PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas — The Prairie View A&M football team took another step toward the 2026 season Saturday, holding its second preseason scrimmage while welcoming former Panther football players back to The Hill as part of Alumni Day.

With the season opener approaching, the second scrimmage provided head coach Tremaine Jackson and his staff another opportunity to evaluate the roster, build depth and identify the group that will make up the core of this year's team.

Jackson saw progress from the Panthers, particularly in their ability to move the football and operate at a faster pace.

"I think we made some improvements on moving the ball," Jackson said. "Offensively, we moved the ball earlier better. I thought the first group did a really good job. They started faster than they did a week ago, but then it kind of stalled out. Overall, I think we just got better from an operational standpoint."

The Panthers also played more snaps than they did during the first scrimmage, giving coaches an extended look at players competing for positions throughout the roster.

Penalties, however, remained an area of emphasis.

"We still had too many penalties," Jackson said. "I told the referees to be really ticky-tacky about that, and they were. So we've got to really go to work on that."

The biggest growth Jackson saw came from the skill positions, where several players made plays with the ball in their hands. While the line play remained consistent, the coaching staff also identified opportunities for improvement in the secondary, particularly when defending in space.

"I thought a lot of guys made plays with the ball in their hand," Jackson said. "We saw some guys on the back end of the defense that didn't make plays in some space that they're weren't use to being in. So we've got to get that cleaned up."

As preseason camp moves closer to its final stages, the evaluation process is becoming increasingly important. Jackson said the Panthers have worked with a roster of more than 100 players throughout camp, but the coaching staff must now begin narrowing that group to the players who can consistently contribute.

"We've been playing with 110, 111 guys, trying to get some evaluations," Jackson said. "Now we've got to get to 75, 80 guys that can be consistent contributors to us. We still need help everywhere, but we can do it with a certain group of guys now that we know we've honed in on those 75, 80 guys."

Through two scrimmages, Jackson has been encouraged by the physicality and depth of his team.

"I think we're tough," he said. "We like to hit people, which is always a plus. But I also think that we've got some guys that can make some plays in some spaces. So we've got to find a way to get the ball to those guys."

Several position groups have stood out during camp, including the tight ends, running backs and defensive line.

Jackson has been particularly impressed with the versatility of the tight end room, while the running back position has developed into one of the team's deepest groups. The defensive line has also provided the Panthers with added depth up front.

"I'm really, really impressed by our tight end room," Jackson said. "I think that's a versatile group of guys. We can create some match up issues for people there, and those guys know how to make plays on the ball. The running back room is probably as deep as it's ever been. The D-line room is really deep compared to what we were used to around here."

While the Panthers continue to prepare for the upcoming season, Saturday's scrimmage also provided an opportunity to connect the current team with the program's history.

Former Prairie View A&M football players returned to campus to spend time with the current Panthers, sharing experiences and connecting with the next generation of players.

Jackson believes the relationship between former players and the current program is an important part of building a championship culture.

"As an alum, you've got a responsibility to give back what was given to you," Jackson said. "How those guys show up and be here, that's really big. They get the chance to connect with our young people."

The Alumni Day gathering carried additional significance as Prairie View A&M celebrates its 150th anniversary. The program's football history dates back to 1903, providing the current Panthers with more than a century of tradition to carry forward.

Jackson emphasized that understanding that history is an important part of understanding what it means to wear the Prairie View A&M uniform.

"We're in the 150th year of our institution. We've been playing football since 1903," Jackson said. "It's really important that these guys to understand who came before them and what they're carrying as they move forward."

The alumni presence represented generations of Prairie View A&M football, from members of the 1962 NAIA National Championship team to more recent Panthers who helped establish the foundation for the program's current direction.

Jackson believes those connections give current players perspective on both where the program has been and where it is headed.

"You've got guys in the room that won the 1962 National Championship," Jackson said. "You've got a wide range of people who understand where your program has been, and then they give them a chance to understand where the program is going."

As the Panthers move toward the start of the season, Jackson wants his team to carry the identity it has established throughout preseason camp.

"The way that we ball," Jackson said. "They've got to understand we choose hard. We do things the hard way. We're going to be in your face, aggressive. We're not going to shy away from anybody or anything."

For Jackson, that mentality extends beyond the football field.

"They need to carry that with them for the rest of their life," he said. "It's a really big deal to me that they understand that they get life lessons, not just football lessons. If we do it right in football and they can carry it over to their life, then now we've done it right on both sides."

With another scrimmage in the books and the roster evaluation process entering its next phase, the Panthers will continue to sharpen the details, establish their final personnel and prepare for the challenges ahead.

"When we walk into the season, we expect to be successful," Jackson said.

The Panthers first game is set for week zero August 29, 2026 versus Tarleton for the Chancellor Cup Championship held in Stephensville, Texas for a 8:00 pm first kick.