MEAC Football: The Race to the Celebration Bowl Is Heating Up

Anticipation in the MEAC is at its highest point. We’re now two games into the five-round MEAC playoffs. I call it the playoffs because there’s no room for error. One loss could very well mean it’s time to shift focus to basketball season.

Last week gave us plenty of drama. Defending champions SC State dominated Morgan State, hanging 51 points on the Bears and essentially eliminating them from Celebration Bowl contention, letting the media know the conference title goes through Orangeburg, SC.

The Spartans of Norfolk State collided with Delaware State at the home of the Philadelphia Eagles and gave us another hard-fought classic, as Delaware State battled back from a multiple-score deficit to win it on a last-second field goal, eliminating Coach Vick and his squad. The win keeps the Hornets hanging around in third place, but they’ll need help from someone to make Atlanta, even if they win out.

NCCU absolutely dismantled Howard in a 34-0 shellacking, which officially eliminated the Bison.

NCCU and SC State are now the only two undefeated teams in the conference, which means if both teams take care of business this week, next week’s matchup will more than likely be the conference championship, with a chance to make the HBCU national championship on the line.

But we’ll have plenty of time to discuss that next week. Let’s focus on this week’s matchups.

South Carolina State vs. Howard University

The South Carolina State Bulldogs are still riding high under Coach Berry. They’re now 12-0 in conference competition and have lost to only one HBCU in almost three years, that team being Jackson State in the Celebration Bowl two years ago.

After dismantling Morgan State last Thursday in a short-week matchup, they’ll have to get right back on a plane for another Thursday night game against the Bison of Howard University.

SC State is coming off a game where they played their best brand of football so far this season, dominating in all phases. Their front seven terrorized the Bears’ rushing attack, leaving them with negative 13 rushing yards on the night.

The Bison will come into this matchup against this ferocious defense with no choice but to try their luck with the run game. Unfortunately for the Bison, their starting quarterback suffered a devastating injury and will not be a part of their offense anymore this year, making them one-dimensional. Not to mention their star running back, Eden James, is questionable for Thursday as well.

I won’t guarantee anything for the Bulldogs, because the term “any given Saturday” has never been more true as it pertains to college football, but I will say things don’t look good for Howard.

Unfortunately, someone has to get dealt a bad hand at some point.

North Carolina Central vs. Norfolk State

The NCCU Eagles will take on Norfolk State in Virginia.

You have to give Coach Oliver credit for the way he’s been able to steer his team and season in the right direction. He’ll be the first to tell you that their losses at the beginning of the season were not on brand with the program’s expectations, but I think a lot of us forgot that those games had no impact on their chances of getting to the Celebration Bowl.

One could even argue that those losses made them more battle-tested than any other team in the MEAC. But they’ll still have to continue to get it done against a Spartan squad that is undoubtedly upset after blowing a lead against the Hornets just a week prior.

Although they are eliminated from Celebration Bowl contention, the Spartans will love to play spoiler to everyone else’s season. The Eagles will have to walk right into Spartan territory and take a win on the road.

Make no mistake about it, this Spartan team can score points. The Eagles will certainly need to put this team away early if they don’t want any problems. Otherwise, this could be the first big upset of the MEAC season.

Morgan State vs. Delaware State

Delaware State will host the Bears of Morgan State for a 1 p.m. showdown. Coach Jackson and the Hornets are sitting right outside of contention in third place. They know they have to win out to keep their hopes alive, and I have no doubt in my mind that they’ll fight tooth and nail to do it.

But Morgan State could still very well present a challenge. The Hornets have been very inconsistent offensively this year, and that has been their Achilles heel. They cannot afford to get down too big too early again against Morgan State, another team that has nothing to play for at this point except ruining your season.

What makes it even worse is that the Bears were given a 70% chance to make the Celebration Bowl just a week ago, and they squandered it on national television in embarrassing fashion.

I don’t see them allowing 51 points to be hung on them again. The Hornets may have home-field advantage, but the Bears are coming to release some anger. This could be a battle.

The MEAC Championship Race Is About to Reach Its Peak

Overall, you should look at the MEAC season so far like a roller coaster ride.

Right now, they’re at the part where it’s slowly and dramatically going up, and they’re almost to the top. After this week’s slate of matchups, you better be ready for the descent, because it’s coming fast, and in the blink of an eye, it’ll all be over.