SWAC Football Came Out Swinging | SheLovesThee Podcast
HBCU football delivered fireworks in Week 0! From breakout performances to game-changing plays, see the SWAC stars who stole the spotlight and what’s ahead for Week 1.
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SWAC Week 0 Players of the Week
Tap a player to see their stats and signature moment
🏃🏾 Athean Renfro Jr.
Texas Southern • RB • Senior
W 42–30 vs NCCU
Renfro powered Texas Southern's ground attack with 163 rushing yards on just 18 carries, averaging 9.1 yards per attempt.
Signature Moment
His 45-yard run helped set the tone as Texas Southern rushed for 294 yards as a team and knocked off North Carolina Central 42–30.
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HBCU Football Came Out SWINGING: SWAC Week 0 Sets the Stage for a Loaded Week 1
If Week 0 was supposed to be the appetizer, somebody forgot to tell HBCU football.
The opening weekend of the 2026 season delivered explosive offenses, breakout performances, rivalry drama and games that came down to the final minutes. Texas Southern delivered a 42-30 statement win over North Carolina Central, while Jackson State survived Tennessee State 26-24 in Nashville.
Now four players who helped make Week 0 electrifying have earned the first SWAC weekly honors of 2026.
🐅 Athean Renfro Jr. Runs Wild for Texas Southern
SWAC Offensive Player of the Week — Renfro carried the ball 18 times for 163 yards and a touchdown, averaging 9.1 yards per carry as Texas Southern piled up 294 rushing yards in its 42-30 victory over North Carolina Central. Coming off an 835-yard 2025 campaign, the senior opened 2026 with an immediate statement.
🐅 Keith Bass Jr. Makes the Game-Winning Defensive Play
SWAC Defensive Player of the Week — Jackson State's 26-24 John Merritt Classic win over Tennessee State was a dog fight. Bass finished with six tackles, three solo stops, 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack. When Tennessee State had one final opportunity, Bass delivered the game-winning defensive tackle that helped Jackson State shut the door in Nashville.
🦁 Demetric Whitlock Announces Himself as the Newcomer
SWAC Newcomer of the Week — Five catches. 160 yards. Three touchdowns. Whitlock made a huge first impression in his Arkansas-Pine Bluff debut, including a 94-yard touchdown reception. He added scoring catches of 13 and 39 yards as UAPB defeated Morehouse 35-15.
🦵 Andrew “AI” Ivaniciuc Was a Game Changer
SWAC Special Teams Player of the Week — The freshman kicker accounted for 12 of Jackson State's 26 points in his collegiate debut. Ivaniciuc went 4-for-5 on field goals, connected from 45 yards, drilled a career-long 51-yarder and then hit the 21-yard go-ahead field goal with 2:31 remaining.
That kind of range can change how a coaching staff approaches fourth down, field position and scoring opportunities once the offense crosses midfield.
🔥 Week 0 Was Fun. Week 1 Turns the Temperature Up.
Jackson State returns to action against Edward Waters in the HOPE Labor Day Classic. Texas Southern gets an immediate conference test against Prairie View A&M after its statement win over NCCU. Across the league, Week 1 gives the SWAC another chance to show that the energy of opening weekend was only the beginning.
🗣️ THEE CHAT
Which Week 0 performance impressed you the most?
🏃🏾 Athean Renfro Jr. — 163 rushing yards, TD
🧱 Keith Bass Jr. — 6 tackles, 1.5 TFL, sack + game-winning defensive tackle
⚡ Demetric Whitlock — 160 receiving yards, 3 TDs
🦵 Andrew “AI” Ivaniciuc — 4 field goals, 51-yard long + go-ahead kick
After what you saw in Week 0, which SWAC team are you looking at differently heading into Week 1?
By SheLovesThee Team