy Bowl. Kelly rushed for 76 yards on 10 carries, providing a consistent spark in the open field.He finished the season 2025 with 650 rushing yards and five touchdowns.
The teams traded touchdowns early and entered halftime tied at 13-13.
Defense ultimately proved its worth, with Team Gaither protecting a 20-13 lead in the third quarter, North Carolina A&T State University cornerback Aaron Harris shifted momentum. Harris jumped a route near his own 30-yard line and returned an interception to the 1-yard line, setting up a touchdown that pushed the lead to two scores.
Later, North Carolina Central University Later, North Carolina Central defensive back Jelani Vassell maintained the lead with an end-zone interception after Team Robinson drove to the 1-yard line
Team Robinson answered with a pick-six late in the third quarter to pull within one possession, but Team Gaither’s defense allowed just three points in the fourth quarter. A fourth-down stop and a strip sack by Delaware State University defensive lineman Quincy Robinson in the final 74 seconds sealed the win.
South Carolina State University defensive lineman Michael Lunz II was named defensive MVP. The Tulane transfer, who ranked fifth in the FCS last season with 19 tackles for loss, including 9.5 sacks, recorded 1.5 sacks and two tackles. He also made a key goal-line stop that set up Vassell’s interception.
Established in 2022, the HBCU Legacy Bowl is organized by the Black College Football Hall of Fame and serves as the centerpiece of a week dedicated to celebrating Black culture and opportunity. The event also features the nation’s largest HBCU career fair.
Hall of Famer Doug Williams, a co-founder of the Black College Football Hall of Fame and the HBCU Legacy Bowl, emphasized the event’s significance during a sideline interview.
“It’s all about an opportunity,” Williams said. “To give them a chance to be seen and give them an opportunity to go out there and perform. If you do that, that’s all people ask for.”
