Six MEAC teams hit gridiron this week to kickoff conference action. Morgan State hosts No. 10/16 North Carolina Central on ESPNU on Thursday night, while Delaware State hosts South Carolina State, and Howard welcomes Norfolk State to the nation’s capitol.
Here is a look at this week's matchups.
No.10/16 North Carolina Central Eagles (5-1, 0-0 MEAC) at Morgan State Bears (1-4, 0-0 MEAC)
Saturday, Oct. 19 | Hughes Stadium | Baltimore, Md. | 7:30 p.m.
TV: ESPNU
No.10/16 North Carolina Central travels to Morgan State for Thursday Night Football live on ESPNU. The Eagles, who enter this week’s matchup after a bye, are boasting a three-game win-streak. N.C. Central is hoping to pick up back to back road wins after defeating No. 25 ranked Elon last time out, 34-23. The Eagles win over Elon was the program’s 500th win (500-405-30) and the 25th under head coach Trei Oliver, who also contributed 23 victories as a safety and punter for NCCU from 1994-97. The Bears return to action after a two week break and their first game action since Sept. 30. QB Dominique Anthony enters Week 5 having completed 50 percent of his passes for 357 yards with two TDs and a 92.8 passer rating. Morgan State is eager for a fresh start and their second win of the season with their only win this season coming in the 2023 opener against the University of Richmond, 17-10. N.C. Central has won the last six meetings against Morgan State including last season’s 59-20 victory, while the Bears hold the series advantage 24-18-2.
Norfolk State Spartans (2-4, 0-0 MEAC) at Howard Bison (2-4, 0-0)
Saturday, Oct. 21 | Greene Stadium | Washington, D.C. | 12:00 p.m.
TV: ESPNU
Norfolk State travels to Washington, D.C., for their second consecutive road game, to face off against Howard. Both programs enter with a 2-4 overall record after suffering defeats in their last outing and are looking to improve their records against one another. Norfolk State despite dropping last week’s challenge against Tennessee State 24-17, picked up four player of the week honors in Otto Kuhns (Offnsive), A.J. Richardson (Defensive), Garrison Wheatley (Offensive Lineman), and Noah Traacey (Specialist) nearly completing the sweep. Howard’s campus will be abuzz with festivities as they celebrate homecoming and the return of the undefeated 1993 Bison football team. The Bison are home for the first time since Sept. 16 following three road games and are coming off a 48-7 loss at No. 19 Harvard. Norfolk State looks to shake off last season’s 49-21 loss to Howard and pick up their first win in MEAC play. The two programs have a long history against one another dating back to 1981 with Howard leading in victories 19-9.
South Carolina State University Bulldogs (2-4, 0-0 MEAC) at Delaware State Hornets (1-5, 0-0 MEAC)
Saturday, Oct. 21 | Alumni Stadium | Dover, Del. | 12:00 p.m
TV: ESPN+
The Hornets return back to the field after a bye week. DSU, 1-5, will be celebrating their homecoming with its matchup against South Carolina State, the first of two back-to-back home games. Despite having six players score, the Hornets were unable to earn the victory in their last matchup, falling 44-51, loss to Central Connecicut State. Freshman QB Marquis Adams received national recongition this week as he was announced as a nominee for the 2023 Jerry Rice Award Watch List. The Bulldogs enter the matchup with a 2-4 overall record and ended their two-game win streak with a loss to Tennessee Tech in their last outing, 7-28. Freshman running back Jawarn Howell was a bright spot for the team’s offense, registering 93 yards through the air and recorded nine carries. His efforts earned him the conference’s Rookie of the Week honor. The Bulldogs leads in the all-time series matchup, 9-3.
About the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) is in its 53rd year of intercollegiate competition with the 2023-24 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.