Courtesy of BCU Sports Information

Football

Weather To Play Major Factor in MEAC's Week 3 Football Schedule

WEB RELEASE | FLORIDA A&M vs. JACKSON STATE (ESPN3)

• Week three is highlighted with an abbreviated schedule, as Hurricane Florence has had an impact on the weekend’s football schedule with the cancellation or postponement of three contests. The first MEAC contest of the year (North Carolina Central at South Carolina State) has been postponed until Nov. 24, while the Norfolk State-Liberty contest was postponed to Dec. 1 (pending the Spartans' postseason status). The Savannah State-Howard contest also has been postponed, and a makeup date has not been announced.
 
• North Carolina A&T State won its 15th straight contest on Saturday following a non-conference victory over Gardner-Webb. The Aggies also earned an FBS win (East Carolina) for the third straight year.

• North Carolina A&T State was picked to defend its MEAC football championship, as the Aggies received 19 first-place votes and were a unanimous choice to 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 was predicted to place second in head coach Mike London’s second season, followed by North Carolina 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, North Carolina A&T State and North Carolina Central will have new leaders. Both head coaches at Morgan State and NCCU have the interim tag attached.

• The MEAC’s streak of FBS wins continues for the third straight yea,r 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 ranked No. 4 in the STATS FCS poll and No. 6 in the FCS Coaches poll. This marks their highest ranking in school history surpassing last week’s No. 5 ranking and 1993’s No. 5 ranking after the Aggies started 6-0.

•North Carolina A&T State 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 champion, North Carolina A&T State, finished the 2017 season with the program's highest national ranking ever, as the Aggies finished No. 6 in the NCAA FCS Coaches Poll. They entered 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 the Aggies' defensive coordinator.

•Bethune-Cookman set a school record for points last weekend with a 79-point performance over Virginia University of Lynchburg.

• 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 fourth annual Celebration Bowl in Atlanta, Ga. on Dec. 15 at Mercedes Benz Stadium. The bowl, which pits the MEAC champion against the SWAC champion, is the only FCS league to host a bowl game, and the MEAC leads the series 2-1.