ORANGEBURG, SC— SC State (1-3) of the MEAC returns home to face the visiting Florida A&M Rattlers (3-2), in an non-conference matchup Saturday (Oct. 8^th) at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium/Willie Jeffries Field. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. and will televised on ESPN+.
 
This will be then home opener for Coach Buddy Pough and his team, which played its first four contests on the road, including two games against FBS opponents.
 
The Bulldogs and Rattlers are going in opposite directions as the visitors have won three straight after two straight losses to open the 2022 campaign. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, the Bulldogs have dropped two in a row and three of four. Coach Pough's team will be trying to snap a two-game slide against FAMU who grabbed a dominant 30-7 win at Tallahassee last season and won a 42-38 shootout on its last visit to Orangeburg in 2018
 
The Attraction
SC State will be celebrating Youth/ROTC/Garnet Day. Youth groups, Junior ROTC brigades and members of the Armed Forces have been invited to the contest and will be recognized. All Bulldog fans are asked to wear Garnet
 
The Polls
Both SC State and FAMU are ranked in the 2022 Box-to-Row Coaches and Media Polls for HBCUs. In the Coaches Poll, the Rattlers are sixth, followed by the Bulldogs, who are seventh. The Media Poll has FAMU fourth, with SC State 10^th. Jackson State is number one in both polls.
 
The Series
The Bulldogs and Rattlers are meeting for the 57th time in a series that began in 1930. The visiting Rattlers lead the rivalry 33-23. The Rattlers have won the last two meetings, including a 30-7 triumph at Tallahassee last year. In its last visit to Orangeburg, FAMU won a 42-38 shootout. The Bulldogs' last triumph was a 44-21 triumph at Tallahassee in 2018.
 
Players to Watch
 SC State Offense:
#2 QB Corey Fields, 6-0, 190 Gr. (41-93-5, 511 yds., 6TDs), #3 QB Tyrece Nick, 6-0, 170 Gr. (5-8-1, 77 yds.), #26 RB Kendrell Flowers, 6-0, 220 r-So. (38 rushes, 184 yds., 2TDs), #6 RB Jacory Benson, 5-9, 180 Gr. (28 rushes, 94 yds., 0TDs), #1 WR Shaq Davis, 6-5, 180 r-Jr. (12 rcpts., 311 yds., 3TDs); #86 WR Richard Bailey, 5-10, 150 r-Sr. (6 rcpts., 44 yds., 1TD); #78 LG Nick Taiste, 6-2, 295 So., #76 C Eric Brown, Jr. 6-3, 336 So.
 
SC State Defense:
#5 LB BJ Davis, 6-2, 190 Sr. (25T, 15A, 2TFL, 2Int., 2-time MEAC Defensive Player of the Week); #8 FS Jalen Barr, 6-0, 190 Gt. (23T, 4A, 1TFL), #11 LB Aaron Smith, 6-2, 218 r-So. (13T,11A, 3TFL, 1 Sack), #34 DE Jeblonski Green, 6-2, 275 r-Jr., (5T, 8A, 3TFL, 1Sack
 
Florida A&M Offense:
 QB Jeremy Moussa, (104-180-3, 1248 yds., 8TDs), RB Terrell Jennings (43 rushes, 189 yds., 5TDs), RB Jaylen McCloud (31 rushes, 117 yds., 3 TDs, WR Xavier Smith (43 rcpts., 449 yds., 6TDs), WR Jah'Marae Sheread, 18 rcpts., 259 yds., 0TDs)
 
Florida A&M Defense:
#0 Isaiah Major (26T, 13A, 2TFL, 1 Sack), #27 Nadariuis Fagan (8T, 13A, 1 Sack, 1 Int.), #8 Eric Smith (9T, 8A,), #6 Tim Williams Jr. (14T, 5A, 1Int.)
 
The Coaches
SC State's Buddy Pough (SC State '75) is in his 21st season as head coach at his alma mater and owns a 144-83 overall mark (108-38) MEAC). He is 15-3 against the Rattlers
 
Willie Simmons (Clemson '02) is in his 5^th season as head coach at Florida A&M, where he has a 34-20 worksheet. He is 2-1 against SC State.
 
 Last Week's Results (Sept. 29-Oct. 1)