ORANGEBURG, SC-- #23/#21 SC State (8-2, 4-0 MEAC) the 2024 MEAC Champion will host the visiting Norfolk State Spartans (4-7, 2-2) MEAC) in the final regular-season contest  inside Oliver C. Dawson Stadium on Willie Jeffries Field. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m.

The Bulldogs, however, and first-year head coach Chennis Berry, have a date in the December 14, 2024, Celebration Bowl after clinching the 2024 MEAC Championship last week (Nov. 16) with a 54-7 win at Morgan State. A victory today would give SC State a perfect 5-0 mark against league foes. SC State would also notch its ninth win – which would be the most since the 2013 campaign when the Bulldogs were 9-4 and 7-1 in the MEAC under recently retired head coach Buddy Pough. Berry's team brings a seven-game winning streak into today's contest. SC State's last loss was a 42-14 setback at Georgia Southern Sept. 14. The visiting Spartans defeated Delaware State 38-19 last Saturday. Coach Dawson Odums and his team are looking to play spoilers today by upending the Bulldogs and denying SC State's bid to conclude a perfect MEAC slate for the first time since the 2021 campaign when the school made its first appearance in the Celebration Bowl. This year's trip to the game, which decides the HBCU national champion, will be the second in four seasons for SC State, which captured its 19^th MEAC title last week. In 2021, the Bulldogs upset Jackson State and Coach Deion "Prime" Sanders 31-10 at Atlanta.
 
The Attraction
SC State will be celebrating Senior, High School Band, and Greek Day. Twenty-three SC State seniors, including student managers and trainers, as well as cheerleaders and band members, will be recognized during their final appearance at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium/Willie Jeffries Field. Several high school bands from around the Southeast and beyond have been invited, and members of the Greek Divine Nine will perform and be saluted.
 
The Series:
South Carolina State and Norfolk State are meeting for the 27^th time in a series that began in 1976. The Bulldogs hold a 5-21 advantage and won 44-17 at Norfolk last season. The Spartans earned a 42-38 win in their last visit to Orangeburg in 2022.
 
Players to Watch:
 
SC State Offense:
#7 QB Eric Phoenix,  6-3, 210 Sr. (171-263-7, 65.0 Pct., 2469 yds., 20TDs, Lng:75; 77 rushes, 225 yds., 2TD; #3 RB Deondra Duehart, 6-2, 215 Jr. (113 rushes, 467 yds., 7TDs); #17  RB KZ Adams, 5-8, 185 Jr. (77 rushes, 369 yds., 2TDs); #0 WR Caden High, 5-10, 160 So. (55 rcpts., 819 yds., 7TDs; #6 WR Justin Smith-Brown, 6-1, 190 Sr. (42 rcpts., 625 yds., 4TDs); #1 WR Einaj Carter, 5-8, 178 Sr.; (34 rcpts., 549 yds., 5TDs; #5 TE Keshawn Toney , 6-3, 255 Gr. (25 rcpts., 273 yds., 3TD); #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. (14T/9A, 5.5TFL,  4Sacks); #11 LB Aaron Smith, 6-2, 230 Gr. (45T/18A, 4.5TFL, 1Sacks 1 Int. 1 BU); #4 Daythan Peterson, 5-10, 190 Sr. (26T/4A, 3TFL); #19 Ashaad Hall, 6-4, 235 Jr. (25T/9A, 13.5TFL, 11Sacks.); #41 DL John Hannibal (6-3, 315 (23T/9, 8.5TFL, 3Sacks; #12 DB Jarod Washington, 6-2, 188 Sr. (33T/15, 3Ints, 2PBU); #29 LB Jadin Jones, 6-3, 210 Jr. (22T/17A, 2TFL, 1FR); #1 DL Jayden Broughton, 6-2, 235 Sr. (21T/8A, 11.5TFL, 8.5Sacks)
 
Norfolk State Offense:
#2 QB Jalen Daniels, 6-5, 220 So. (103-174-3, 59.0 Pct., 1283 yds., 10TDs; #13 RB Kevon King, 5-11, 200 Jr. (140- rushes, 800 yds. 9TDs); #35 RB X'Zavion Evans, 5-10, 215 Jr.; (91 rushes, 471 yds., 2TDs); #3 WR Jacquez Jones, 5-10, 175 Gr. (41 rcpts., 484 yds., 4TDs); #18 WR Kam'Ryn Thomas, 6-1, 180 Jr. (25 rcpts., 387 yds., 2TDs); #81 WR Elyjah Mitchell, 6-2, 185 So. (22 rcpts. 256 yds., 2 TDs); #84 Tavian Morris, 6-0, 180 r-Jr. (15 rcpts., 253 yds., 2TDs)
 
Norfolk Defense
#15 LB AJ Richardson, 6-1, 245 So. (28T/63A, 8.5 TFL, 2Sacks, 1Int.); #7 DB Daylan Long, 5-11, 190 r-Jr. (25T/18A, 5 FL, 1.5Sacks, 1Int., 2PBUs); #23 DB Ricky Harleston, 5-10, 195 r-Sr. (28T/16A, 2Ints); #4 DB Terron Mallory, 5-11, 190 Gr. (33T/8A, 3Ints.); #28 DB Corey Chapman, 5-11, 180 r-Jr.(26T/8A, 1TFL, 2 PBUs)
 
MEAC Standings  
Last Week's Results (No. 15-16, 2024)
SC State 54, Morgan State 7
NC Central 26, Howard 3
Norfolk State 38, Delaware St. 19
 
This Week's Games (Nov. 23, 2024)
Norfolk State @ SC State, 1:30
NC Central @ Delaware State, 1
Howard @ Morgan State,1