N.C. Central at Bethune-Cookman*	1 p.m.	ESPNU/ESPN3
Howard at Norfolk State*	1 p.m.	ESPN3
Delaware State at Morgan State*	1 p.m.	ESPN3
North Carolina A&T State at Savannah State*	1 p.m.	ESPN3
South Carolina State at Florida A&M*	4 p.m.	ESPN3

• The MEAC Championship trophy and Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl berth are still up for grabs as Florida A&M’s loss last weekend means six teams are still in the hunt for the coveted trophy. The field will reduce to five after the MEAC’s Thursday night match-up featuring Bethune-Cookman and North Carolina Central as both have two losses. There will be a total of five games this weekend with four counting towards the league standings as the Florida A&M/South Carolina State contest will be counted as a non-conference contest.

• For the first time since 2015, the MEAC Champion will have at least once loss as Florida A&M was the lone undefeated team in league play entering last weekend. In 2015, three teams with one loss shared the title while five teams with two losses in 2014 were crowned co-champions. There are two, one loss teams now in Florida A&M and North Carolina A&T State.

• Despite its loss last weekend, Florida A&M still controls its own destiny as they need only one win to clinch a share of the MEAC Championship and a berth in the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl. It would mark their first title since capturing a share of the MEAC crown since 2010. FAMU hasn’t won an outright title since 2001 as two more losses by North Carolina A&T State and a FAMU win on Nov. 17 would accomplish that feat.

•Name tags are needed this season as five MEAC teams feature new head coaches. Delaware State, Florida A&M, Morgan State, N.C. A&T State and N.C. Central will have new leaders. Both head coaches at Morgan State and NCCU coaches have the interim tag attached.

• The MEAC’s streak of FBS wins continues for the third straight year 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 now ranked No. 18 in the STATS FCS and 18th in the latest FCS Coaches polls.

•North Carolina A&T State University 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 Champions, North Carolina A&T State, finished the 2017 season with their highest national ranking ever as they 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 N.C. A&T’s defensive coordinator.

• History suggests a team has to win its conference opener in order to chart its path to the MEAC Championship. The last championship team which opened with a league loss was Bethune-Cookman in 2015 as they fell to N.C. Central. North Carolina A&T State, BCU and NCCU all tied for a share of the title in 2015.

• 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 4th annual Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl in Atlanta, Ga. on Dec. 15 at Mercedes Benz Stadium. The bowl, which pits the MEAC Champion versus the SWAC Champion, is the only FCS league to host a bowl game as the MEAC leads the series 2-1.