NORFOLK, Va., Sept. 28, 2023 – Five Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) programs will be in action this weekend, the fifth full week of the 2023 season. Three of those teams – Delaware State, Norfolk State, and North Carolina Central – will kick off at home.
For the second time in three weeks, South Carolina State will be idle.
Here is a look at this week's contests.
Howard Bison (1-2, 0-0 MEAC) vs. Robert Morris Colonials (2-2, 0-0 Big South/OVC)
Saturday, Sept. 30 | Joe Walton Stadium | Moon Township, Pa. | 12 p.m.
TV: ESPN+ | Live Stats
Howard returns to the gridiron this weekend following a bye week, and the Bison will look to get back in the win column after falling 35-34 to rival Hampton in the Truth & Service Classic back on Sept. 16. Robert Morris, part of the Big South-OVC collective, got back to .500 this past weekend after defeating Virginia University of Lynchburg 46-0 at home. Saturday's contest will be the second-ever meeting between the two teams; the Colonials defeated Howard 22-16 back in 2021. University of Miami graduate and 1988 Orange Bowl MVP Bernard Clark, Jr. is in his sixth season at the helm at Robert Morris.
Morgan State Bears (1-3, 0-0 MEAC) vs. Yale Bulldogs (0-2, 0-1 Ivy League)
Saturday, Sept. 30 | Yale Bowl | New Haven, Conn. | 12 p.m.
TV: ESPN+ | Live Stats
Having lost another heartbreaker this past weekend, falling in double overtime to Albany, Morgan State hits the road this Saturday to square off against Yale out of the Ivy League. The Bulldogs are coming off a 23-21 loss to conference foe Cornell, and Yale comes into its third straight home game looking for its first win of the season. This will be the first-ever meeting between the Bears and the Bulldogs, and Yale is in its 11th season under head coach Tony Reno.
Virginia University of Lynchburg Dragons (0-4) vs. Delaware State Hornets (0-4, 0-0 MEAC)
Saturday, Sept. 30 | Alumni Stadium | Dover, Del. | 1 p.m.
TV: ESPN+
After three straight road games, Delaware State returns to Alumni Stadium this weekend for an afternoon kickoff against Virginia University of Lynchburg. The Hornets, in their first season under head coach Lee Hull, are still in search of their first win of the season after this past weekend's 62-20 loss to Miami (OH), while the Dragons are coming off a 46-0 loss to Robert Morris. Delaware State is 3-0 all-time against Lynchburg, including a 25-19 victory at Alumni Stadium last season. VUL Director of Athletics Tim Newman also serves as head football coach, and he's in his third season.
North Carolina A&T State Aggies (0-3, 0-1 CAA) vs. Norfolk State Spartans (2-2, 0-0 MEAC)
Saturday, Sept. 30 | Dick Price Stadium | Norfolk, Va. | 2 p.m.
TV: ESPN+ | Live Stats
Former MEAC rivals square off at Dick Price Stadium this Saturday, as Norfolk State returns to Dick Price Stadium to take on North Carolina A&T State. The Spartans are coming off a 21-14 win at Towson last weekend, rushing for 350 yards in that contest, while the Aggies are looking for their first win of the season after a 27-3 loss to Elon in the Aggies' conference opener. Norfolk State is looking for its third win over a CAA program this weekend, following wins over Hampton and Towson. North Carolina A&T State leads the all-time series 34-9 and has won each of the last seven meetings between the two teams – including 49-24 in Greensboro, N.C. last season. The Aggies are in their first season under head coach Vincent Brown.
Campbell Fighting Camels (2-2, 1-2 CAA) vs. No. 13/15 North Carolina Central Eagles (3-1, 0-0 MEAC)
Saturday, Sept. 30 | O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium | Durham, N.C. | 4 p.m.
TV: ESPN+ | Live Stats
No. 13/15 North Carolina Central got back in the win column this past weekend with a 45-3 victory over Mississippi Valley State in the Circle City Classic, thanks to five touchdown passes from quarterback Walker Harris. Meanwhile, Campbell fell 28-24 to Elon in the Camels' second home game of the season. This will be the second-ever meeting between the two teams, and the first in Durham, N.C., as Campbell won 48-18 last season. The Camels are currently in their 11th season under head coach Mike Minter, and they compete in the competitive CAA.