Football is a game in which you win as long as you have one more point than your opponent at the end of play.
This is especially true in a competitive conference such as the MEAC.
Still, it’s always nice to have a defense that can limit the number of points scored against you to make the offense’s job easier.
With three teams ranking in the FCS top 20 a season ago, we examine which MEAC teams have the best and worst defenses heading into the 2025 season.
6. Delaware State
Where do the Hornets need help? Take your pick.
DSU allowed 37 points per game last year, 242 yards per contest passing, and a ghastly 190 yards rushing per game, all good (or bad) for last in the MEAC.
DeSean Jackson’s recruiting class includes FBS transfers Derek Boyd (Hawai’i) and Alexander Cobbs (San Jose State) to aid the front seven, but losing defensive back and leading tackler Khaleef Jimmison to conference rival Norfolk State hurts an already inexperienced secondary a great deal.
5. Norfolk State
Speaking of the Spartans, new head coach Michael Vick has retooled the defensive side of the ball entirely, with transfers everywhere from Division II (Chowan defensive tackle Major Dillard) to FBS (Pitt defensive end David Ojiegbe). These new players will replace unit leaders A.J. Richardson (N.C. State) and Eric Etienne (Western Kentucky).
The Spartans as a unit were second tier in terms of points (28.2) and total yards (376 per game) allowed, though they did force 23 turnovers, second only to South Carolina State in the MEAC rankings. They’ll need to keep that up to make a move in the conference race this season.
4. Howard
After their 2023 MEAC title year, which featured a defensive unit ranked second in the conference, the Bison fell hard in 2024, allowing 341 total yards per game and surrendering 26 points each time out.
Considering the number of stars on their defense (Kenny Gallop Jr., Robert Jones, and Xavier Robiou in the secondary, to name a few), that is a stunning reversal.
The key for the Bison in 2025 will be generating takeaways: Their 13 takeaways in 2024 ranked last in the conference.
3. Morgan State
The Bears have assembled a top-tier defense since the arrival of head coach Damon Wilson and defensive coordinator Antone Sewell from Bowie State in 2022.
The Bears were top 3 in the MEAC in points and yards allowed, second in sacks (28) and 16th in the country in yards allowed.
Losing all-conference defensive lineman Elijah Williams to graduation diminishes the Bears’ defensive armor. Still, you can expect a new group of Morgan State players will be ready to step up in key roles in 2025.
2. South Carolina State
Chennis Berry brought some dogs—Bulldogs, that is—with him in his first season as head coach, and they were relentless in their attack, leading to a MEAC title and Celebration Bowl appearance last season.
SCSU was second behind North Carolina Central in scoring defense, total yards allowed and led the conference in rushing defense (119 yards per game) and total takeaways (25).
The Bulldogs did lose some key players, as Aaron Smith has moved on to the pros and others have hit the portal, but SC State’s bite can still be much more dangerous than its bark in defending its conference title.
1. North Carolina Central
Considering head coach Trei Oliver was an all-CIAA defensive back (and punter), it is no surprise that North Carolina Central has been solid on the defensive side of the ball.
The Eagles front seven gave teams fits in the passing game last year, collecting 28 sacks, suitable for a second-place MEAC tie with Morgan State. Central ranked tops in the conference in pass defense (151 yards per game allowed) and defensive efficiency (100.5). Their 296 yards allowed were the seventh-best in the FCS last season.
If the Eagles offense can stay a step ahead of the defense, Central will be back in the hunt for a trip to Atlanta again this season.
