If you ask most HBCU fans to circle the big games this weekend, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone pointing to Bethune-Cookman vs. South Carolina State. And honestly—why would they?
South Carolina State is the defending MEAC champ, sitting at 1-1 currently, and looking set to defend their crown. Bethune-Cookman, on the other hand, hasn’t factored into many meaningful contests recently and have been on the butt end of a couple of whoppings the past two weeks.
On paper, this looks like a mismatch. But call me crazy, something tells me this could be a sneaky good game this weekend.
call me crazy, something tells me this could be a sneaky good game this weekend.
J Bell – HailWildcats.com
Maybe that’s the Wildcat fanatic in me talking…Probably is.
Maybe I’m still holding on to the luster of yesteryear when the BCU vs SCSU matchup carried the intensity of a prizefight when the two were MEAC heavyweights.
Or maybe—just maybe—it’s because history says these two programs rarely give us a dud on the gridiron.
Series Split over last 10 games
The series is split at 5 wins and 5 losses apiece over the past 10 matchups. It’s split 11 wins and 9 losses in favor of the Bulldogs over the past 20.
So despite the difference in expectations for these squads, the back-and-forth series record shows you don’t sleep on this rivalry; even when the Wildcats look down.
What to Expect Saturday
Here is Coach Woodie and the Wildcats’ chance to make an announcement to the HBCU world; and SCSU is the perfect opponent to do it against. Don’t expect the same watered-down schemes we’ve seen through Weeks 1 and 2 against BCU’s FBS opponents.
On Defense: Expect more blitz packages, more disruption, and more variations in coverages.
On Offense: Look for much more tempo, more creativity, more quarterback run, and more getting the ball in the hands of the playmakers quickly.
I’m NOT predicting a BCU upset but that’s not out of the question either. What I am predicting is the type of Dog and Cat fight that has made this series very competitive.
J Bell – HailWildcats.com
Let me be clear, I’m NOT predicting a BCU upset but that’s not out of the question either. What I am predicting is the type of Dog and Cat fight that has made this series very competitive and my favorite on the field matchup for BCU. And who knows, if things break right…well, let’s just say if things break right, it will be hard to shut me up next week.
Yeah, I know I’m crazy. I know how that sounds. I guess I will see y’all in Orangeburg.
Bethune-Cookman just completed the toughest stretch of its season. The team traveled to Miami in back-to-back weeks to face FBS foes. Call it BCU’s version of a “preseason,” call it the “money games season,” call it whatever you want. The bottom line is the Wildcats faced bigger, stronger teams, and more well-funded programs and now sit at 0–2 to begin the 2025 campaign. But now the real season starts.
From here on out it’s about HBCU opponents, FCS battles, conference matchups and games that matter against similar programs. South Carolina State is first up, but before we look ahead at the game against the Bulldogs, let’s focus on a few takeaways from Saturday night against No. 5 Miami.
Takeaway 1: There is Not Much to Take Away
I don’t mean this in any negative sense at all. The truth is last week’s game was about survival. You can tell by how the staff kept it simple. They held back the playbook on offense and defense. They sat and limited playing time to key contributors including two of your starting offensive linemen. It doesn’t matter if it was about rest, health, or protecting depth. The message was clear. Coach Raymond Woodie was boldly stating that conference play and HBCU play is the priority.
Takeaway 2: Quarterback Steady
Quarterback Timmy McClain continues to look the part under center. He went 13-of-16 passing Saturday night. That’s an 81% completion rate and about as efficient as it gets, even against a 5th ranked Miami squad with all of that size and speed. His only real blemish came on a sack-fumble he probably should’ve eaten, but you’ll take that when you consider the poise and control he showed over the course of the contest. Two games in, McClain feels like a steady hand you can build around.
