Big Dreams & Bright Lights! Inside The Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kick-Off Between Howard University & Alabama A&M In Atlanta [Exclusive]

There’s nothing like HBCU football season–the official last call for summer fundays and beginning of the rollout to the greatest Homecomings on Earth and beyond.

With seas of Howard and Alabama A&M alumni flooding downtown Atlanta, there was no bigger ticket in town than the Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kick-Off between the Bisons and Bulldogs who set the tone for the 2026 season.

According to Sports Illustrated, the marquee matchup amassed an impressive 1.2 million viewers as one of ESPN’s most-watched college football games of the opening weekend.

Bustling with their signature school pride, Howard fans roared as their team made key plays to secure a 31-24 victory over Alabama A&M in the thrilling season-opener that exceeded the hype.

And yes, both bands showed up and showed out at halftime with stadium-rocking performances that elevated the already immaculate vibes.

Powered by Cricket Wireless, the annual event marked the latest collaboration between the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and its official wireless sponsor dedicated to empowering HBCU student-athletes and the communities connected to them.

Whether it’s on the playing field, in the classroom or in the community, Cricket Wireless proudly supports HBCU programs through sponsorships and dynamic initiatives like the HBCU Campus Ambassador Program designed to inspire the next generation of Black leaders by connecting them with their passions along the way.

An inspiration on and off the football field, Alabama A&M kicker David Faulk exemplifies the ideal Campus Ambassador with the foresight, work ethic, and support system to thrive in the year-long, paid initiative that enriches HBCU students with real-world marketing experience, mentorship, and professional growth.

A star in the making, we caught up with the newly minted Campus Ambassador who opened up about the inclusive program and more in our sideline interview after the game.

“I’m trying to grow my personal brand, and I was looking for companies that align with that and Cricket Wireless, I feel like, is a perfect fit because both of our brand pillars are connectivity and reliability,” said Faulk about what attracted him to the program. “As a kicker, I have to be reliable every single day, and every time you use Cricket Wireless, it’s reliable. That’s the main reason.”

For David, the experience of attending AAMU–the largest HBCU in Alabama and one of only three HBCUs among the top 50 producers of Black STEM graduates–has been ‘amazing’ as his legacy at the storied institution continues to grow.

“It’s amazing being on a campus that wants to see me succeed,” he said. “I’ve had very good connections and everyone’s been very open to helping me. It’s been an amazing experience.”

In only his third year as a kicker after starring at soccer, David embraces pressure as a privilege while playing a critical position that can win or lose games.

“The newest thing I’ve started doing is journaling,” he said about his winning routine. “I journal every single day. I journal before the game, I journal on the bus after the game, I just write down my thoughts. I do affirmations, too, saying I’m going to make my kicks, God put me here for a reason. I have full faith in the Lord and everything is in his hands. That helps me a lot.”

Check out more photos from Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kick-Off below:

For more info on Cricket’s Campus Ambassador program, click here.