The reigning Celebration Bowl champion Florida A&M Rattlers enter the 2024 season with a completely different team roster from the previous year.
For the first time since 2017, the Rattlers will not have Willie Simmons roaming the sidelines. He has now moved on to the ACC as an assistant at Duke.
In his place is FAMU assistant James Colzie III, who is entering his first head coaching job at the Division I level.
Colzie will be working with a team that is moving on from the reigning SWAC Offensive Player of the Year, Jeremy Moussa, and SWAC Defensive Player of the Year, Isaiah Major, among other changes the Rattlers went through in the offseason.
Here is the game-by-game prediction for Florida A&M’s 2024 football season.
8/24 vs Norfolk State- W
Last Meeting: Florida A&M 30-28
Florida A&M begins its season in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge, facing off against the Norfolk State Spartans. This will make the Rattlers the first team to have represented the MEAC and SWAC in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge. Since snapping a five-game losing streak in this series in 2017, the SWAC has been on a roll, winning four of the last six matchups, including wins in the previous two MEAC/SWAC Challenges. Florida A&M is looking to give the SWAC three straight wins for the first time in the game’s existence.
Record: 1-0
8/31 vs South Carolina State- W
Last Meeting: Florida A&M 20-14, 2022
Florida A&M will enter Bragg Stadium with another matchup against the MEAC, playing its home opener against South Carolina State. This will be the first game for South Carolina in the Chennis Berry era going against a FAMU team they nearly knocked off in their most recent matchup. After leading 20-0 through three quarters, the Rattlers were able to hang on for the win after surrendering two consecutive fourth-quarter touchdowns. This will be an excellent test for two teams ushering in new rosters and could potentially be a preview of this year’s Celebration Bowl.
Record: 2-0
9/7 at Miami- L
Last Meeting: Miami 70-3, 2016
The Rattlers will get away from the MEAC in their third game of the season, taking a trip to the ACC to face off against the University of Miami. The last time FAMU faced Miami, it did not go well, as they lost by 67 points. Florida A&M has a much better team this time, providing a better opportunity for them to have a much more competitive contest against the Power Five opponent.
Record: 2-1
9/21 at Troy- L
Last Meeting: Troy 59-7, 2018
After a bye week, Florida A&M will face another FBS opponent on the road at Troy. The Rattlers will face a Troy team that recorded its second 10-win season in a row, finishing with an 11-3 record. This will be another great test for a Florida A&M team that has not lost consecutive games in a single year since the 2018 season.
Record: 2-2
9/28 vs Alabama A&M- W
Last Meeting: Florida A&M 42-28, 2023
Florida A&M begins its quest for back-to-back SWAC championships when they play Alabama A&M in their conference opener. These two teams went on a war of runs last year, starting with FAMU taking a 17-0 lead in the first quarter, followed by AAMU scoring 21 unanswered points to take the lead before the half. The Rattlers finished the job, forcing two Alabama A&M turnovers in the third quarter (leading to 10 points) on their way to victory. They should win this game easily because Florida A&M has significantly more talent than Alabama A&M.
Record: 3-2, 1-0
10/5 at Alabama State- L
Last Meeting: Florida A&M 23-10, 2023
These next two games could make or break the Rattlers as they go on the road to face their top competition in the SWAC East, beginning with Alabama State. The last time Florida A&M played Alabama State in Montgomery, in the 2022 season, they won a thriller, returning a blocked game-winning field goal attempt for a touchdown as time expired.
Last year, although Florida A&M came away with the win, Alabama State’s defense gave them problems, limiting them to a season-low 23 points and 59 rushing yards (lowest in conference play).
This time around, Alabama State will have a more potent offense to complement its outstanding defense, making it a tougher matchup for the Rattlers. This game could go either way, but homecourt advantage could provide Bama State with the boost it needs to snap its losing streak against FAMU.
Record: 3-3, 1-1
10/19 at Jackson State- W
Last Meeting: Florida A&M 28-10, 2023
In their second game on their SWAC East road trip, the Rattlers face another key test in a battle with Jackson State. Florida A&M overcame late-game adversity to finally get over the hump and knock off Jackson State in last year’s matchup.
This is an important game that could decide the SWAC East’s representative in the conference championship game. Although the Tigers could be better equipped to beat the Rattlers in their second season under head coach T.C. Taylor, they still are a long way from competing with FAMU.
Record: 4-3, 2-1
10/26 vs Southern- W
Last Meeting: Florida A&M 26-19, 2023
The Rattlers will return to their home field for a potential SWAC championship preview against the Southern Jaguars. Southern gave Florida A&M a run for its money the last time they played, becoming the only SWAC team to lead in the fourth quarter against them all season. The Jagssucceeded against the Rattlers’ run game, limiting them to 2.9 yards per carry on 23 attempts.
However, Jeremy Moussa helped weather the storm, leading the Rattlers to a game-winning drive, and then the defense finished the job, getting a stop of fourth down to secure the win. Do not be surprised to see this game go down to the wire again.
Record: 5-3, 3-1
11/2 vs Texas Southern- W
Last Meeting: Florida A&M 31-21, 2023
In the second game of a back-to-back home tilt, Florida A&M welcomes Texas Southern to Bragg Stadium. Florida A&M struggled with the Tigers in their matchup last season, needing a 21-point third quarter to squeak past them for the win. Texas Southern is coming off a disastrous offseason highlighted by a tumultuous search for a new head coach. Unless the Rattlers completely break down, they have no reason to have any trouble winning this game.
Record: 6-3, 4-1
11/9 at Prairie View A&M- W
Last Meeting: Florida A&M 35-14, 2023
In a rematch of last year’s SWAC championship game, Florida A&M goes back on the road to play against Prairie View A&M. FAMU played PV twiceprevioust season winning both contests by a combined score of 80-21. The Rattlers’ defense was vital in those wins, forcing three interceptions in each game while recording 13 total sacks. Not much has changed for Prairie View A&M this season, so there’s no reason to believe they will fare any better against FAMU this time.
Record: 7-3, 5-1
11/16 vs Mississippi Valley State- W
Last Meeting: Florida A&M 31-7, 2023 Florida A&M welcomes the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devil in their final home game of the season. Don’t let last year’s game’s 31-7 score fool you; FAMU had its troubles with the Delta Devils. The Rattlers did not score their first offensive touchdown until late in the third quarter, recording interceptions in their last drive of the first half and their first drive of the second half. There is no doubt that Florida A&M will win this game; the only question is how hard Mississippi Valley State will make them work for it.
Record: 8-3, 6-1
11/23 vs Bethune-Cookman- W
Last Meeting: Florida A&M 24-7, 2023
Their 2024 season wraps up as it does yearly in Orlando, Florida, playing in the Florida Classic against their heated rival Bethune-Cookman Wildcats. Florida A&M has not lost to Bethune-Cookman since transitioning to the SWAC, marking the longest win streak in this series since they won three straight from 2008-2010.
They are looking to win four straight against BCU for the first time since they won seven straight from 1995 to 2001.
On paper, this is the best Bethune-Cookman team they will have faced in the SWAC and could conceivably give Florida A&M some problems. However, the Rattlers are still the superior team and should get past the Wildcats on their way to a second straight SWAC championship berth.
2024 Record: 9-3, 7-1