Takeaway 3: His eye is on the Sparrow
Yeah, I know that sounds churchy but I am a church boy so what are you going to do. At any rate, LB/DB Stephen Sparrow Jr. had an excellent game finishing with 9 total tackles, 1 sack, and 1 tackle for loss. One of the things you look for in these type of contests are what FCS guys look like they belong on the same field as the FBS guys. Sparrow fit the bill on Saturday night. The former Orlando Jones Tiger just looked like he belonged on the field and matched everything the Hurricanes threw at him from a speed, athleticism, and physicality standpoint. Good job Sparrow!
Takeaway 4: Battled to the End
No one expected a close scoreboard, but effort still matters. Down big, outmatched, Bethune kept playing hard. That competitiveness is what you need when the schedule flips into games that are winnable and that count in the conference standings.
Looking Ahead: SCSU
Now it’s go-time.
No more holding back the playbook.
No more “preseason”.
No more FBS opponents.
No more excuses.
It’s time for us to see what this team is made of; and what an opponent to do it against. Back in Bethune’s MEAC days, South Carolina State was always the team BCU used as the measuring-stick program. They were the matchup that told you exactly where you stood. That tradition carries over. This weekend is the first real barometer for Bethune in Year Three under Coach Woodie.
Expect a scrap. Expect a game that feels like Cats versus Dogs. And by late Saturday night, expect to know a whole lot more about what this 2025 Wildcat team is really made of.
Statistic
BCU
MIA
First Downs
Total
14
31
Rushing
4
13
Passing
7
17
Penalty
3
1
Rushing
Total (Net)
92
199
Attempts
33
30
Avg. Per Rush
2.8
6.6
Rushing TDs
0
4
Yds. Gained
115
201
Yds. Lost
23
2
Passing
Total (Net)
99
344
Comp.-Att.-Int.
14-18-1
30–36-0
Avg. / Att.
5.5
9.6
Avg. / Comp.
7.1
11.5
TDs
0
2
Total Offense
Yards
191
543
Plays
51
66
Avg. / Play
3.7
8.2
Fumbles – Lost
1-1
1-0
Penalties – Yds.
2-20
4–50
Punting
Punts – Yds.
4–167
0-0
Avg. / Punt
41.8
0
Inside 20
1
0
50+ Yds.
0
0
Touchbacks
0
0
Fair Catch
0
0
Kickoffs
Total – Yds.
2-126
8–520
Avg. Yds. / Kickoff
63.0
65.0
Touchbacks
1
8
Returns
Punt: Total – Yds. – TDs
0-0-0
2–11-0
Punt: Avg. / Return
0
5.5
Kickoff: Total – Yds. – TDs
0-0-0
1–25-0
Kickoff: Avg. / Return
0
25.0
INT: Total – Yds. – TDs
0-0-0
1-0-0
Fumble: Total – Yds. – TDs
0-0-0
1–5-0
Miscellaneous
Misc. Yards
0
0
Poss. Time
31:55
28:05
3rd. Down Conv.
1 of 11
4 of 6
4th. Down Conversions
0 of 1
0 of 1
Red-Zone: Scores – Chances
1-2
5–5
Sacks: Total – Yds.
2-6
1-8
PAT: Total – Made
0-0
6–6
2PT Conversion: Total – Made
0-0
0-0
Field Goals: Total – Made
1-1
1-1
Key individual standouts:
🔸Timmy McClain (BCU): 13-of-16 passing, 86 yards—efficient and under control.
🔸Juan Dominguez (BCU Kicker): 32-yard field goal accounted for the only points.
🔸Stephen Sparrow (BCU) 9 tackles including 1 sack and 1 tackle for loss.
🔸Carson Beck (MIA): In near-perfect form with 22-of-24 for 267 yards, 2 TDs.
🔸Mark Fletcher Jr. (MIA): Rushed 11 times for 86 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Sports has a way of giving us all kinds of sayings when the pressure’s on.
“Barbecue or mildew.”
“Put up or shut up.”
“Hunt or be hunted.”
“Run with the big dogs or stay on the porch.”
You’ve heard them. We all have. They’re different ways of saying the same thing: it’s time to deliver.
But for the 2025 Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, no catchphrase is really needed this time around.
