The college football season returns, and two historically Black colleges and universities(HBCUs) are set to kick off the action with a MEAC-SWAC clash.
North Carolina Central University(NCCU), representing the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference(MEAC), will face Southern University(Southern), the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC)representative, in the Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge on Aug. 23 at Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET and will air nationally on ABC.
This will be NCCU’s third appearance in the annual game, with the Eagles holding a 1-1 record. Southern, making its fourth trip, has never lost in the matchup, going 3-0.
Both programs finished above .500 last season, combining for 16 wins and eight losses. Eight players for the eagles earned first-team all-conference honors, five of them on offense led by quarterback Walker Harris.
Harris, entering his senior year, said during MEAC Media Day he is focused on consistency.
“I’m looking to improve tremendously,” Harris said. “I want to take that next step in becoming an elite-level quarterback. The biggest thing for me is consistency. I have to be an elite passer and an elite quarterback from the first quarter to the fourth quarter.”
Southern’s defense, ranked in the top three in the SWAC last season, will look to slow him down. Senior linebacker Vincent Paige Jr. returns after leading the Jaguars with 84 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, five and a half sacks, six quarterback hurries, and two forced fumbles. He finished in the conference’s top 10 in tackles.
Defensive lineman Kelby Givens, who led the SWAC in tackles for loss and ranked second in sacks, also returns. Both Givens and Harris are on the HBCU National Player of the Year preseason watch list. Paige and Givens, along with cornerback Horacio Johnson, earned first-team All-SWAC defensive honors.
Johnson started 12 games last season, recording 74 tackles, one and a half tackles for loss, two interceptions, six pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.
NCCU was picked to finish second in the MEAC preseason poll, while Southern was picked first in the SWAC.
Eagles head coach Trei Oliver didn’t hold back when asked to finish the sentence: “If you’re sleeping on North Carolina Central this season…”
“You’re gonna get mopped,” Oliver said.
Jaguars head coach Terrance Graves said his team is always prepared.
“When you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready,” Graves said. “Playing in Atlanta is a great opportunity to play against a great institution,great program.” He continued,”We’re in this to win, if you’re not in this to win, what are you doing?”
