Football | 9/18/2025 3:38:48 PM
The MEAC continues non-conference play in Week 4 with another competitive slate of regional matchups and rivalries.
South Carolina State, fresh off a high-scoring 55-41 win over Bethune-Cookman, will travel south to take on American Athletic Conference (AAC) foe South Florida. Morgan State looks to rebound from its early-season struggles as the Bears welcome SIAC opponent Central State to Baltimore, while Delaware State, riding a two-game winning streak, heads to Loretto, Pa., to face Saint Francis in search of its third straight victory.
Howard will look to carry momentum from its 38-10 win over Morehouse at MetLife Stadium into a rivalry showdown with Hampton, while Norfolk State aims to bounce back as the Spartans return home to host Sacred Heart at Dick Price Stadium. The weekend concludes in Greensboro, N.C., where North Carolina Central and North Carolina A&T renew their historic rivalry in the annual Aggie-Eagle Classic at Truist Stadium.
WEEKLY NOTES | COACHES CONFERENCE
Here is a glimpse at this week’s contests.
South Carolina State (2-1, 0-0 MEAC) at South Florida Bulls (2-1, 0-0 AAC)
Saturday, September 20 | Raymond James Stadium | Tampa, Fla | 12:00 P.M.
TV: ESPN+ | Live Stats
The South Carolina State Bulldogs travel to Tampa, Fla., this week to face South Florida after rallying to a high-scoring 55-41 win over Bethune-Cookman. The Wildcats’ 41 points marked the most allowed by South Carolina State since the start of the Chennis Berry era in 2024, but the Bulldogs’ offense proved too much to handle. Quarterback Ryan Stubblefield completed 21-of-35 passes for 286 yards, helping South Carolina State rack up 335 passing yards overall. On the ground, the Bulldogs added 230 rushing yards and five touchdowns. This week, South Carolina State faces a tough challenge against a South Florida team that has opened the season strong at 2-1, with both wins coming against ranked opponents. The Bulls opened with a dominant 35-7 win over No. 25 Boise State in Week 1 and followed with an 18-16 upset victory at No. 13 Florida in Week 2. The Bulldogs’ defense will be tested by quarterback Byrum Brown, who has thrown for over 200 yards in each of South Florida’s first three games. This will be the second all-time meeting between the two programs, with the Bulls taking the first matchup in 2019 by a score of 55-16.
Central State Marauders (0-3, 0-0 SIAC) at Morgan State (0-3, 0-0 MEAC)
Saturday, September 20 | Hughes Stadium | Baltimore, MD | 12:00 P.M.
TV: ESPN+ | Live Stats
Morgan State returns to Baltimore this week to host Central State, looking to regroup after a 60-0 setback at Toledo. The Bears have struggled early, opening the season 0-3, and will face a Marauders team also seeking its first win of the year. Against Toledo, Morgan State’s offense managed just 20 passing yards on 9-of-16 attempts and 75 rushing yards on 32 carries. The Bears will now prepare for a Central State squad that features a more balanced attack. In their most recent outing, a loss to Benedict College, the Marauders posted 113 yards through the air and 170 on the ground, led by sophomore Dai’Vontay Young’s 70 yards on 10 carries. The gridiron rivalry between Morgan State and Central State dates back to 1951, with the Marauders holding a 13-3 advantage in the all-time series. Morgan State’s last victory came in 1975, a 24-21 win.
Delaware State Hornets (2-1, 0-0 MEAC) at Saint Francis Red Flash (0-3, 0-0 NEC)
Saturday, September 20 | DeGol Field | Loretto, PA | 1:00 P.M.