It’s just the simple reality of new season, new opportunity.
After all, BCU is coming off the roughest four-year stretch in its 100-year history.
But isn’t that what we love about new seasons? It’s a reset. A chance to change the narrative. And while it may be difficult to believe from the outside, there are reasons to feel optimistic about the 2025 campaign.
🏆 A Legacy Worth Fighting For
Bethune-Cookman boasts a proud football tradition with a resume stacked with decades of wins, championships, and pro-level pedigree. The Wildcats are:
Top 25 in FCS All-Time Winning Percentage with an all-time record of 510–351–27 (.590). That’s good enough for seventh all time amongst HBCUs.
5 Conference Titles over the past 20 years and 14 Conference Titles overall.
4 claimed Black College National Championships.
A NFL Hall of Famer in Larry Little. A Buck Buchanan Award winner in Rashean Mathis. Several NFL All-Pros, Pro- Bowlers, etc.
Bottomline, there is a ton of heritage attached to this BCU football program.
😔 A Historic Low Point
While Cookman has a ton of history to celebrate on the gridiron, we can’t pretend that the past four seasons have not been difficult for the maroon and gold. The Wildcats suffered 2–9 seasons in 2021 and 2022, a 3-8 season in 2023, and a 2–10 finish in 2024. The nine wins over the past four years represent the worst 4-year run in the program’s 100 years of playing tackle football as mentioned previously.
🔥 Why 2025 Could Be the Barbecue Season (No, Really)
Entering his third season, Coach Raymond Woodie Jr’s positive impact is being felt off the field.
Team GPA has risen from 2.4 to 3.25.
19 players earned 4.0 GPAs last season.
The team was removed from NCAA mandated practice time restrictions due to Academic Progress Rate (APR) penalties.
New on-campus locker room. ✅. New showers. ✅. New facility upgrades. Underway.
These are all positives happening within the program and worth celebrating. But let’s take a look at why 2025 has a chance to be different ON THE FIELD.
🔁 Experience Returning
The 2025 version of the Bethune-Cookman football team is easily the most experienced team of the Raymond Woodie era. Heck, for the first time in 3 years, they actually had enough players to host a traditional Spring game.
Offense
Team continuity is a precious commodity in the current transfer portal era. Fortunately for Bethune, nine starters return on offense alone. That’s not to say that BCU was not impacted by the portal on offense. In fact, last year’s leading rusher, running back Dennis Palmer, and second leading receiver tight end Thomas Nance, transferred to FBS programs Troy and Temple respectively.
Beyond that, all other starters return on the offensive side of the ball. That’s HUGE!
QB Cam Ransom completed over 62% of his pass attempts last year throwing for 1843 yards and 11 touchdowns in the process. The big left hander from Lakeland was named to the Preseason All-SWAC 2nd Team. Ransom has the arm, the legs, and the poise to give BCU a chance on every snap. Transfers Tim McClain (Arkansas State) and Amari Jones (Florida International) are expected to push Ransom for snaps and provide the Wildcats with three top notch signal callers.
WR Malik Huggins is another Preseason All-SWAC 2nd Teamer. Huggins is dangerous in both the return game and in the slot. A six-yard slant can quickly become a 60-yard see-ya once Huggins gets his hands on the ball. Fellow slot receiver Javon Ross, had an incredible Spring and seems poised for a breakout sophomore campaign. Pitt transfer Lorenzo Jenkins showed what he can do outside the numbers last season. Add all of that up, throw in a handful of newcomers who are expected to contribute right away and BCU has quietly put together one of the better wide receiver rooms in the SWAC.
O-Line: The entire starting group is back and anchored by freshman All-American Teko Shoats. This group got better as they got younger last season which is a crazy statement. Bethune finished 2024 with 3 true freshmen starting on the offensive line in the last few games. Ironically, the offense performed its best during that same span. The unit was bolstered in the offseason by getting a few guys healthy again, as well as adding new faces via the portal and on national signing day. Let’s see if the Wildcats can make the next leap forward as a collective unit in the trenches. If they can, watch out!
