HOUSTON - The full schedule of HBCU football games in Week 1 will kick off this Labor Day weekend in the SWAC, MEAC, SIAC, CIAA, CAA, and OVC conferences. Jackson State and North Carolina A&T are scheduled to begin Week 1 against FBS opponents. Thursday night's game between JSU and ULM is expected to be closely contested and potentially deliver the first upset of the 2024 season.
This weekend, we will open with three featured games for the week. First-year head coaches will clash when South Carolina State visits Florida A&M inside Bragg Stadium on Saturday. Two-time HBCU Football Division II Championship head coach Chennis Berry will lead the Bulldogs against an emotionally-spent FAMU Rattlers squad.
Though it's the home opener at Ken Riley Field, Florida A&M displayed vulnerabilities on the defensive line that Coach Berry's staff will explore and test. Don't be surprised if South Carolina State hands the Rattlers their first home defeat in 20 games.
As the Texas Southern Tigers bus drives Northwest on HWY 290 to meet Prairie View A&M at Panthers Stadium, bragging rights are on the line for two best friends and arch-rivals in Houston. Bubba McDowell and PV have recorded nine consecutive wins in the Labor Day Classic series. Rookie head coach Cris Dishman is confident his Tigers team could finally hang a W to claim the Durley-Nicks Trophy for themselves. The primary question for TSU: Who is the starting quarterback?
Finally, one of the season's biggest games for HBCU football opens at the Orange Blossom Classic between Alabama State and North Carolina Central. Some experts believe the two combatants from the SWAC and MEAC will meet again this December in the 2024 Celebration Bowl.
Nevertheless, quarterbacks Andrew Body and Jonah O'Brien hope to debut leading the Hornets since head coach Eddie Robinson Jr. still hasn't named a starter. Walker Harris will step into the starting role after Davius Richard graduated from the Eagles program. Will the experience of former national championship head coach Trei Oliver be enough to halt the passing attack Eddie Robinson Jr. has in store on Sunday? We shall see.
HBCU Football - Week 1 / Credit: USA TODAY SPORTS
Here's the combined HBCU football schedule for the SWAC, MEAC, SIAC, and CIAA conferences from August 29, 2024, to September 2, 2024, including teams, dates, times, and broadcast information:
Alabama State Hornets / ASU Athletics
SWAC FEATURE GAMES OF THE WEEK: Texas Southern vs. Prairie View A&M, South Carolina State vs. Florida A&M, and North Carolina Central vs. Alabama State
SWAC FEATURED GAMES PREDICTIONS: Prairie View A&M 31, Texas Southern 24; South Carolina State 27, Florida A&M 24; Alabama State 27, North Carolina Central 23
Sep 16, 2023; Pasadena, California, USA; North Carolina Central Eagles head coach Trei Oliver watches game action against the UCLA Bruins during the second half at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports / Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
MEAC FEATURE GAMES OF THE WEEK: North Carolina Central vs. Alabama State, Morgan State at Hampton University
MEAC FEATURED GAMES PREDICTIONS: Alabama State 27, North Carolina Central 23; Morgan State 24, Hampton 17
Morehouse College Maroon Tigers / Credit: Kyle A. Mosley, HBCU Legends
SIAC FEATURE GAMES OF THE WEEK: Clark Atlanta at Fort Valley State; Edward Waters at Morehouse; Tuskegee vs. Johnson C. Smith
SIAC FEATURED GAMES PREDICTIONS: Clark Atlanta 21, Fort Valley State 31; Edward Waters 31, Morehouse 20; Tuskegee 38. Johnson C. Smith 31
Virginia Union running back Jada Byers breaks the tackle of Morehouse's Cameron Selders as he runs for a first-half touchdown in the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic, Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023, in Canton. / Kevin Whitlock / Massillon Independent / USA TODAY NETWORK
CIAA FEATURE GAMES OF THE WEEK: Virginia Union at Kentucky State, Tuskegee vs Johnson C. Smith, Virginia State vs Benedict
CIAA FEATURED GAMES PREDICTIONS: Virginia Union 41, Kentucky State 17; Tuskegee 38, Johnson C. Smith 31; Virginia State 27, Benedict 17
Karon Prunty / NATU Athletics
PREDICTION: Wake Forest 52, NC A&T 20; Morgan State 24, Hampton 17
Tennessee State head coach Eddie George watches his team face against Norfolk State during the first quarter of the TSU homecoming game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. / Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK
PREDICTION: Tennessee State 35, Mississippi Valley State 21
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This weekend, we will open with three featured games for the week. First-year head coaches will clash when South Carolina State visits Florida A&M inside Bragg Stadium on Saturday. Two-time HBCU Football Division II Championship head coach Chennis Berry will lead the Bulldogs against an emotionally-spent FAMU Rattlers squad.
