• The 2018 season kicks off with week one as every MEAC team is in action. The 2018 season officially began last weekend as North Carolina A&T State squared off against Jacksonville State in the annual Guardian Credit Union FCS Kickoff in Montgomery, Ala. Week one will be an extended one as Savannah State kicks off on Thursday with the MEAC/SWAC Challenge wrapping the week up on Sunday.
• North Carolina A&T State continued where it left off as they opened the 2018 with a huge 20-17 win over Jacksonville State on Saturday. Jacksonville State was ranked No. 6 entering the season and was the highest ranked opponent N.C. A&T State has ever faced to open the year.
• North Carolina A&T State was picked to defend its MEAC Football Championship as the Aggies received 19 first-place votes and was a unanimous choice to defend their MEAC Championship and represent the league in the annual Celebration Bowl on Dec. 15 in Atlanta, Ga. 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 will be 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 picked up two FBS wins last season as North Carolina A&T State defeated Charlotte (Conference USA) while Howard defeated UNLV. The wins marked the second straight year the conference has earned an FBS win. 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 International14-12 in 2014.
• North Carolina A&T State is the lone MEAC team ranked amongst FCS teams. The Aggies are ranked No. 6 in both the FCS Coaches and STATS FCS 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.
• Last year’s MEAC Champions, North Carolina A&T State, finished the 2017 season with their highest national ranking ever as they finished No. 6 in the NCAA FCS Coaches Poll. They enter the 2018 season with their highest national preseason ranking ever with voters ranking the Aggies preseason No. 14 in the AFCA Coaches Poll. However, the Aggies will feature a new look as head coach Sam Washington takes over for the retired Rod Broadway. Washington was formerly N.C. A&T’s defensive coordinator.
• 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 has a new home as it moves to Atlanta, Ga. The contest will be played at Georgia State Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 2 on ESPN2 and features North Carolina Central versus Prairie View A&M. The contest is back on neutral grounds for the first time since 2015 after a two-year cycle on MEAC and SWAC campuses.
• The winner of the MEAC’s regular season title will earn a bid to the 4th annual 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.