Defense
Seven starters return on defense. AJ Hall anchors the front seven from his defensive tackle position. Hall is yet another All-SWAC performer who will be joined by Preseason All-SWAC LB, Malik Stinnett and last year’s All-SWAC Preseason linebacker, Dearis Thomas, who spent the last 10 games of 2024 nursing an injury.
BCU suffered far more attrition to the portal on the defensive side of the ball losing 4 linemen and a linebacker to FBS and FCS schools alike. That means the newcomers in the front seven will have to produce right away to help offset these losses.
🗺️ The 2025 Roadmap
The Wildcats start the year on the road to face 3 of their 4 toughest opponents: at FIU, at Miami, and at South Carolina State respectively.
The non-conference slate wraps up on September 20th when a Brian Jenkins led Edward Waters visits Daytona Stadium for the first home game of the year.
The final 8 games are all against SWAC opponents. The home matchups include Alabama A&M (9/27), Southern (10/11), UAPB (10/25 homecoming), and MSVS (11/1).
BCU visits ASU (10/4), Grambling (11/8), JSU (11/15), and that school from one of those hills in Tallahassee on (11/22) in Orlando for the Florida Classic.
💥 The Case for BCU in 2025
Bethune lost 4 conference games a season ago by a combined 13 points. That’s painful. To add insult to injury, the Wildcats had the ball with a chance to win on the final possession in all 4 of those games. 2025 will look different if BCU can find a way to start winning the close games; or as Coach Woodie often says, “they have to finish”.
We expect the offense to be better; but how much better can they be is the real question yet to be answered.
The glass half empty crowd will point to the fact that the offense ranked in the bottom third of the conference in most major offensive metrics last year. The most important of which was 11th in points per game at a mere 20.2.
The glass half full crew understands that the current unit is more established, more experienced, and has more depth. We think the offense will need to be at least a 7-8 points better per game if they are to secure their first winning season in 5 years. That’s a huge number for sure but 27 points per game in modern college football is a more than reasonable expectation for winning squads.
On the defensive side of things, Coach Woodie has to hope that his unit performs closer to the way they did in his first season in 2023. That year, they finished 2nd in FCS in tackles for loss with 7.8 per game and gave up around 26 ppg.
If the season kicked off tomorrow, the Wildcats would be more than a one score underdog in 4 games (FIU, Miami, SC State, and Jackson State); they would likely be favored in 3 games (Edward Waters, UAPB, and MSVS); and the other 5 would likely be games under a one touchdown scoreline which we are considering toss up games (AAMU, ASU, SU, GSU, and FAMU). The straightest path to a .500 or better season is to win the games you’re favored in, and win more of the toss up games than you lose. That alone gets you to 6 wins if our point spread assumptions are true. If they can pull an upset or two or win a few more toss up games, now you’re talking a 7 or 8 win season. I think that would be a fully successful season in year 3 for Coach Woodie.
The good news is we won’t have to guess and “what-if” for much longer. We will soon get our answer as to whether the 2025 Wildcats will “barbecue or mildew”, “hunt or be hunted”, “run with the big dogs”… Like I said, you get the point.
You are cordially invited to hop onboard the HailWildcats.com ‘Road to the Championship’ Fan Busas we support our team in their quest to have another successful season. Our Fighting Wildcats will travel to Orangeburg, South Carolina (Oliver C. Dawson Stadium) on Saturday October 25th, 2014 to take on South Carolina State University Bulldogs, kickoff at 1:3o p.m.
Forget about parking and having to walk long distances, for the low rate of $80.00 you will be guaranteed transportation to and from the game and a game ticket. If you already have a game ticket, you can secure your transportation to and from South Carolina St. Oliver C. Dawson Stadium for just $65.00.
