DURHAM, N.C. – After capturing a share of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship and posting the most wins as a FCS program last season, North Carolina Central University’s 11-game 2015 football schedule features two FBS opponents and five home games.
During the 2014 campaign under the leadership of first-year head coach Jerry Mack, NCCU posted seven victories, including the program’s first win over a nationally-ranked FCS opponent.
NCCU kicks off the 2015 season on Sept. 5 by hosting Saint Augustine’s, a former Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association foe, at 6 p.m. inside O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium. This will be the 31st meeting between the Falcons and Eagles, with NCCU holding a 27-2-1 advantage in the series. In the last match-up on Sept. 7, 2013 in Durham, it took double-overtime for the Eagles to edge SAU, 23-20.
The Eagles reunite with Durham neighbor Duke University on Sept. 12 in the first game played inside the newly renovated Wallace Wade Stadium. The Blue Devils have won all for contests in the series that started in 2009.
NCCU faces its second straight Division I-FBS opponent on Sept. 19 with a trip to Miami to play Florida International University out of Conference USA. This will be the first meeting between the Eagles and the FIU Panthers.
After a bye week, NCCU begins MEAC play by hosting fellow conference co-champions Bethune-Cookman on Oct. 3 at 4 p.m. The Eagles defeated the Wildcats in the first meeting back in 1994, but B-CU has beaten NCCU in each of the last five contests since 2010.
NCCU makes a return trip to Florida to challenge the Rattlers of Florida A&M on Oct. 10 in Tallahassee. In the last meeting at Bragg Memorial Stadium, the Rattlers rallied for a 22-21 win over the Eagles on Nov. 10, 2012. FAMU leads the series 6-1-1.
The Eagles stay on the road for an Oct. 17 match-up against Savannah State in Georgia, as the Tigers host NCCU for its homecoming. The Eagles have won the last three meetings with SSU to push the series advantage to 7-2-1.
NCCU returns to O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium on Oct. 24 to welcome the Bears of Morgan State for a 2 p.m. kickoff. In last year’s clash, MSU scored a touchdown with 32 seconds left to complete a 13-point, fourth-quarter comeback victory over the Eagles in Baltimore. The Bears have won seven of the last nine meetings with NCCU to extend their series cushion to 23-13-2.
NCCU celebrates Homecoming on Oct. 31 when the Eagles host Norfolk State at 2 p.m. A fourth-quarter special teams touchdown proved to be the winning margin for NCCU in Norfolk a year ago, as the Eagles improved their series advantage to 7-5 over the Spartans.
For the third consecutive week, the Eagles will play at home inside O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium, this time against Delaware State on Nov. 7 at 2 p.m. for NCCU Senior Day. The Eagles and Hornets last played in a double-overtime thriller in 2012, with NCCU celebrating a 23-20 victory.
NCCU travels to the nation’s capital for a match-up against Howard on Nov. 14. The Eagles beat the Bison 27-22 last season in Durham to even the series at 9-9-1.
The Eagles close out the regular season in Greensboro with the 87th meeting against rival North Carolina A&T on Nov. 21. NCCU ended its 2014 campaign with a 21-14 triumph over the Aggies to earn a share of the conference title.
NCCU will hold its spring football game on Friday, April 10 at 6 p.m. inside O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium.
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