Stats Perform is bringing a greater spotlight to athletes, students and stories at Historically Black Colleges and Universities through a partnership with Urban Edge Network. Included in the 2024 college football season are both HBCU FCS Player and Team of the Week awards and a season-ending HBCU FCS National Player of the Year Award, each presented by HBCU+.
The arrival of the 2024 college football season brings with it the race for HBCU supremacy across the FCS.
This appears to be one of the more wide-open seasons in recent history, as a handful of different teams could represent the MEAC and the SWAC in the season-ending Celebration Bowl, which is all but considered the HBCU national championship game.
Along the way, college football fans will be witness to some of the best matchups in the FCS.
Let’s take a look at 10 key HBCU games that should go a long way toward deciding which teams will punch their ticket to Atlanta for the Dec. 14 finale.
Florida A&M vs Norfolk State (Cricket MEAC-SWAC Challenge)
Kickoff: Aug. 24 in Atlanta
What to Know: The game that kicks off the HBCU season features reigning Celebration Bowl champion Florida A&M. The question is, will the “Strike and Strike Again” mantra remain following the departure of coach Willie Simmons (now Duke’s running backs coach) and quarterback Jeremy Moussa. The Rattlers, now guided by coach James Colzie III, will have their hands full with a Norfolk State team that returns a lot of young talent from the 2023 season. The Spartans are playing for the first time in the season-opening matchup between the two HBCU conferences, which began in 2005.
(For more, here’s our MEAC season preview and SWAC season preview)
Texas Southern vs Prairie View A&M
Kickoff: Aug. 31 in Prairie View, Texas
What to Know: Last season, these two teams kicked off what turned out to be an exciting, competitive year for the SWAC with Prairie View winning 37-34 in overtime. Both teams would go on to record big wins throughout the season. In the SWAC’s 2024 preseason poll, Prairie View was chosen to finish second in the West Division, one season after getting to the conference championship game. Texas Southern will look to finish the job it left just short to begin last year’s campaign. Although the Tigers were picked to finish last in the West, they placed six players on the All-SWAC preseason team. This is an early game that could have late-season implications.
North Carolina Central at Alabama State (Orange Blossom Classic)
Kickoff: Sept. 1 in Miami Gardens, Florida
What to Know: This is a MEAC-SWAC crossover game that matches two teams with a legitimate chance of reaching the Celebration Bowl. It will be a test for NCCU as it seeks to replace do-everything quarterback Davius Richard, a four-year starter. The Eagles also lost a bevy of players to transfers following a 9-3 season. Alabama State is coming off a 7-4 season and is penciled in as the preseason favorite to represent the SWAC East in the conference championship. The Hornets had eight players named to the preseason All-SWAC first and second teams, including four defensive picks on the first team.
Jackson State at Grambling State
Kickoff: Sept. 21 in Grambling, Louisiana
What to Know: Jackson State travels to Grambling State in one of the season’s key HBCU games, although it doesn’t count toward the SWAC’s conference standings. These teams, who did not meet last season, feature two of the better offenses in the conference. The last time they met, JSU racked up 66 points at home, so the Grambling faithful will be hyped up for their squad to play at home. The visiting Tigers boast wide receiver Fabian McCray, who was named to the HBCU+ FCS National Player of the Year Award preseason watch list. It’s a list that includes Grambling State quarterback Myles Crawley.
Morgan State at North Carolina Central
Kickoff: Oct. 26 in Durham, North Carolina
What to Know: This is a massive game in the MEAC. Last season, Morgan State defense held a vaunted NCCU offense to three points through three quarters. In the fourth quarter, though, the Eagles took flight behind three scoring drives and held off the Bears for a 16-10 victory. This despite Morgan State outgaining NCCU on the ground and through the air. This season, the Bears believe their offense will carry a little more responsibility, and with a loaded defense, that could be enough to shift this game toward the Bears even while traveling into the Eagles’ homecoming game.
Jackson State at Alcorn State
Kickoff: Nov. 23 in Lorman, Mississippi
What to Know: Alcorn State is predicted to finish first in the SWAC West, signaling lofty expectations for first-year coach Cedric Thomas, who guides a squad that fell just short of a place in the 2023 conference championship game. Rival Jackson State has returned to being a perennial SWAC East contender and will be highly motivated considering the Braves made their way out of Jackson last season with a 28-24 victory. The Tigers had five players named to the preseason All-SWAC preseason team after having only one player recognized (yes, a motivation) before coach TC Taylor’s first season. Can he return the Tigers to Atlanta after they enjoyed the trip in back-to-back seasons under former coach Deion Sanders? This crossover game will hold significant value to the winner.
Florida A&M at Bethune-Cookman (Florida Classic)
Kickoff: Nov. 23 in Orlando, Florida
What to Know: A much-improved Bethune-Cookman team that’s led by one of the better defenses in the SWAC will be locked and loaded for the Florida Classic, and there could be major East Division ramifications from this game. The Wildcats are trying to go from the basement, after posting only seven total wins over the past three seasons, to the penthouse. What better way for the ‘Cats to do it than by defeating their archrival and keeping it from a title repeat? This could be one of the series’ better games recently.
Howard at Morgan State
Kickoff: Nov. 23 in Baltimore
What to Know: Last season, a late-game comeback over Morgan State punched Howard’s ticket to the Celebration Bowl. Now the defending MEAC champion Bison are the favorites to represent the conference once again. They have the conference’s preseason offensive (running back Jarett Hunter) and defensive (safety Kenny Gallop Jr.) players of the year as well as 10 other players on the preseason first and second teams. However, Morgan State should have one of the best defenses in the FCS, led by linebacker Erick Hunter and defensive lineman Elijah WiIliams. A defense that held the Bison to 14 points in their 2023 clash also boasts three other preseason all-conference selections. If they can find consistency on offense behind sophomore quarterback Tahj Smith, they may turn the table on Howard. As one of the season’s key HBCU games, it has the potential to be a de facto MEAC championship game.
Grambling State at Southern (Bayou Classic)
Kickoff: Nov. 30 in New Orleans
What to Know: These rivals were picked to finish third (Southern) and fourth (Grambling State) in the SWAC West. That’s convenient when you consider the magnitude of this rivalry. It’s even more juicy when you consider both teams are in legitimate contention to represent the West in the conference championship game. Grambling is led by Crawley, the SWAC preseason offensive player of the year, while Southern boasts preseason defensive player of the year Ckelby Givens. It’s a classic battle of offense versus defense that could decide the SWAC West.
SWAC Championship Game
Kickoff: Dec. 7 at TBD
What to Know: The SWAC is the only FCS conference to hold an annual championship game, and it’s been hosted by the top-ranked regular-season team since 2018. The winner between the East and West champions will advance to play in the Celebration Bowl one week later, as opposed to the two weeks of past years. Florida A&M beat Prairie View A&M 35-14 last season, but the 2024 SWAC matchup can go in one of many different directions. Grambling State (eight) and Alcorn State (four) have won the championship game the most times since its start in 1999.
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