The bus will make a pickup at the Home Depot on Lee Rd in Orlando at 3:00 am, then depart Daytona Beach at 4:00 a.m., make a pickup in Jacksonville, Fl at 5:30 am, we will stop for breakfast in Georgia, and then arrive at South Carolina St. Oliver C. Dawson Stadium around 11:30 am. We will depart for Florida 30 minutes after the conclusion of the game and make a stop for dinner.
Seats are available on a first come, first serve basis. No seats are guaranteed until final payment has been received. All sales are final!
We encourage the use of PayPal for a fast, safe, and convenient method of securing your seat. We have attached the PayPal links/options below for your convenience. You do NOT need a PayPal account to complete your transaction. If you prefer to pay with cash or with Credit/Debit card in person or over the phone, please coordinate with Jerry Bell or Darold Williams at the numbers below. Checks will NOT be accepted.
Seats are filling up quickly, so be sure to lock yours in today.
PICKUP LOCATIONS:
ORLANDO, FL- Home Depot- 3:00 AM 5351 Diplomat Cir, Orlando, FL 32810
DAYTONA BEACH, FL –Bethune Cookman University -4:00 AM Between the Facilities building and the Band Hall
JACKSONVILLE, FL – LaQuinta Inn- 5:30 AM 812 Dunn Ave, Jax, FL 32218
If you have any questions, please call or text Jerry Bell at 407-494-5302 or Darold Williams at 904-351-8381.
Big Wins: 9/7 Furman (35-28), 9/14 at Eastern Kentucky (51-32) Bad Losses: 11/9 at Charleston Southern (26-31), 11/23 at South Carolina (10-70)
Strengths:
Coastal Carolina is paced on offense by stud running back Lorenzo Taliaferro. The Walter Payton Award Finalist has gained just under 1,500 rushing this season while accounting for 23 touchdowns on the ground. As a unit, the Coastal ground attack averages 283 yards per contest and ranks 3rd nationally in that department.
Quarterback Alex Ross may not be as elusive as last year’s signal caller Aramis Hillary but he seems to be more accurate delivering the ball. Add in the formidable pass catching trio of Matt Hazel, Niccolo Mastromatteo, and DeMario Bennett and it is easy to see why the Chants are 3rd in the nation in scoring offense averaging just over 42 points per game. Weaknesses:
Coastal’s defense has been less than stellar (at least statistically) for the duration of the season. CCU’s defense is allowing 435 yards per game to opponents including 210 yards on the ground. What’s difficult to determine is whether or not Coastal’s defensive statistics are an accurate reflection of the unit’s overall talent level or merely a consequence of their opponents having more opportunities considering the frequency at which the Chant offense scores.
Big Wins: 9/1 at Tennessee State (12-9), 9/14 Florida International (34-13), 10/26 South Carolina State (14-3) Bad Losses: 9/21 at Florida State (6-54), 11/9 Norfolk State (24-27)
Strengths:
The Wildcats get things done through the efforts of a dominating defense and a physical running game. Only Florida State scored more than 27 points on the Wildcat defense this season. BCU has held their opponents to 10 points or fewer in seven of their 12 games. Defensive ends LeBrandon Richardson and Dyron Dye are strong against the run and pass. Linebacker Jarkevis Fields is a tackling machine and defensive backs Nick Addison and Tim Burke are ball-hawks.
The Wildcats rank in the top ten nationally in total defense, scoring defense, and rushing offense. Isidore Jackson is the team’s top rusher. Cary White and Anthony Jordan are more physical, downhill runners who both see a ton of action and quarterbacks Quentin Williams and Jackie Wilson are also capable of making plays with their feet.
Weaknesses:
BCU is the most heavily penalized team in the country averaging 10.50 penalties per contest. Possessions and hidden yards are precious in postseason play meaning the Wildcats will need to find a way to limit un-timely penalties while still maintaining their aggressive style of play if they are to move on in the tournament.
Bethune’s passing game has all of the pieces needed to be successful but the air attack has sputtered at times this season. BCU quarterbacks have thrown more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (9) this year and the Wildcats have finished four games with less than 100 yards gained through the air. Ironically, BCU is 4-0 in games in which they pass for under 100 yards.
