Stats Carry out is bringing a larger highlight to athletes, college students and tales at Traditionally Black Faculties and Universities by a partnership with City Edge Community. Included within the 2024 faculty soccer season are each HBCU FCS Participant and Crew of the Week awards and a season-ending HBCU FCS Nationwide Participant of the Yr Award, every introduced by HBCU+.
Each season, many HBCU groups take their present on the street in opposition to 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 over time when HBCUs have pulled an upset in opposition to the higher-classification opponent. Former North Carolina A&T coach Sam Washington famously mentioned, “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 rather more luck being aggressive over time 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 take 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 in opposition to Huge Ten competitors. The Scarlet Knights might take a look at the Bison as an excellent tune-up earlier than they ratchet up the competitors, however overlooking them could be a mistake. Let’s not neglect Howard was thought-about a large 45-point underdog earlier than it pulled an 43-40 upset of UNLV to start out 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 be to construct on that nice end early on this new season with an excellent efficiency in opposition to a top quality SEC program. UAPB misplaced to Tulsa 42-7 to start out final season and now it steps up at school in-state to tackle Arkansas, which is able to look to start out 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 over top-of-the-line Group of 5 applications. This sport will likely be a wonderful 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’s what gamers like preseason SWAC offensive participant of the yr Myles Crawley realized from that sport that can assist them be extra aggressive in opposition to 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 in opposition to South Florida. Now they’ll head to Miami to tackle the Hurricanes in Week 2. Can they proceed to shut the hole on FBS applications 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 will likely be seeking 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 crew 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 in opposition to an SEC East member is simply the kind that gives the Braves with a way of how they might stack up in opposition to the SWAC’s finest groups. Final season, Vanderbilt dealt with Alabama A&M from the SWAC pretty simply. Will the Braves fare higher below 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 crew escaped with a 24-21 victory. Morgan State is again with what it hopes will likely 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, dropping 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 an excellent check in an space he is aware of nicely after they journey to Statesboro to tackle Georgia Southern. He’s a graduate of Savannah State, so a aggressive sport in opposition to the Eagles might go a great distance in strengthening recruiting relationships.
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