Stats Carry out is bringing a higher highlight to athletes, college students and tales at Traditionally Black Faculties and Universities by a partnership with City Edge Community. Included within the 2024 school soccer season are each HBCU FCS Participant and Workforce of the Week awards and a season-ending HBCU FCS Nationwide Participant of the Yr Award, every offered by HBCU+.
Each season, many HBCU groups take their present on the street towards FBS opponents, gaining excessive competitors, publicity and a monetary sport assure to assist preserve their athletic departments sustainable.
Whereas most are thought-about tune-up video games, there have been a handful of occasions through the years when HBCUs have pulled an upset towards the higher-classification opponent. Former North Carolina A&T coach Sam Washington famously stated, “Inform ’em to convey me my cash,” after his Aggies defeated East Carolina again in 2018 – the most-recent HBCU vs. FBS win.
The MEAC has had far more luck being aggressive through the years than the SWAC. It’s been 39 years since Grambling State took down Oregon State to safe an FBS win for the convention.
Is that this the yr for extra upsets?
Let’s check out some HBCU vs. FBS matchups early this season that command a highlight, with some having the potential to be intriguing late .
Howard at Rutgers (Aug. 29)
That is the primary have a look at the Bison, the defending MEAC champions. They boast the convention’s preseason offensive (working again Jarett Hunter) and defensive (security Kenny Gallop Jr.) gamers of the yr, and can look to gauge the place they’re as a program towards Large Ten competitors. The Scarlet Knights might have a look at the Bison as a very good tune-up earlier than they ratchet up the competitors, however overlooking them could be a mistake. Let’s not overlook Howard was thought-about an enormous 45-point underdog earlier than it pulled an 43-40 upset of UNLV to begin the 2017 season.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Arkansas (Aug. 29)
The 2023 season was not nice for the Golden Lions, as they solely received two video games. One was a 35-34 victory over Texas Southern within the season finale. Now UAPB seems to construct on that nice end early on this new season with a very good efficiency towards a top quality SEC program. UAPB misplaced to Tulsa 42-7 to begin final season and now it steps up at school in-state to tackle Arkansas, which is able to look to begin quick and overwhelm the Golden Lions. The guests will attempt to preserve this HBCU vs. FBS sport aggressive and probably steal it late.
Grambling State at Louisiana (Aug. 31)
Grambling kicks off a season with excessive expectations by taking up probably the greatest Group of 5 packages. This sport shall be a superb barometer for the Tigers, who ultimately hope to show they’re able to win the SWAC title. Final season, they have been dominated at LSU 72-10. One secret is what gamers like preseason SWAC offensive participant of the yr Myles Crawley realized from that sport that may assist them be extra aggressive towards the Ragin’ Cajuns.
Florida A&M at Miami (Sept. 7)
Two seasons in the past, FAMU traveled to North Carolina and put a scare into the Tar Heels trustworthy early within the sport. Final season, they adopted up a season-opening win over Jackson State with a detailed, 38-24 loss towards South Florida. Now they’ll head to Miami to tackle the Hurricanes in Week 2. Can they proceed to shut the hole on FBS packages or will they be humbled by the ‘Canes, now led by former FCS quarterback Cameron Ward, the 2020 Jerry Rice Award recipient at UIW?
Texas Southern at Rice (Sept. 7)
Final season, these two groups performed in Week 3 and Rice put up 42 factors within the first half of a 59-7 romp. This season, they’re assembly per week earlier, and the Tigers shall be trying to present how a lot they’ve closed the hole from final season’s efficiency. Their new coach, two-time NFL Professional Bowl cornerback Cris Dishman, is aware of protection, and it begins along with his workforce with linebacker Jacob Williams.
Alcorn State at Vanderbilt (Sept. 7)
Alcorn State has aspirations of getting again to the season-ending Celebration Bowl for the primary time since 2019, and a matchup towards an SEC East member is simply the kind that gives the Braves with a way of how they could stack up towards the SWAC’s greatest groups. Final season, Vanderbilt dealt with Alabama A&M from the SWAC pretty simply. Will the Braves fare higher underneath new coach Cedric Thomas?
Morgan State at Ohio U. (Sept. 14)
Morgan State almost upset one other MAC opponent, Akron, early final season. The Bears led that sport 21-17 with lower than a minute remaining till a fumble resulted in a Zips landing, and the house workforce escaped with a 24-21 victory. Morgan State is again with what it hopes shall be one other suffocating protection, with veterans in any respect three ranges. The distinction this season might come on offense, the place they need to be a lot improved with extra explosive components.
South Carolina State at Georgia Southern (Sept. 14)
South Carolina State didn’t fare nicely in two HBCU vs. FBS contests final yr, shedding 24-3 to Charlotte and 48-13 to Georgia Tech. Legendary Bulldog Coach Buddy Pough later retired after 21 years because the Bulldogs coach. Chennis Berry, the brand new coach, will attempt to return this system to the excellence throughout Pough’s prime years. He’ll get a very good check in an space he is aware of nicely once they journey to Statesboro to tackle Georgia Southern. He’s a graduate of Savannah State, so a aggressive sport towards the Eagles may go a great distance in strengthening recruiting relationships.
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