Football | 10/3/2025 3:47:08 PM
2025 Week 6 MEAC Football Preview
The MEAC enters Week 6 of non-conference play with another full weekend of regional matchups and key rivalry games.
Delaware State travels to New Jersey to face Monmouth as the Hornets look to build on their early-season momentum. Morgan State makes the short trip south to Washington, D.C., to take on Georgetown in a local matchup.
South Carolina State returns to Orangeburg to host Savannah State, kicking off Homecoming season around the conference as the Bulldogs look to bounce back from last week’s loss to Charleston Southern. The weekend concludes with one of the most storied HBCU rivalries, as Norfolk State travels to Hampton for the Battle of the Bay.
WEEKLY NOTES | COACHES CONFERENCE
Here is a glimpse at this week’s contests.
Delaware State Hornets (3-2, 0-0 MEAC) at Monmouth Hawks (3-1, 1-0 CAA)
Saturday, October 4 | Kessler Stadium | West Long Branch, NJ | 1:00 P.M.
TV: FLO College| Live Stats
Delaware State will close out its three-game road stretch this weekend with a trip to New Jersey to face Monmouth. The Hornets are coming off a heartbreaking 35-31 loss at Sacred Heart, despite holding a 31-20 halftime lead. Delaware State was held scoreless in the second half as the Pioneers rallied with 15 unanswered points to seal the win in the fourth quarter. The Hornets showcased a balanced attack, rushing for 279 yards behind Marquis Gillis’ 126 yards on 13 carries, while adding 221 yards through the air. Monmouth enters the matchup following a 51-33 win over Villanova. Graduate quarterback Derek Robertson led the Hawks with 397 yards and four touchdowns on 20-of-30 passing. This will be the third meeting between the two programs and the first since 2016, when Monmouth earned a 34-20 victory over Delaware State.
Morgan State Bears (2-3, 0-0 MEAC) at Georgetown Hoyas (2-3, 0-1 Patriot League)
Saturday, October 4 | Cooper Field | Washington, DC | 1:00 P.M.
TV: ESPN +| Live Stats
Morgan State, riding the momentum of a two-game winning streak, will travel to Washington, D.C., to take on non-conference foe Georgetown. The Bears are coming off a 24-17 win over Miles College, powered by a dominant ground game. Despite managing just 76 passing yards, Morgan State rushed for 280 yards, led by MEAC Rookie of the Week Raymond Moore III’s 98-yard performance. Georgetown enters the matchup following a 19-10 setback at Columbia. The Hoyas also leaned on their rushing attack, finishing with 176 yards on the ground. Jayden Sumpter ran for 103 yards, while Dez Thomas II added 59. This will mark just the second meeting between the two programs. Morgan State won the lone prior matchup, defeating Georgetown 28-21 in 2021.
Savannah State Tiger (2-2, 1-2 SIAC) at South Carolina State Bulldogs (2-3, 0-0 MEAC)
Saturday, October 4 | Oliver C. Dawson Stadium| Orangeburg, SC| 1:30 P.M.
TV: ESPN+| Live Stats
South Carolina State will welcome Savannah State to Orangeburg this weekend for the Bulldogs’ homecoming matchup as they look to bounce back following a 31-24 loss to Charleston Southern. South Carolina State’s offense ranks third in the conference and is anchored in the trenches, rushing for 278 yards in their last outing. Quarterback Ryan Stubblefield IV added 194 passing yards on 18-of-24 completions. Savannah State enters the game following a 37-20 loss at Kentucky State. The Tigers operate a two-quarterback system, getting contributions from redshirt junior Christian Burks, who has thrown for 485 yards on the season, and freshman Fabian Walker, who has added 322 yards. In their previous game, Burks passed for 165 yards, while Walker threw for 113 on 11-of-19 passing. South Carolina State holds a 7-1 series advantage over Savannah State, with the last meeting coming in 2018 when the Bulldogs edged the Tigers 21-17 in dramatic fashion.
Norfolk State Spartans (1-4, 0-0 MEAC) at Hampton Pirates (1-4, 0-2 CAA)
Saturday, October 4 | Armstrong Stadium| Hampton, VA| 4:00 P.M.
FLO College| Live Stats
The Norfolk State Spartans will continue their three-game road stretch as they travel 21 miles south to face Hampton University in the annual “Battle of the Bay” rivalry. Norfolk State fell in a close Week 5 matchup against Wagner but showcased a balanced offensive attack, with four rushers gaining over 30 yards and graduate quarterback Otto Kuhns completing 17-of-28 passes for 114 yards. Hampton enters the matchup following a 41-20 loss and has struggled to stop the run this season. Against Elon, the Pirates allowed 321 rushing yards while giving up 169 passing yards. Offensively, Hampton has demonstrated balance, rushing for 199 yards and throwing for 213 in the same game. Norfolk State averages 18.4 points per contest, while Hampton scores 19.6 points per game, setting the stage for another exciting edition of the Battle of the Bay. The rivalry dates to 1995, with Hampton currently holding a 16-10 series advantage over the Spartans.