MEAC releases 2018 TV football schedule

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) announced its ESPN television package for the 2018 season which features 10 regular season match-ups on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN Classic, ESPN3 and one postseason appearance on ABC. The nationally televised games are a part of the MEAC’s on-going partnership with ESPN.

The 2018 Guardian Credit Union FCS Kickoff featuring defending MEAC Champion North Carolina A&T State and Jacksonville State of the Ohio Valley Conference will air live on ESPN on Saturday, Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. from the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala.

The 14th annual MEAC/SWAC Football Challenge kicks off the first full week of the 2018 season featuring North Carolina Central versus Prairie View A&M of the SWAC live on ESPN2 at 12 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 2. N.C. Central will play in the classic for the first time in university history while PVAMU makes its second appearance. The contest moves to a neutral site for the first time since 2015 as it’ll be played in Atlanta, Ga. at “Pete Petit Field” at Georgia State Stadium.

The ESPN3/ESPNU Saturday slate kicks off on Sept. 15, as N.C. Central makes its second ESPN appearance of the season two weeks later as they’ll travel to Orangeburg, S.C. to face South Carolina State at 6 p.m. One week later, the annual Circle City Classic will feature an all-MEAC affair as Howard and Bethune-Cookman will square off in Indianapolis, Ind. at 4:30 p.m. Both games will air live on ESPN3 and broadcast that evening on ESPNU.

The first Thursday night contest of the year will air on Sept. 27, as South Carolina State travels to North Carolina A&T State for an anticipated showdown which will air live on ESPNU at 7:30 p.m.

The MEAC returns to the airwaves in the month of November with four contests headlined by N.C. Central at Bethune-Cookman on Thursday, Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m. live on ESPNU and the annual Florida Classic featuring Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M in Orlando, Fla. on Nov. 17. The Florida Classic will air live at 2 p.m. on ESPN Classic.

Two wildcard contests have been secured by the MEAC in November featuring teams in contention for the conference title. The first wildcard contest will take place on Nov. 3 followed by the final weekend of the regular season on Nov. 17. Both games will air live on ESPN3 and broadcast that evening on ESPNU.

The fourth annual Celebration Bowl wraps up the season as the MEAC Champion will square off against the SWAC Champion on Saturday, Dec. 15 in Atlanta, Ga. inside Mercedes Benz Stadium. The contest will air live on ABC at noon.

Saturday, Sept. 15  6 p.m.
N.C. Central at South Carolina State
Live on ESPN3/rebroadcast on ESPNU

Saturday, Sept. 22  4:30 p.m.
Circle City Classic (Howard vs. Bethune-Cookman)
Live on ESPN3/rebroadcast on ESPNU

Thursday, Sept. 27  7 p.m.
South Carolina State at North Carolina A&T State
Live on ESPNU

Saturday, Nov. 3  TBA
MEAC Wildcard #1
Live on ESPN3/rebroadcast on ESPNU

Thursday, Nov. 8  7 p.m.
North Carolina Central at Bethune-Cookman
Live on ESPNU

Saturday, Nov. 17  2 p.m. 
Florida Classic (Bethune-Cookman vs. Florida A&M)
Live on ESPN Classic

Saturday, Nov. 17  TBA
MEAC Wildcard #2
Live on ESPN3/rebroadcast on ESPNU

Saturday, Dec. 15  12 p.m.
Celebration Bowl (MEAC Champion vs. SWAC Champion)
Live on ABC

Courtesy: MEAC