Live Stats
Delaware State heads to Pennsylvania for its second road contest of the season, taking on a Saint Francis squad still in search of its first win after an 0-3 start. The matchup marks the opening leg of a three-game road swing for the Hornets, who won’t return home until mid-October. The Hornets enter the game riding the momentum of a two-game winning streak, already matching their win total from the past two seasons combined. In last week’s victory over Bowie State, Delaware State tallied 479 yards of total offense, including a dominant 285-yard performance on the ground. James Jones led the way with 101 yards on just eight carries, highlighted by a 54-yard burst early in the second quarter. Saint Francis is led offensively by redshirt junior quarterback Nick Whitfield Jr., who has passed for 306 yards through three games while completing 54.6 percent of his attempts. Saint Francis owns a 3-0 all-time record against Delaware State, including a 28-17 win in last year’s meeting.
Howard Bison (2-1, 0-0 MEAC) vs Hampton Pirates (1-2, 0-0 CAA)
Saturday, September 20 | Audi Field | Washington, DC | 4:00 P.M.
TV: HBCUGO| Live Stats
The rivalry between Hampton and Howard will reach its 16th meeting this weekend as the Bison travel to face the Hampton Pirates at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. Howard comes off a dominant 38-10 win over Morehouse College, looking to continue its defensive prowess as the conference’s top defensive team, allowing just 24.7 points per game. Hampton, meanwhile, is coming off a double-overtime loss to North Carolina A&T, decided by a field goal. The Pirates will rely on dual-threat quarterback Isaiah Freeman, who totaled 153 passing yards and 142 rushing yards against A&T. Howard will counter with graduate quarterback Tyriq Starks, who has found his rhythm after throwing for 241 yards against Morehouse. The all-time series currently favors Hampton, 9-6, with the most recent meeting resulting in a 27-20 Pirates victory over Howard.
Sacred Heart Pioneers (2-1, 0-0) at Norfolk State Spartans (1-2, 0-0 MEAC)
Saturday, September 20 | William "Dick” Price Stadium | Norfolk, VA | 4:00 P.M.
TV: ESPN+ | Live Stats
Norfolk State returns home to William “Dick” Price Stadium on Saturday for a brief one-game homestand, hosting Sacred Heart before beginning a three-game road stretch. The Spartans will look to rebound after a 60-10 setback at Rutgers last weekend. Norfolk State struggled through the air, finishing with just 92 passing yards, but found positives in its ground attack. Kevon King led the way with 59 yards on seven carries, while X’Zavion Evans added 53 yards on eight attempts. Dual-threat quarterback Otto Kuhns also contributed 34 rushing yards of his own. Sacred Heart enters the matchup at 2-1 after an exciting win over Long Island University. The Pioneers leaned heavily on their rushing attack, piling up 242 yards on the ground. Freshman running back Mitchell Summers paced the effort with 112 yards. This will be the third all-time meeting between the two programs. Sacred Heart won the previous two matchups in 2022 and 2024.
North Carolina Central Eagles (2-2, 0-0 MEAC) at North Carolina A&T Aggies (1-2, 0-0 CAA)
Saturday, September 20 | Truist Stadium | Greensboro, NC | 4:00 P.M.
TV:FLOSPORTS| Live Stats
North Carolina Central hits the road this weekend to face North Carolina A&T in the annual Aggie-Eagle Classic, a rivalry matchup dating back to 1988. The Eagles enter the contest fresh off a dominant 49-19 win over Fayetteville State. Preseason First Team All-MEAC quarterback Walker Harris delivered a standout performance, throwing for 387 yards and three touchdowns on 23-of-36 passing. His day was highlighted by a 63-yard strike and earned him HBCU National Player of the Week honors. The ground game added 116 rushing yards, rounding out a balanced offensive attack. North Carolina A&T comes into the rivalry clash following a dramatic 33-30 victory over Hampton. The Aggies erased a 20-10 fourth-quarter deficit, tying the game to force overtime before sealing the win. In the victory, North Carolina A&T rushed for 180 yards and added 144 through the air to showcase a balanced offense. The Aggie-Eagle Classic has been one of the premier HBCU rivalries for decades, with North Carolina A&T holding a 14-11 advantage in the series. However, North Carolina Central has won the last three matchups, including a decisive 66-24 victory in 2024.