NORFOLK, Va. (MEAC) – The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) announced its 2016 football schedule featuring eight regular season matchups scheduled to be televised on ESPN, ESPNU, and ESPN Classic, as well as carried on ESPN3. The nationally televised games are a part of the MEAC’s ongoing partnership with ESPN.
“We are excited about the 2016 football television schedule that offers our fans many ways to stay tuned into their favorite MEAC football team,” said MEAC Commissioner Dennis Thomas. “Our partnership with ESPN continues to showcase our talented student-athletes, coaches and institutions through multiple ESPN platforms and further illustrates this tremendous partnership we have built over the years with the Worldwide Leader in Sports.”
The 2016 television schedule kicks off with the 12th annual MEAC/SWAC Football Challenge featuring Bethune-Cookman and the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s Alcorn State. The game will be televised live on Sunday, September 4 beginning at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN.
The ESPNU Thursday night lineup includes matchups featuring Hampton at North Carolina A&T State on Sept. 29, Norfolk State at North Carolina A&T State on Oct. 6 and North Carolina A&T State at Bethune-Cookman on Oct. 13. All three games are slated to start at 7:30 p.m. and will air live on ESPNU and WatchESPN.
The Saturday slate begins with Bethune-Cookman visiting South Carolina State on Oct. 8 and Bethune-Cookman at Norfolk State on Oct. 22. Both games will air live on ESPN3 and replayed later on ESPNU.
The 2016 MEAC schedule wraps up with the Florida Classic featuring Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M. The game will air live on ESPN Classic and ESPN3 on Nov. 19. There will be one game determined for the final week of the season between two teams in contention for the MEAC Championship that will also air live on ESPN3 and replayed later on ESPNU on Nov. 19.
The MEAC will participate in the second annual Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl pitting the champion of the conference against the champion of the SWAC in a post season bowl game on Saturday, December 17 in Atlanta, Georgia at the Georgia Dome. The matchup will be televised live at Noon on ABC.
All games can also be viewed via live stream on computers, smartphones, tablets, Xbox and Apple TV via the WatchESPN application.
2016 MEAC Football Television Schedule
| Date | Game | Network | Time |
| Sunday, September 4 | MEAC/SWAC Challenge – Alcorn State at Bethune-Cookman | ESPN | 1 p.m. |
| Thursday, September 29 | Hampton at North Carolina A&T State | ESPNU | 7:30 p.m. |
| Thursday, October 6 | Norfolk State at North Carolina A&T State | ESPNU | 7:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, October 8 | Bethune-Cookman at South Carolina State | ESPN3/Replayed on ESPNU | 1:30 p.m. |
| Thursday, October 13 | North Carolina A&T State at Bethune-Cookman | ESPNU | 7:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, October 22 | Bethune-Cookman at Norfolk State | ESPN3/Replayed on ESPNU | 2 p.m. |
| Saturday, November 19 | Florida Classic – Bethune-Cookman vs. Florida A&M | ESPN Classic/ESPN3 | 2 p.m. |
| Saturday, November 19 | Teams To Be Announced | ESPN3/Replayed on ESPNU | TBD |
| Saturday, December 17 | Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl – MEAC Champion vs. SWAC Champion | ABC | Noon |
