MEAC Week 1: No Easy Outs

There’s no easing into Week 1 for the MEAC.

MEAC set to have toughest non conference weekend In week 1.

In week 0 the MEAC posted an impressive record of 5-1 filled with both unbelievable like SC State hanging 87 points on Savanah state & hard-fought wins like Howard winning 31-24 in dramatic fashion. However this week, The entire MEAC conference will test themselves early against tough non conference opponents. 2 teams are set to hit the road to visit FBS squads, another MEAC squad will face a rival who they haven’t beaten in the last four meetings in a rivalry game. It doesn’t get much tougher than that.

Game 1: Morgan State at Arizona State

The Bears are set to travel to Tempe, Arizona where the Sun Devils will be waiting to welcome them with a hostile crowd. Morgan State (1-0) is coming off a 17-7 win on the road last week at Greensboro, North Carolina where they beat the Aggies of North Carolina A&T for their home opener. Damon Wilson and the Bears look to keep bring that momentum into Mountain America Stadium against the Devils who reached the college football playoffs last year and compete competitively as a way to gage where their team is so far this season. The Bears have always had a stellar defense under Coach Wilson and that continues to be the case so far this year. Can they have that same defense success against a Sun Devil squad whose running game will be lead by former MEAC all conference running back Marquis Gillis of Delaware State? Traveling across the country may take its toll on the players bodies. Depth will be a factor as well as the Devils obviously has more allocated scholarships athletes on the roster. But if they can overcome that as well as the environment, a moral victory would be achieved. Kickoff for this game 10:00 PM ET, on ESPN +.

Game 2 : Norfolk State at Old Dominion

Year 2 under head coach Micheal Vick has gotten off to a positive start with a 56-0 home/season opener over Winston Salem State last week. Granted it was a division 2 opponent, their only win from last year came at the hands of a division 2 opponent and they barely escaped. Coming into this game against Old dominion is just the first of a back to back FBS game stretch for the Spartans as they’ll travel to another in state FBS opponent in Virginia University the following week. There’s still uncertainty on if this year’s Spartan team has gotten better.

Maybe this matchup vs old dominion can serve as a measuring stick. While a win for the Spartans is less than likely, a competitive showing can only benefit this team as it pertains to confidence. Which in my opinion is something this squad could use. This will be the 5th all time meeting between Norfolk and ODU since ODU restarted football back in 2009.

Game 3 : Delaware State at William & Mary

The Delaware State Hornets pick up right where they left off last year offensively when we saw them fall to the eventual HBCU National champions SC State in a tightly contest MEAC championship game. The Hornets are coming off of a thrilling shootout victory against Stony Brook which means offensively, they’re still as explosive as last season. The Desean Jackson led Squad will have to eventually figure out its defensive woes if they wish to take their newfound success as far as they hope to. William & Mary may not be ranked but they’re more than capable of sending the Hornets home with their first loss of the season if it turns into another offensive explosion where the offense has to carry the weight. A win this weekend for the Hornets would have them on course for a potential 3-1 start to the season as their next two games are home Vs division 2 opponent Bowie State and on the road to Tampa at USF. Kickoff for this weekend is slated for 6PM ET, at Zable Stadium.

Game 4 : Richmond at Howard

Ted White & the Bison are coming off of an impressive hard fought win in the MEAC/SWAC challenge against Alabama State. This is a Bison squad that was picked to finish dead last in the conference by voters back in late July. But Ted White and his offensive mind just may have been the spark Howard has been missing for the past couple of seasons. Now comes their biggest test yet this season against Richmond. Howard has shown that they’re capable of pulling off this early season upset. They even have home field advantage. And although Richmond has had Howard’s number last year in a 13-12 victory, Howard can return the favor with established pieces like Eden James at running back and QB1 Ja’shawn Scroggjns who put on a show for the 1 million plus tv viewers last week when he eclipsed over 300 yards passing and 3 touchdowns including the game winning 51 yard touchdown with 3 minutes remaining. Can Scroggins do it again vs a tough Richmond defense is the question.

Game 5 : Elizabeth City State at NCCU

NC Central is coming off a disappointing loss to SWAC foe Texas southern. A game where they led 24-14 at halftime before allowing the Tigers to mount a comeback by way of scoring off of a blocked punt to swing momentum. They’d then go on to outscore the Eagles 14-0 the rest of the way. Losing in that kind of fashion is something that is very uncharacteristic of a Trei Oliver led squad. And best believe that’s something they’ve been addressing during this week’s practices. However even with that step back against Texas southern, NCCU is expected to handle business in their home opener against division 2 opponent Elizabeth City. Expect them to work out some kinks that hindered them from the previous week. Including lost fumbles, something they led the nation in last season.

Game 6: SC STATE at FAMU

What many consider to be game of the week, SC State will travel down to Miami to face off against the Rattlers at the Hard Rock Stadium. The Bulldogs are coming off of an historic blowout victory over division 2 opponent and Head Coach Chennis Berry Alma mater, Savanah State where they scored the most points ever in school history while also now allowing any to be scored on them. The outcome garnered national attention from outlets like ESPN, Shannon Sharpe, Jeff Teague & more. Chennis Berry was even invited on the Nightcap show hosted by Shannon & Chad Ochocinco to discuss the victory. However according to Berry, that week is over and the 24 hours they got to celebrate it is gone as well. They’re focused on Miami. And they should be for good reason. The national champs haven’t beaten FAMU in the last four meetings, their last matchup being in 2024 where they lost a close one 18-24 after leading for most of the game. Which was also Coach Berry’s first game as head coach of the Bulldogs. Ending the streak would be another accomplishment in the Coach Berry tenure. They’ll be facing a FAMU squad who struggled heavily against division 2 power Albany state but won 20-7. FAMU is currently going through their own changes with new head coach Quinn Gray & Star Quarterback Isaiah Knowles who both made the transition to Division 1 FCS from Albany state along with a few other transfers. They’ll have their work cut out for them against this Bulldog defensive line who’s considered to be one of the most stacked and talented groups in the nation. They’ll rattlers struggled to protect their signal caller against Albany giving up 3 sacks and going 3 for 13 on third down. Kickoff is slated for 3PM ET, on ESPN.