Though it's the home opener at Ken Riley Field, Florida A&M displayed vulnerabilities on the defensive line that Coach Berry's staff will explore and test. Don't be surprised if South Carolina State hands the Rattlers their first home defeat in 20 games.
As the Texas Southern Tigers bus drives Northwest on HWY 290 to meet Prairie View A&M at Panthers Stadium, bragging rights are on the line for two best friends and arch-rivals in Houston. Bubba McDowell and PV have recorded nine consecutive wins in the Labor Day Classic series. Rookie head coach Cris Dishman is confident his Tigers team could finally hang a W to claim the Durley-Nicks Trophy for themselves. The primary question for TSU: Who is the starting quarterback?
Finally, one of the season's biggest games for HBCU football opens at the Orange Blossom Classic between Alabama State and North Carolina Central. Some experts believe the two combatants from the SWAC and MEAC will meet again this December in the 2024 Celebration Bowl.
Nevertheless, quarterbacks Andrew Body and Jonah O'Brien hope to debut leading the Hornets since head coach Eddie Robinson Jr. still hasn't named a starter. Walker Harris will step into the starting role after Davius Richard graduated from the Eagles program. Will the experience of former national championship head coach Trei Oliver be enough to halt the passing attack Eddie Robinson Jr. has in store on Sunday? We shall see.
HBCU Football - Week 1 / Credit: USA TODAY SPORTS
Here's the combined HBCU football schedule for the SWAC, MEAC, SIAC, and CIAA conferences from August 29, 2024, to September 2, 2024, including teams, dates, times, and broadcast information:
Alabama State Hornets / ASU Athletics
SWAC FEATURE GAMES OF THE WEEK: Texas Southern vs. Prairie View A&M, South Carolina State vs. Florida A&M, and North Carolina Central vs. Alabama State
SWAC FEATURED GAMES PREDICTIONS: Prairie View A&M 31, Texas Southern 24; South Carolina State 27, Florida A&M 24; Alabama State 27, North Carolina Central 23
Sep 16, 2023; Pasadena, California, USA; North Carolina Central Eagles head coach Trei Oliver watches game action against the UCLA Bruins during the second half at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports / Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
MEAC FEATURE GAMES OF THE WEEK: North Carolina Central vs. Alabama State, Morgan State at Hampton University
MEAC FEATURED GAMES PREDICTIONS: Alabama State 27, North Carolina Central 23; Morgan State 24, Hampton 17
Morehouse College Maroon Tigers / Credit: Kyle A. Mosley, HBCU Legends
SIAC FEATURE GAMES OF THE WEEK: Clark Atlanta at Fort Valley State; Edward Waters at Morehouse; Tuskegee vs. Johnson C. Smith
SIAC FEATURED GAMES PREDICTIONS: Clark Atlanta 21, Fort Valley State 31; Edward Waters 31, Morehouse 20; Tuskegee 38. Johnson C. Smith 31
Virginia Union running back Jada Byers breaks the tackle of Morehouse's Cameron Selders as he runs for a first-half touchdown in the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic, Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023, in Canton. / Kevin Whitlock / Massillon Independent / USA TODAY NETWORK
CIAA FEATURE GAMES OF THE WEEK: Virginia Union at Kentucky State, Tuskegee vs Johnson C. Smith, Virginia State vs Benedict
CIAA FEATURED GAMES PREDICTIONS: Virginia Union 41, Kentucky State 17; Tuskegee 38, Johnson C. Smith 31; Virginia State 27, Benedict 17
Karon Prunty / NATU Athletics
PREDICTION: Wake Forest 52, NC A&T 20; Morgan State 24, Hampton 17
Tennessee State head coach Eddie George watches his team face against Norfolk State during the first quarter of the TSU homecoming game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. / Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK
PREDICTION: Tennessee State 35, Mississippi Valley State 21
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