Football | 8/26/2025 4:48:02 PM
NORFOLK, Va., August 26, 2025 -- All six programs take the field as the 2025 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) football season officially kicks off for week one. Norfolk State opens the action on Thursday night, ushering in the Michael Vick era at home against Towson. Meanwhile, Delaware State begins its own new chapter under DeSean Jackson with an in-state rivalry showdown at the University of Delaware.
The slate continues Saturday, Aug. 30, with four more matchups: North Carolina Central welcomes New Hampshire, reigning MEAC champion South Carolina State hosts Wofford, Morgan State hits the road to face South Alabama, and Howard travels south for a highly anticipated Celebration Bowl rematch against Florida A&M.
Here is a glimpse at this week’s contests.
Towson Tigers (0-0, 0-0 CAA) at Norfolk State Spartans (0-0, 0-0 MEAC)
Thursday, August 28 | William ‘Dick’ Price Stadium | Norfolk, VA | 7:00 P.M.
TV: ESPNU | Live Stats
The Towson Tigers head to Norfolk, Va., in Week 1 for a Thursday night clash with the Norfolk State Spartans on ESPNU. The matchup marks Norfolk State’s first home opener under the lights since 2021. Towson enters the season following a 7-5 (5-3 CAA) campaign in 2024, capped by a three-game winning streak. The Tigers, projected to finish sixth in the CAA under third-year head coach Pete Shinnick, return starting quarterback Sean Brown, who completed 63 percent of his passes for more than 1,900 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. Defensively, Towson is anchored by standout defensive backs Myles Brodie and Xavier Terry, both named to the 2025 CAA Preseason All-Conference Team. Norfolk State, meanwhile, begins a new era under first-year head coach and former NFL quarterback, 4x Pro Bowler and Hampton Roads legend Michael Vick. The Spartans finished 4-8 (2-3 MEAC) in 2024 but bring back senior running back Kevon King, who rushed for 944 yards and 10 touchdowns a year ago. King enters 2025 as a BOXTOROW Preseason HBCU All-American and a candidate on the Black College Football Hall of Fame Player of the Year Watchlist.
Delaware State Hornets (0-0, 0-0 MEAC) at Delaware Blue Hens (0-0, 0-0 C-USA)
Thursday, August 28 | Delaware Stadium | Newark, DE | 7:00 P.M.
TV: ESPN+ | Live Stats
Delaware State makes the short trip north to Newark, Del., for an in-state Week 1 rivalry matchup against the Delaware Blue Hens at Delaware Stadium. The Hornets, coming off a 1-11 (0-5 MEAC) campaign in 2024, usher in a new era under three-time NFL Pro Bowler DeSean Jackson, who takes over as head coach. Jackson inherits a roster featuring several new transfer additions along with a pair of key offensive returners from the First State. Redshirt senior wide receiver NyGhee Lolley (Newark, Del.), a 2025 Preseason First Team All-MEAC selection, led the Hornets last season with 40 catches for 541 yards and a touchdown. Graduate student running back Marquis Gillis (Milford, Del.), the 2022 MEAC Rookie of the Year and 2025 Preseason Second Team All-MEAC pick, also returns as a focal point of the offense. The Hornets face a formidable test in the Blue Hens, who boast an 18-6 record since 2023. Delaware enters its first season at the FBS level as a member of Conference USA, marking a new chapter in its storied program.
Howard Bison (0-0, 0-0 MEAC) at Florida A&M Rattlers (0-0, 0-0 SWAC)
Saturday, August 30 | Hard Rock Stadium | Miami Gardens, FL | 4:00 P.M.
TV: ESPNU | Live Stats
Howard kicks off its 2025 campaign with a highly anticipated showdown against the Florida A&M Rattlers, a rematch of the 2023 Celebration Bowl, where the Rattlers edged the Bison, 30-26. After a 4-8 (1-4 MEAC) finish last season, head coach Larry Scott, a Florida native, looks to guide Howard back into MEAC contention behind the leadership of preseason All-Conference standouts senior Noah Miles and redshirt junior Tim Artis Jr. Offensively, the Bison return redshirt junior quarterback Ja’Shawn Scroggins, who ranked third in the MEAC with 1,262 passing yards and nine touchdowns in 2024. Florida A&M, which went 7-5 (5-3 SWAC) a year ago, boasted the SWAC’s second-best passing offense in 2024. The Rattlers enter a new era after the graduation of standout quarterback Daniel Richardson, who threw for 2,662 yards and 23 touchdowns last season. With the all-time series tied at 4-4, Saturday’s clash sets the stage for another tightly contested battle between two historic programs.
