Here’s how the 11 MEAC teams stack up based  on records, rankings and their remaining schedules as the Hunt For November begins.

 

By ALVIN HOLLINS  JR.
Alvinhollins833@yahoo.com

Now that the 2013 Mid-Eastern  Athletic Conference Football’s “Hunt For November” is in full swing with league  play headed into its’ third week, the time has come for ranking the boyz from  top to bottom, along with their remaining schedules.

The rankings below  are based on the Jeff Sagarin College Football Ratings, and any positions in  various national polls will be included.

Bethune-Cookman (4-1, 1-0 * #16 FCS/#1 SBN/#2 HSRN * 118  Sagarin)
@ With wins over #145 Sagarin/#1 HSRN/#2 SBN Tennessee  State (5-1) and FBS member Florida International, the defending champs are the  team to beat…. And with North Carolina A&T’s 29-24 conference loss to South  Carolina State last week, the Wildcats are in full control of their own destiny,  as they for now have avoided a potential tie with A&T for the title since  the two teams don’t play this season… The ‘Cats do have three key games in the  next four weeks: Saturday at Howard; Oct. 26 vs. SCSU; Nov. 2 at NCCU.

REMAINING SCHEDULE: Saturday @ Howard; 10-19 SSU; 10-26 SCSU; 11-2 @  NCCU; 11-9 NSU; 11-16 HAMP; 11-23 FAMU (Orlando).

South Carolina State (4-2, 2-0 * #3 SBN/#4 HRSN * 162  Sagarin)
@ The Bulldogs appear to be on the rebound from last  year’s sub .500 overall finish, owning a slice of the league lead and a huge win  over North Carolina A&T, puts them on track towards a possible 13th MEAC  title… But the next three weeks will likely tell the tale of the Bulldogs’  season as they are at NCCU Thursday, then trek to Bethune-Cookman after a bye  week, on Oct. 26.

REMAINING GAMES: Thursday at NCCU; 10-19 BYE; 10-26  @ B-CU; 11-2 @ SSU; 11-9 FAMU; 11-16 MORG; 11-23 @ NSU

North  Carolina A&T (3-1, 1-1 * #5 SBN/#7 HSRN * 176 Sagarin)
@the  Aggies scored big out-of-conference wins over Appalachian State and Elon to open  a few eyes, but their march toward the MEAC title was derailed a bit by their  heartbreaking 29-24 loss to resurgent South Carolina State in Atlanta last  Saturday.
A&T will need help to win the title as they will be chasing  B-CU, SCSU, NCCU and Norfolk the rest of the way, with only NCCU on their  schedule at season’s end.

REMAINING GAMES: Saturday @ Hampton; 10-19  DSU; 10-26 @ FAMU; 11-2 VA-LYNCHBURG; 11-9 @ MORG; 11-16 SSU; 11-23  NCCU

North Carolina Central (3-2, 1-0 * #9 HSRN/#10  SBN * 192 Sagarin)
@despite the off-field drama surrounding  deposed head coach Henry Frazier, the Eagles remain focused on chasing their  first MEAC title in 40 years… Very competitive in a 35-17 home setback to #4 FCS  Towson on Sept. 21, the Eags outslugged Howard, 37-28 on the road last week in  their league opener… NCCU has the other four title contenders on tap (SCSU, NSU,  B-CU and A&T), beginning their attack run at home Thursday against first  place SCSU.

REMAINING GAMES: Thursday SCSU; 10-19 MORG; 10-26 @ SSU;  11-2 B-CU; 11-9 @ HAM; 11-16 NSU; 11-23 @ NCA&T

Norfolk State (2-3, 2-0 * #10 HSRN * 225 Sagarin)
@ Two  conference wins have softened the disappointment of an 0-3 start, which included  relatively close bouts against Charleston Southern and Maine, plus a money game  at Rutgers… The Spartans’ league wins were no walks in the park though, as they  eased past Morgan State (27-21) and needed a blocked field goal to eke past  suddenly dangerous Savannah State (26-24) last week…. The Spartans, who are  spared a matchup with A&T, will have the trio of Bethune-Cookman and NCCU  back-to-back on the road before closing at home against SCSU… Oh, and they duel  ODU in two weeks (Oct. 26) too.

REMAINING GAMES: Saturday at DSU;  10-19 HAMP; 10-26 ODU; 11-2 FAMU; 11-9 @b-CU; 11-16 @ NCCU; 11-23  SCSU.

