Week 4 MEAC Football Slate Features Pair of FBS Matchups

Football | 9/24/2026 3:25:09 PM

NORFOLK, Va. – The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) enters Week 4 with a five-game slate highlighted by a pair of matchups against FBS opponents. Howard travels to Rutgers on Friday night, while North Carolina Central visits East Carolina on Saturday afternoon.

South Carolina State, the MEAC’s lone unbeaten team at 4-0, faces Bethune-Cookman, while Delaware State hosts Towson and Norfolk State travels to Chicago State.

Week 4 Schedule
Friday, Sept. 25
Howard at Rutgers | 7:00 PM | Big Ten Network
 
Saturday, Sept. 26
North Carolina Central at East Carolina | 4:00 PM | ESPN+
Towson at Delaware State | 6:00 PM | MEAC Network
Norfolk State at Chicago State | 7:00 PM
South Carolina State at Bethune-Cookman | 7:00 PM | HBCU Go
 
*All Times ET
 
MEAC Football Notes
Shining Against FCS
MEAC teams have posted an 8-4 record against opponents from other FCS conferences this season.
 
South Carolina State’s Fast Start
Through four games, No. 16/14 South Carolina State ranks first nationally in scoring offense, averaging 51.0 points per game, and third in scoring defense at 7.5 points allowed per game. The Bulldogs also lead the MEAC and rank second nationally in total defense, allowing just 177.2 yards per game. Individually, Mason Pickett-Hicks ranks fifth nationally in rushing with 477 yards.
 
Pair of Rivalry Wins
Morgan State and Norfolk State both picked up significant rivalry wins last week. Morgan State defeated Towson in the Battle for Greater Baltimore for the first time in 17 years, while Norfolk State topped Hampton in the 61st Battle of the Bay.
 
MEAC in the Rankings
South Carolina State landed at No. 1 in the latest Black College Football Division I FCS poll, receiving all 20 first-place votes and 416 total points.
 
Delaware State (No. 4), Morgan State (No. 5) and North Carolina Central (No. 10) also landed in the Top 10, while Howard and Norfolk State received votes.

The remaining national polls are listed below:
 
  Stats Perform AFCA BOXTOROW
Delaware State - - #4
Howard - - RV
Morgan State RV - #8
Norfolk State - - #10
North Carolina Central - - #9
South Carolina State #16 #14 #1
 
Around the League
  • Bulldogs Knock Off Ranked Foe
    • South Carolina State remained unbeaten with a 20-17 win over Furman on Saturday at Paladin Stadium, improving to 4-0 on the season. The Bulldogs jumped out to a 14-0 first-quarter lead behind a 65-yard touchdown pass from Keely Watson to DJ Maultsby and a 9-yard touchdown run by Josh Shaw.
    • Maultsby finished with four catches for 118 yards and a touchdown, while Watson completed 12-of-25 passes for 186 yards and a score. South Carolina State’s defense held Furman to 53 rushing yards and forced two turnovers, including a fumble recovery by Tyler Jones. Jett Jackson added three field goals, including a 28-yarder with 3:03 remaining that gave the Bulldogs a 20-9 lead before Furman scored late to make it a three-point game.
  • Morgan State Snaps 17 Year Drought
    • Morgan State rolled past Towson 41-26 on Saturday at Johnny Unitas Stadium, improving to 3-1 on the season. The Bears built a 24-6 halftime lead and extended the margin to 38-20 in the fourth quarter before Towson scored late. Cameron Edge completed 14-of-23 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns, while Jordan Barnett rushed for 71 yards and a touchdown.
    • Joseph Towler added three catches for 76 yards and a touchdown, and Keith Jenkins Jr. totaled 213 all-purpose yards, including a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Morgan State also recorded five sacks, led by 1.5 each from Donta Jenkins Jr. and Donovan Moyer.
  • Spartans Take Battle of the Bay
    • Norfolk State picked up a 42-21 win over Hampton on Saturday in the 61st Battle of the Bay at William “Dick” Price Stadium. The Spartans rushed for 240 yards and scored twice on the ground, while Jason Wonodi added two punt-return touchdowns, including a 76-yarder in the second quarter and a 57-yarder in the fourth.
    • Jalyn Daniels led Norfolk State with 102 rushing yards, while Ravon Moore Jr. added 84 yards and a touchdown. Marco Peery went 5-for-5 on field-goal attempts, including a 48-yarder, as Norfolk State improved to 2-2 on the season.

About the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) enters its 56th year of intercollegiate competition with the 2026–27 academic year. Headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, the MEAC is comprised of eight distinguished Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) along the Atlantic seaboard: Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina Central University, and South Carolina State University. Since its founding in 1970, the MEAC has been dedicated to promoting academic excellence, sportsmanship, and the personal growth of student athletes. For more information, visit www.MEACSports.com.