New Hampshire Wildcats (0-0, 0-0 CAA) at North Carolina Central Eagles (1-0, 0-0 MEAC)
Saturday, August 30 | O’Kelly Riddick Stadium | Durham, NC| 6:00 P.M.
TV: ESPN+ | Live Stats
North Carolina Central heads into Week 1 riding momentum from an impressive season-opening performance in the 20th annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge. The Eagles set the tone early, marching 80 yards on the game’s opening drive and controlling nearly half of the first quarter on their way to a 31-14 win over Southern. Quarterback Walker Harris, who completed 22 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown in that victory, leads a veteran roster in 2025. Harris threw for 1,882 yards and 18 touchdowns last season, and he’ll once again be protected by an experienced offensive line, as NCCU returns all five starters up front. Head coach Trei Oliver will look to that continuity as the Eagles pursue another strong campaign. New Hampshire visits Durham after closing the 2024 season on a high note, winning four of its final five contests. The Wildcats will look to even the all-time series, which North Carolina Central leads 1-0 following a 45-27 win in September 2022.
Wofford Terriers (0-0, 0-0 SoCon) at South Carolina State Bulldogs (0-0, 0-0 MEAC)
Saturday, August 30 | Oliver C. Dawson Stadium | Orangeburg, SC | 6:00 P.M.
TV: ESPN+ | Live Stats
Reigning MEAC champion South Carolina State opens its title defense on Saturday, August 30, hosting in-town rival Wofford. The Bulldogs, under 2024 MEAC Coach of the Year Chennis Berry, look to build on last year’s success despite the departure of several key contributors. Anchoring the defense are preseason All-MEAC selections defensive back Jarod Washington and defensive lineman Josh Barker, who will be joined by a wave of transfer talent. Defense remains the hallmark of Berry’s program, with South Carolina State finishing second in the league last season by holding opponents to just 21.5 points per game. Wofford enters with a 5-2 all-time series lead, though the Bulldogs claimed the most recent meeting in 2019 with a 28-13 victory, a season that saw them share the MEAC crown with North Carolina A&T. The Terriers have struggled in recent years, posting a 10-24 record since 2022, and will field one of the youngest rosters in the Southern Conference this fall. Still, the rivalry brings intrigue as South Carolina State looks to trim Wofford’s series advantage and launch its championship defense with a statement win under Coach Berry.
Morgan State Bears (0-0, 0-0 MEAC) at South Alabama Jaguars (0-0, 0-0 Sun Belt)
Saturday, August 30 | Hancock Whitney Stadium | Mobile, AL | 7:00 P.M. EST/6:00 PM CT
TV: ESPN+ | Live Stats
The Morgan State Bears open the 2025 season on the road in Mobile, Ala., with a Week 1 matchup against the South Alabama Jaguars. South Alabama enters its second season under head coach Major Applewhite, who guided the Jaguars to a 7-6 record in 2024. In his debut year, Applewhite produced 11 All-Sun Belt selections and became the first coach in program history to lead South Alabama to a bowl victory in his inaugural season. Morgan State, picked third in the 2025 MEAC Preseason Poll, features both the league’s Preseason Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year. Sophomore running back Jason Collins Jr. returns after a breakout freshman campaign in which he rushed for 634 yards at 5.6 yards per carry, ranking eighth nationally among first-year players. On defense, linebacker Erick Hunter anchors the Bears following a decorated 2023 season that included BOXTOROW Impact Player of the Year honors, All-MEAC First Team recognition, an FCS Football Central All-America nod, and a spot as a Buck Buchanan Award finalist. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. EST/6:00 p.m. CT in Mobile, marking the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
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