• The road to the 2018 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Football Championship and the opportunity to play in the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl will come to an end this weekend, as the final full weekend of MEAC football will take place. Entering Saturday’s games, only Florida A&M (FAMU) and North Carolina A&T State (NCAT) will have an opportunity to clinch a berth in the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl, while both teams also have an opportunity to win an outright MEAC championship. Bethune-Cookman and South Carolina State have a chance to win a share of the title if both FAMU and NCAT lose but neither team can clinch a bid to the bowl game due to the tiebreaker scenarios.

• For the first time since 2015, the MEAC Champion will have at least one loss. In 2015, three teams with one loss shared the title while five teams with two losses in 2014 were crowned co-champions. There are a pair of one loss teams remaining (NCAT/FAMU) as both could drop an additional game this weekend to finish 5-2.

• Florida A&M still controls its own destiny as they need only one win to clinch a share of the MEAC Championship and a berth in the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl. It would mark their first title since capturing a share of the MEAC crown since 2010. FAMU hasn’t won an outright title since 2001 as two more losses by North Carolina A&T State and a FAMU win on Nov. 17 would accomplish that feat.

• North Carolina A&T State was picked to defend its MEAC Football Championship. The Aggies have not won consecutive MEAC Championships since the 1991 and 1992 campaigns. Howard University was predicted to place second in head coach Mike London’s second season followed by N.C. Central in third place and Bethune-Cookman in fourth. Florida A&M was picked fifth followed by Norfolk State, South Carolina State, Savannah State, Morgan State and Delaware State.

•Name tags are needed this season as five MEAC teams feature new head coaches. Delaware State, Florida A&M, Morgan State, N.C. A&T State and N.C. Central will have new leaders. Both head coaches at Morgan State and NCCU coaches have the interim tag attached.

• The MEAC’s streak of FBS wins continues for the third straight year after North Carolina A&T State’s win over East Carolina on Sept. 2. The MEAC picked up two FBS wins last season (2017) as North Carolina A&T State defeated Charlotte (Conference USA) while Howard defeated UNLV. The 2016 North Carolina A&T State win over Kent State was the Aggies’ first FBS win in school history and the first MEAC FBS win since Bethune-Cookman defeated C-USA’s Florida International 14-12 in 2014.

• North Carolina A&T State remains the lone MEAC team ranked amongst FCS teams. The Aggies are now ranked No. 12 in the STATS FCS and 13th in the latest FCS Coaches polls.

•North Carolina A&T State University quarterback Lamar Raynard was selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while N.C. Central defensive back Davanta Reynolds was selected as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

• History suggests a team has to win its conference opener in order to chart its path to the MEAC Championship. The last championship team which opened with a league loss was Bethune-Cookman in 2015 as they fell to N.C. Central. North Carolina A&T State, BCU and NCCU all tied for a share of the title in 2015.

• The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced a partnership with the MEAC to reveal the league’s offensive and defensive players of the year as part of the festivities surrounding the 61st NFF Annual Awards Dinner Dec. 4 at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York City. This marks the third consecutive year the players will be honored in New York.

• The 14th annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge saw North Carolina Central fall to Prairie View A&M on Sunday, Sept. 2. The SWAC holds a two-game winning streak for the first time in series history.

• The winner of the MEAC’s regular season title will earn a bid to the 4th annual Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl in Atlanta, Ga. on Dec. 15 at Mercedes Benz Stadium. The bowl, which pits the MEAC Champion versus the SWAC Champion, is the only FCS league to host a bowl game as the MEAC leads the series 2-1.