On the surface, Morgan State is a sleeping giant ready to wake up and cause destruction in the MEAC and all of HBCU football.
Morgan State finished the 2023 season with a 4-6 overall record and is looking for its first winning year since 2014.
Entering their third season under head coach Damon Wilson, the Bears’ biggest strength is their defense, led by linebacker Erick Hunter and defensive lineman Elijah Williams.
Last season, they led the MEAC, allowing 21.4 points per game and 308.5 yards of total offense per game. The only thing that has held them back is consistent production from their offense.
In particular, finding consistent play at the quarterback position was a struggle, with four players shuffling throughout the season with varying levels of success.
If Morgan State can solve its problems on the offensive end, it could have the formula for being competitive in the MEAC.
Here are the game-by-game predictions for Morgan State’s 2024 football season.
8/31 Hampton- [W]
Previous Meeting: Hampton 21-12, 2016
Morgan State opens its 2024 campaign facing an opponent they have not seen in a while: former MEAC competitor Hampton. This is the first time these teams have matched up against each other since Hampton’s penultimate season in the MEAC in 2016. These two teams have completely different trajectories, with Morgan State trending upward and the Pirates trending downward. While this looks like a win for the Bears on paper, Hampton has had its success against HBCUs since leaving the MEAC, notably beating Howard last season.
Record: 1-0
9/7 Towson- [L]
Previous Meeting: Towson 20-10, 2023
The Bears will then transition into their yearly Battle of Greater Baltimore rivalry game against Towson. This series has not been kind to Morgan, losing six straight to Towson since 2011. However, they have come closer to getting a win in each of the past two years, only losing by an average of 9.0 points after losing by an average of 26.5 points in the previous four meetings. This could be an excellent opportunity for the Bears to end their losing streak against Towson should they continue on this trajectory.
Record: 1-1
9/14 Ohio- [L]
Previous Meeting: Never
Morgan State takes on the University of Ohio in their only game against an FBS opponent this season. The last time the Bears played against an FBS team, they came close to pulling off the upset, but a late turnover shattered their hopes. Morgan will have a good challenge in an Ohio team that finished the 2023 season with a 10-3 record.
Record: 1-2
9/21 Virginia University-Lynchburg- [W]
Previous Meeting: Morgan State 44-10, 2022
Things get a bit easier for the Bears as they host Virginia University-Lynchburg for their home opener. To get straight to the point, Morgan State will win this game. The only question is, will they get it over with early, or will they allow VUL to hang around?
Record: 2-2
9/28 Stony Brook- [W]
Previous Meeting: Stony Brook 24-22, 2022
Morgan State then returns to the road to take on Stony Brook, whom they were supposed to face in their homecoming contest last season. Stony Brook finished the 2023 season with a winless 0-10 record, with only one of their losses coming by a single-digit margin. However, the last time they played Morgan State, they squeaked out a win over the Bears on a game-winning field goal as time expired. This is a much better Bears team than Stony Brook played in 2022, so this should be a win for MSU.
Record: 3-2
10/5 Lincoln (PA)- [W]
Previous Meeting: Never
They will return home for their homecoming contest against Lincoln (PA). Last year, the Lions had their best season since returning to the football field in 2009, finishing with a 4-6 overall record. This will be an excellent opportunity for CIAA Offensive Player of the Year Isaiah Freeman to perform quality against an elite FCS defense.
Record: 4-2
10/12 Merrimack- [W]
Previous Meeting: Never
Morgan State will have another first-time matchup on the schedule when they host Merrimack. This will be the first time Merrimack has played against an HBCU not named Virginia University-Lynchburg since transitioning to Division I in 2019. The last time they played against a non-VUL HBCU was when they lost to Bowie State in 2015. They come into the 2024 season off a year in which they finished with a 5-6 record.
Record: 5-2
10/26 North Carolina Central- [L]
Previous Meeting: North Carolina Central 16-10, 2023
Entering conference play, Morgan State looks to snap its longest losing streak against a MEAC opponent when it faces North Carolina Central. The Bears have dropped seven straight contests to the Eagles dating back to 2012. Morgan gave NCCU all it could handle in their last matchup, with the defense limiting the Eagles’ offense to an FCS season-low 16 points (North Carolina Central scored three points against UCLA). If Morgan State’s offense has a good enough showing, this losing streak could be put to rest.
Record: 5-3, 0-1
11/2 Norfolk State- [W]
Previous Meeting: Morgan State 32-28, 2023
Morgan State comes back home for its next conference contest against Norfolk State. Last year, the Bears stole victory from the Spartans, scoring 22 unanswered points in the final 11 minutes of the fourth quarter to eke out a win. This snapped a three-game losing streak against Norfolk State. They are looking to hand the Spartans consecutive losses in this series for the first time since 2004.
Record: 6-3, 1-1
11/9 Delaware State- [W]
Previous Meeting: Morgan State 24-17, 2023
The Bears return on the road looking to extend their winning streak against the Delaware State Hornets. Morgan State has claimed five straight over Delaware State, and its last loss against them came in 2017. There is not much drama in this one, as Morgan State simply has the better team and should come away from this game unscathed.
Record: 7-3, 2-1
11/16 South Carolina State- [L]
Previous Meeting: Morgan State 20-17, 2023
In their penultimate game of the season, Morgan State returns to Baltimore for its final two games, beginning against South Carolina State. The Bears are looking for their third straight win over the Bulldogs, something they have never done in their history. This game will come down to whichever team has the more robust performance on offense. Both teams have star-studded defensive units that will impact the result.
Record: 7-4, 2-2
11/23 Howard- [W]
Previous Meeting: Howard 14-7, 2023
Morgan State’s season ends when they welcome the Howard Bison to Baltimore in what could be a pivotal matchup. Should these teams play above expectations this year, this game could decide who represents the MEAC in the Celebration Bowl. The Bears have not gotten a win over the Bison since 2016. If Morgan State wants to claim the MEAC title, this will be a huge hurdle they will have to jump.
Record: 8-4, 3-2
