As MEAC play doesn’t begin until October, the conference’s six football members will have a heavy slate of non-conference games to get through before then.
Here’s our look at each MEAC team’s non-conference schedule for the 2025 season.
Delaware State
Non-conference schedule: at Delaware Aug. 28, vs. Albany Sept. 6, vs. Bowie State Sept. 13, at St. Francis (PA) Sept. 20, at Sacred Heart Sept. 27, at Monmouth Oct. 4, vs. Southern Connecticut State Oct. 11.
Outlook: The DeSean Jackson era begins with the Route 1 Rivalry against now-FBS Delaware, a game in which the Hornets have never won and have rarely been close.
It may not be fair to judge DSU from that game, but the true test will be the next six visits from Albany and Bowie State, followed by a three-game road trip through the Northeast Conference before homecoming against Southern Connecticut State.
For a team that’s won just two games in the last two years, two or more wins here would be a step in the right direction for the Hornets.
Schedule grade: B+
Howard
Non-conference schedule: vs. Florida A&M at Orange Blossom Classic Aug. 30, at Temple Sept. 6, vs. Morehouse at HBCUNY Classic Sept. 13, vs. Hampton at Truth and Services Classic Sept. 20, at Richmond Sept. 27, at Sacred Heart Oct. 11, at Tennessee State Oct. 18.
Outlook: The Bison’s road to rebounding after a rough 2024 has plenty of miles, with trips to Miami Gardens, Philly, North Jersey, the Commonwealth’s capital, Connecticut, and Music City scheduled for 2025.
Good showings will be key in each contest, especially against Hampton, where they appear to have been snakebitten in the Battle of the real HU. Larry Scott likes to prepare his team with challenging non-conference games, so Howard should be ready for MEAC play. What their record will be when MEAC play starts is anybody’s guess.
Schedule grade: A
Morgan State
Non-conference schedule: at South Alabama Aug. 30, vs. Towson Sept. 6, at Toledo Sept. 13, vs. Central State Sept. 20, vs. Miles at the Circle City Classic Sept. 27, at Georgetown Oct. 4, vs. Virginia University of Lynchburg Oct. 11.
Outlook: The Bears’ non-conference schedule is interesting, with two D-II programs, an FBS squad, their annual battle of Baltimore with Towson, and VUL.
The Bears should do well with this schedule, and hopefully, it will prepare them for the MEAC season, where there are two favorites. Morgan State could easily be a third contender for the Celebration Bowl.
Schedule grade: B-
Norfolk State
Non-conference schedule: vs. Towson Aug. 28, vs. Virginia State in the Labor Day Classic Sept. 6, at Rutgers Sept. 13, vs. Sacred Heart Sept. 20, at Wagner Sept. 27, at Hampton Oct. 4, at Wofford Oct. 11.
Outlook: Michael Vick’s coaching debut against Towson will be live on the ESPN family of networks, so folks will see what he and his team will look like very early on.
The rest of the Spartans’ schedule is a fair mix of FBS teams, including the annual Battle of the Bay and the Labor Day Classic. If Norfolk State can come out of this stretch with multiple wins, it could make some noise in the MEAC.
Schedule grade: A
North Carolina Central
Non-conference schedule: vs. Southern at MEAC/SWAC Challenge Aug. 23, vs. New Hampshire Aug. 30, at Old Dominion Sept. 6, vs. Fayetteville State Sept. 13, at North Carolina A&T Sept. 27, at East Texas A&M Sept. 27, at Florida A&M Oct. 11.
Outlook: Picked second in the MEAC preseason polls, the Eagles will have several non-conference challenges to prepare for conference play.
SWAC West champ Southern, a home game with CAA contender New Hampshire, and a trip to Old Dominion highlight their schedule in the first three weeks of play.
Rivalry-level games with North Carolina A&T and FAMU also will give us a clue as to how good Central can be.
Schedule grade: A+
South Carolina State
Non-conference schedule: at Wofford Aug. 30, at South Carolina Sept. 6, vs. Bethune-Cookman Oct. 13, at South Florida Sept. 20, at Charleston Southern Sept. 27, vs. Savannah State Oct. 4, at North Carolina A&T Oct. 11.
Outlook: The defending MEAC champion Bulldogs will have their hands full early with trips to Wofford, South Carolina, and South Florida in the season’s first three weeks.
Bethune-Cookman and Savannah State coming to Dawson Stadium will be good HBCU rivalry games, but SCSU should come out on top, ready to defend their conference title.
Schedule grade: A
