Every MEAC football team has fulfilled their out-of-conference obligations and now will turn their attention to the conference championship chase, a five-week gauntlet where the winner will certainly have earned a Celebration Bowl berth.
Before the chase begins, let’s take a look at each MEAC team’s out-of-conference results, including their biggest win, their costliest loss and what we’ve learned about each team.
Delaware State
2026 Out-Of-Conference record: 4-3
Best win: 41-34 over Stony Brook Aug. 27
Worst loss: 28-3 at U. of Albany Oct. 3
What we’ve learned about the Hornets: Even though they have the same record going into MEAC play as in 2025, it’s clear DSU has taken a step back.
Losing two 1,000-yard running backs and an unstable quarterback situation puts pressure on a defense that still has problems against the pass.
The Hornets will have to find some consistency on both sides of the ball if they’re to have a chance at the MEAC title.
Howard
2026 Out-Of-Conference record: 3-4
Best win: 27-13 over Hampton Oct. 3
Worst loss: 58-7 at Rutgers Sept. 25
What we’ve learned about the Bison: It’s always hard to go home again but program legend Ted White has the Bison playing good football.
Surviving games against defending FBS champion Indiana and Rutgers, while hanging tough with Ivy League contender Penn are pretty good reasons to be optimistic.
With improvement in the trenches and healthy offensive weapons, Howard could absolutely pull off at least one MEAC upset…and possibly more.
Morgan State
2026 Out–Of-Conference record: 5-2
Best win: 38-35 at Villanova Oct. 3
Worst loss: 25-16 at Tennessee State Oct. 17
What we’ve learned about the Bears: Not much has gone wrong for Morgan State so far, even though suffering a 70-piece at the hands of Arizona State and a loss to a weakened Tennessee State team are two games they surely would love to have back.
However, the Bears have learned to win the close ones and with a tough MEAC schedule waiting, they’re already prepared for the madness October and November brings.
Norfolk State
2026 Out-Of-Conference record: 4-3
Best win: 42-21 over Hampton Sept. 19
Worst loss: 33-31 at Robert Morris Oct. 3
What we’ve learned about the Spartans: 4-3 was the best-case scenario for Norfolk State and it should be 5-2, but they couldn’t hold a late lead at Robert Morris.
That said, Michael Vick’s second year at the helm has yielded significant improvement and now they’ll try their luck against familiar – and beatable – opponents.
North Carolina Central
2026 Out-Of-Conference record: 2-5
Best win: 30-22 over North Carolina A&T Sept. 12
Worst loss: 42-30 at Texas Southern Aug. 29
What we’ve learned about the Eagles: Experience is a good teacher as Miki Howard once sang, and these Eagles under new management (read: younger players) are getting all the experience required to force a young team to grow up quickly.
Central’s best chance to establish themselves as a MEAC contender comes on Friday night at Delaware State, who spoiled their homecoming in 2025. If Central can pull that off, the rest of the league better watch out.
South Carolina State
2026 Out-Of-Conference record: 5-2
Best win: 20-17 at Furman Sept. 19
Worst loss: 49-39 at Charleston Southern Oct. 10
What we’ve learned about the Bulldogs: They’re still the team to beat in the MEAC.
The Bulldogs crushed teams they were expected to crush, they’ve won a close FCS contest, and they still have dominant forces on both sides of the ball.
Lapses in concentration cost them against The Citadel and Charleston Southern but expect South Carolina State to pull it together and be fully prepared to defend their MEAC and Celebration Bowl titles.
