2022 MEAC Football Media Guide | MEAC Football Weekly Notes | Media Center
NORFOLK, Va., Aug. 24, 2022 – For the 17
th time, the Black college football season will kick off in Atlanta, Ga., with the Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge. This year’s contest, held at Center Parc Stadium, will pit the Howard University Bison against the Hornets of Alabama State.
The MEAC is 11-4 all-time in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge, including last season, when North Carolina Central defeated Alcorn State 24-13. The MEAC has won each of the last two contests in the series.
This year’s game will be televised live on ESPN, with Marc Jones, Robert Griffin III, Jay Walker, Quint Kessenich and Tiffany Greene on the call.
Howard Bison (0-0, 0-0 MEAC) vs. Alabama State Hornets (0-0, 0-0 SWAC)
Saturday, Aug. 27 | Center Parc Stadium | Atlanta, Ga. | 7 p.m.
TV: ESPN | Live Stats
The Bison will be making their first-ever appearance in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge, while the Hornets will be in the game for the third time (losing the inaugural game in 2005 to South Carolina State [27-14] and in 2012 to Bethune-Cookman [38-28]).
Saturday’s game will also mark the second-ever meeting between the two schools. Alabama State defeated Howard in their only previous meeting, 27-12 in 2004.
Howard is coming into its third full season under head coach Larry Scott, and the Bison (2-8, 1-4 MEAC in 2021) were picked to finish fifth in the MEAC’s predicted order of finish. Howard boasts five Preseason First Team All-MEAC selections: wide receiver Antoine Murray, offensive linemen Darius Fox and Anim Dunkwah, defensive lineman Darren Brokenburr and defensive back Kenny Gallup.
Alabama State is entering its first season under head coach Eddie Robinson, Jr. The Hornets were 5-6 overall and 3-5 in SWAC play last season, finishing fourth in the East Division. Safety Irshaad Davis and offensive lineman Robert Alston IV were both voted Preseason First Team All-SWAC.
The Hornets were picked to finish fourth in the East Division this season.
About the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) is in its 52nd year of intercollegiate competition with the 2022-23 academic school year. Located in Norfolk, Va., the MEAC is made up of eight outstanding historically black institutions across the Atlantic coastline: Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina Central University and South Carolina State University.