ORANGEBURG, S.C. — No. 18 South Carolina State will put its unbeaten start on the line Saturday when the Bulldogs travel to Greenville for a pivotal nonconference matchup against Furman at Paladin Stadium.

South Carolina State enters the contest 3-0 after opening the season with victories over Savannah State, Florida A&M and Virginia State. Furman stands at 2-1 overall and 1-0 in Southern Conference play following a 20-13 road victory over Mercer.

The matchup presents contrasting statistical profiles through three games. SC State has produced 184 points while allowing just 13, averaging 61.3 points per game. The Bulldogs are generating 545 yards of total offense per contest, including 332.3 rushing yards, while holding opponents to 130.7 total yards and just 43 rushing yards per game.

Furman has scored 49 points through three games and is averaging 16.3 points and 329.3 yards of total offense per contest. The Paladins have leaned heavily on their rushing attack, which is producing 201.3 yards per game, compared with 128 yards through the air.

THE MATCHUP
No. 18 South Carolina State (3-0) at Furman (2-1)
Saturday | Greenville, S.C. | Paladin Stadium
SC State's offensive production has been balanced by one of its strongest defensive starts. The Bulldogs have surrendered only one touchdown in three games and have not allowed a rushing or passing touchdown. Opponents are converting just 20.9% of their third-down opportunities, while SC State's offense is converting at a 56.7% rate. The Bulldogs have also recorded 10 sacks while their offense has not surrendered one through the first three games.

South Carolina State's ground game could be a major factor. Mason Pickett-Hicks leads the Bulldogs with 425 rushing yards on 37 carries, averaging 11.5 yards per attempt and 141.7 yards per game. He has scored three rushing touchdowns and has a season-long run of 67 yards. Ricorian Brown has added 138 yards and two touchdowns on only 10 carries, while Josh Shaw has rushed for 108 yards and a team-high six touchdowns.

Quarterback Keely Watson has completed 34 of 50 passes for 456 yards and six touchdowns through three games. Ronnie Robinson has provided another efficient option, completing 15 of 21 attempts for 182 yards and two scores without an interception. Troy Hillman leads the receiving corps with 116 yards, while Malaqhi Jones has seven catches for 100 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, SC State has generated consistent pressure. Jordan Dollard has 11 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, while Ka'von Chisolm has 5.5 tackles for loss and a team-high three sacks. Sharmari
Reed leads the Bulldogs with 12 tackles, and Zanjerry Dunham has 10 tackles and an interception returned 25 yards for a touchdown.

SC STATE BY THE NUMBERS
The Bulldogs outscored their first three opponents 184-13, including a combined 153-0 in victories over Savannah State and Virginia State. SC State owns a commanding statistical advantage in total offense, 1,635 yards to 392, and rushing offense, 997 yards to 129. The Bulldogs are averaging 8.3 yards per offensive play while opponents are averaging 2.4.

SC State has also been effective in the red zone, scoring on 16 of 17 opportunities with 15 touchdowns. Defensively, the Bulldogs have allowed opponents inside the red zone only three times, with no touchdowns scored on those possessions.

Special teams have contributed as well. Jett Jackson is 3-for-3 on field-goal attempts, including a season-long 52-yarder, and 19-for-19 on extra points.

SCOUTING FURMAN
Furman's ground attack has been its primary offensive weapon. Ben Croasdale leads the Paladins with 148 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries. CJ Nettles has added 131 yards on 20 attempts, while Isaiah Davis has rushed for 122 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. Collectively, Furman is averaging 5.2 yards per rushing attempt.

Quarterback Jake Garcia has completed 41 of 73 passes for 377 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. Daniel Haughton is the Paladins' leading receiver with 17 catches for 203 yards and a touchdown.

Furman's defense has produced seven sacks and four interceptions. Braylon Peebles leads the Paladins with 19 tackles, while Raleigh Herbert has 18. Eli Lipscomb has recorded five tackles for loss and two sacks, and Caleb Easterling has two interceptions.

The Paladins opened the season with a 20-3 victory over Anderson before falling 56-9 at Tennessee. Furman rebounded in its Southern Conference opener with the 20-13 win at Mercer.

SERIES NOTES
Saturday's contest will mark the 18th football meeting between Furman and South Carolina State and the first matchup between the programs since 2015, when Furman earned a 17-3 victory at Paladin Stadium.

Furman leads the all-time series 12-5 and has won three of the last four meetings. The Paladins own an 8-1 record against SC State at Paladin Stadium and have won the last seven meetings played at the facility.

The series began in 1982 in the first round of the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs, now known as the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. South Carolina State won that inaugural meeting 21-0 at Paladin Stadium.

Saturday's matchup gives the Bulldogs an opportunity to continue their unbeaten start while facing their first road contest of the 2026 season and another Football Championship Subdivision opponent before Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play.
— SC STATE ATHLETICS —