Howard University (1-5, 0-2 * 221  Sagarin)
@ The Bison started strong in their first two games,  holding a fourth quarter lead before fading at Eastern Michigan, 34-24, then  rebounding for a 27-16 against Morehouse, but have since dropped three straight  including back-to-back conference games which have all but snuffed out their  title hopes for 2013… Their Saturday home bout with defending champion  Bethune-Cookman could either eliminate them from title contention, or keep them  in the mix, as their remaining schedule after Saturday features six teams with  losing records.

REMAINING GAMES: Saturday vs. B-CU; 10-19 @ FAMU;  10-26 MORG; 11-2 @ DSU; 11-9 SSU; 11-16 @tex. SOUTH; 11-23 @  HAMP

Delaware State (1-4, 1-1 * 229 Sagarin) 
@ The Hornets have been a tough out despite being in rebuilding  mode, escaping Savannah State with a 24-22 win, before going toe-to-toe with  #21st ranked Bethune-Cookman for three quarters before bowing out 21-7… The  Hornets have played a rugged schedule so far which features three FCS Top 25  teams – #1 North Dakota State; #4 Towson and the #21 Wildcats, along with  perennial power Delaware…. DSU has two remaining contenders on their schedule,  Norfolk State at home Saturday and North Carolina A&T on the road (Oct.  19).

REMAINING GAMES: Saturday vs. Norfolk State; 10-19 @ NCA&T;  10-26 @ HAMP; 11-2 HOWARD; 11-9 BYE; 11-16 @ FAMU; 11-23  MORG.

Morgan State (1-5, 1-1 * 234  Sagarin)
@ The Bears snapped a five-game skid last Saturday with a  34-21 home win over slumping Florida A&M, on the heels of a narrow 27-21  conference-opening loss at Norfolk State two weeks ago… Morgan has a bye  Saturday before a closing six-game stretch that includes contenders NCCU, SCSU,  A&T and DSU.

REMAINING GAMES: 10-12 BYE; 10-19 @ NCCU;  10-26 @  HOW; 11-2 HAMP; 11-9 NCA&T; 11-16 @ SCSU; 11-23 @ DSU

Florida A&M (1-4, 0-1 * 223 Sagarin)
@ The Rattlers  are the leading candidates for the league’s Most Disappointing Award right now,  having lost four straight games, including two winnable non-conference home  bouts against Tennessee State (27-7) and Samford (27-20), and last Saturday’s  34-21 loss in their conference opener at Morgan State… The FAMU Offense, has  tailed off dramatically so far, ranking last in the MEAC and 120th (of 122) in  FCS, managing a paltry 211 yards per game… The Rattlers are still alive for the  title, but face four of the leading contenders – A&T, NSU, SCSU and B-CU in  their closing seven game stretch.

REMAINING GAMES: 10-12 @ Savannah  State; 10-19 HOWARD; 10-26 NCA&T; 11-2 @ NSU; 11-9 @ SCSU; 11-16; DSU; 11-23  B-CU (Orlando).

Hampton (0-5, 0-1 * 233  Sagarin)
@ The Pirates are on the verge of being marched off the  plank of their own ship as they continue their recent struggles on the gridiron  under beleaguered coach Don Rose… Although they are just 0-1 and mathematically  still in the hunt for the league title, they have a formidable final seven games  that includes Saturday’s home bout with North Carolina A&T, next week’s road  game at Norfolk, plus a November home date with NCCU followed by a road tilt at  Bethune-Cookman.

REMAINING GAMES: Saturday vs. North Carolina A&T;  10-19 @ NSU; 10-26 DSU; 11-2 @ MORG; 11-9 NCCU; 11-16 @ B-CU; 11-23  HOWARD.

Savannah State (1-5, 0-2 * 242  Sagarin)
@ Under new management, the Tigers are no longer playful  tabby cats but have shown a renewed growl since the hiring of head coach Earnest  Wilson this summer… SSU is six points away from being 2-0 in league play, with a  24-22 home loss to Delaware State, followed by a 26-24 road heartbreaker at  Norfolk State last week… The Tigers host struggling FAMU Saturday, then tackle  B-CU, NCCU, SCSU, Howard and A&T to close the regular  season.

REMAINING GAMES: Saturday vs. FAMU; 10-19 @ B-CU; 10-26 NCCU;  11-2 SCSU; 11-9 @ HOW; 11-16 @ NCA&T