The No. 19/21 North Carolina Central Eagles will face off against the South Carolina State Bulldogs in a highly anticipated football matchup, broadcast live on ESPN2 as part of the MEAC's 2024 televised schedule.
This Thursday, October 31, the game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2, with a tape-delayed airing on ESPNU at 12 a.m. ET on Friday, November 1.
Both teams enter the matchup boasting an undefeated record in conference play. S.C. State hold a 15-13 advantage in the all-time series, but NCCU comes into the matchup with momentum, following a commanding 62-28 win in the 2023 season.
Although both teams have some pivotal MEAC contests remaining, most pundits point to the winner of this contest as the team taking the lead in the "Road to Atlanta and the Celebration Bowl." SCSU's Chennis Berry and NCCU's Trei Oliver have similar coaching philosophies, and the teams mirror each other to a degree; thus, the game could turn into a chess match, with execution by the players on the field making the difference.
The visiting Eagles captured the 2023 MEAC title, went on to win the Celebration Bowl and earn the HBCU national title. Last season, Oliver's team rolled over SC State 62-28 in an ESPN televised contest at Durham. A lot of changes have taken place since then. Berry noted in his weekly presser, that his players are not looking back to that game but are concentrating on tonight's matchup.
The Eagles enter tonight's contest scoring 36.5 points per game to lead the MEAC in scoring. NCCU is coming off a hard-fought 16-7 homecoming win over Morgan State. SCSU is second in the league in scoring with 31.57 points per game. The Bulldogs had their largest offensive explosion of the season last week, winning 69-35 against Delaware State before a large Homecoming crowd.
The Attraction
South Carolina State will be celebrating Military Appreciation and First Responders Day. Persons representing those groups will be admitted free. Also, SCSU faculty and staff can register for free tickets.
Players to Watch
SC State Offense:
#7 QB
Eric Phoenix, 6-3, 210 Sr. (119-190-6, 62.6 Pct., 1791 yds., 14TDs, Lng:75; 45 rushes, 127 yds., 1TD; #3 RB
Deondra Duehart, 6-2, 215 Jr. (101 rushes, 426 yds., 7TDs); #17 RB
KZ Adams, 5-8, 185 Jr. (49 rushes, 269 yds., 1TDs); #0 WR
Caden High, 5-10, 160 So. (39 rcpts., 627 yds., 3TDs; #6 WR
Justin Smith-Brown, 6-1, 190 Sr. (32 rcpts., 464 yds., 3TDs); #1 WR
Einaj Carter, 5-8, 178 Sr.; (21 rcpts., 342 yds., 4 TDs #5 TE
Keshawn Toney , 6-3, 255 Gr. (12 rcpts., 139 yds., 1TD);
#1 RB
Einaj Carter (16 rcpts., 235 yds., 4TDs); #78 OL
Nick Taiste, 6-3, 300 Sr. (Preseason All-MEAC, Preseason All-American; MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Week, twice); #76 OC Eric Brown, Sr., 6-3, 305 (Preseason All-MEAC); #73 OL
Cam Johnson, 6-4, 300 Sr.)
SC State Defense:
#0 DL
Josh Barker, 5-10, 255 So. (21T/9A, 2 TFL, 1.5 Sacks); #11 LB
Aaron Smith, 6-2, 230 Gr. (27T/14A, 2TFL, 0.5 Sacks 1 Int. 1 BU); #4
Daythan Peterson, 5-10, 190 Sr. (26T/4A, 3TFL); #19
Ashaad Hall, 6-4, 235 Jr. (19T/7A, 9.5TFL, 7Sacks.); #41 DL John Hannibal (6-3, 315 (14T/6, 4.5TFL; #12 DB
Jarod Washington, 6-2, 188 Sr. (17T/3, 2PBU); #29 LB
Jadin Jones, 6-3, 210 Jr. (13T/9A 1FR); #1 DL
Jayden Broughton, 6-2, 235 Sr. (17T/3A, 3.5TFL, 8.5Sacks)
North Carolina Central Offense
#3 QB Harris Walker, 6-1, 195 r-Jr. (105-168-4, 1352 yds., 15TDs; #4 RB J'Mari Taylor, 5-11, 200 r-Jr. (142 rushes, 790 yds. 10TDs); #35 RB Chris Mosley, 5-11, 180 r-Sr.); #88 WR Joaquin Davis, 6-4, 195 Sr, (22 rcpts., 374 yds., 4TDs); #6 WR Markell Quick, 5-10, 165 So. (18 rcpts., 358 yds., 4TDs); #4 WR J'Mari Taylor, 5-11, 200 r-Jr. (21 rcpts., 186 yds., 1TD); #14 WR Chance Peterson, 5-8, 160 r-Fr. (17 rcpts., 156 yds., 1TD)
North Carolina Defense
#2 DB Malcolm Reed, 6-3, 180 Jr. (22T/19A, 1.5TF 2Ints. 1PBU); 7 DB Kole Jones, 5-10, 195 Sr. (16T/14A, 1.5 TFL, 1.5Sacks); #28 DB Jaleni Vassell, 5-11, 180 Jr. (14T/14A, 1 TFL); #0 DL Quantez Mansfield, 6-2, 295 r-Jr.); #16 DL Makai McCall, 6-4, 200 r-Jr. (9T11A, 7 QBH)
The Series
The SC State Bulldogs and the visiting Eagles are meeting for the 29th time in a series that began in 1926. The Bulldogs lead the rivalry 16-12 but NCCU won in a romp last season 62-28 at Durham. SC State's last win in the series occurred in 2022, 26-24, in Orangeburg.
The Coaches
SC State's Chennis Berry (Savannah State '94) is in his first season as Bulldog head coach. He is 5-2 at SCSU and 32-9 as a head coach.
North Carolina Central's Trei Oliver (NCCU '98) is in his fifth season as head coach at his alma mater. He is 35-20 as coach of the Eagles.
The Polls
NC Central is ranked number one in both the Coaches and Media BoxtoRow poll. SC State is fifth in both. In the FCS rankings, the Eagles are 19
th, while the Bulldogs are unranked.