Norfolk, VA – Fourth-year head coach Brian Jenkins of Bethune-Cookman was selected for his third Coach of the Year honor. Jenkins led the Wildcats to a 7-1 MEAC mark and a 10-2 overall record. The Wildcats defeated Florida A&M, 29-10, to clinch a share of the conference’s regular season title and secure the MEAC’s automatic berth to the NCAA Division I (FCS) Championships. The Wildcats are currently ranked 12th in both the Sports Network’s FCS and FCS Coaches Poll. He has led Bethune-Cookman to three MEAC titles in four years and fell just one game shy of back-to-back undefeated MEAC finishes.
Howard quarterback Greg McGhee was selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s (MEAC) Offensive Player of the Year and Joe Thomas of South Carolina State earned the Defensive Player of the Year honors, as voted on by the MEAC’s head football coaches and sports information directors.
North Carolina A&T’s Tarik Cohen earned the Rookie of the Year award and Tristan Bellamy, of S.C. State, was selected as Offensive Lineman of the Year.
Junior Greg McGhee led the MEAC in total offense (272.9 avg./g) and ranked second in passing yards per game (198.2 avg./g). He completed 228 passes on 385 attempts (59%) with 16 touchdowns in 12 games this season. He also finished the season ranked third in the MEAC in rushing with 896 yards (74.7 avg./g), on 157 attempts, and three touchdowns. McGhee ranks 19th in the nation in total offense and 31st in completions per game (19). He earned conference Offensive Player of the Week accolades twice this season. McGhee is the tenth Bison to earn the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year honor and first since Ted White in 1996.
Joe Thomas recorded 116 total tackles, 84 solo, with a conference-best 19 tackles for a loss during the 2013 campaign. Thomas collected 7.5 sacks, sixth in the MEAC, with one interception, five breakups, five hurries, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery to help the Bulldogs finish as the nation’s No. 1 rushing defense (80.5 avg./g) and No. 2 scoring defense (14.0 avg./g). Thomas earned Defensive Player of the Week honors once this season and is currently listed on the Sports Network’s Buck Buchannan Award watch list, which recognizes the nation’s top Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) defensive player. Thomas becomes the 13th Bulldog to earn the conference’s top defensive award, however he is only the second to have been selected in more than 10 years (David Erby 2010).
As a freshman, North Carolina A&T’s Tarik Cohen led the MEAC in rushing, averaging 104.4 yards per game (,) on 195 attempts with eight touchdowns. He earned the conference’s Offensive Player of the Week accolades three times and Rookie of the Week honors twice this season. A native of Bunn, North Carolina, Cohen became the first freshman in North Carolina A&T State history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season. Cohen’s is currently listed on the Sports Network’s Jerry Rice Award watch list, which recognizes the nation’s top FCS freshman. Cohen is just the second Aggie to be named Rookie of the Year. He joins the school’s all-time rushing leader, Mike Mayhew, who earned the honor in 2009.
Tristan Bellamy aided a dominating Bulldog offense that accounted for 4,101 yards of total offense , including 2,000 yards on the ground. Behind Bellamy’s blocking S.C. State finished second in the MEAC in scoring offense (29.6 ppg), and third in total offense (341.1 avg./g). Bellamy earned the conference’s Offensive Lineman of the Week honor twice this season. Bellamy is the sixth Bulldog to earn Offensive Lineman of the Year accolades.
South Carolina State led all schools with 13 student-athletes recognized on the three MEAC post-season teams. The Bulldogs have five student-athletes earn first-team honors, in addition to two-of-four top awards.
Bethune-Cookman finished close behind with 12 student-athletes to earn post–season honors, in addition to five first-team selections.
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) – 2013 Football All-Conference Teams
Offensive Player of the Year: Greg McGhee, Howard
Defensive Player of the Year: Joe Thomas, South Carolina State
Offensive Lineman of the Year: Tristan Bellamy, South Carolina State
Rookie of the Year: Tarik Cohen, North Carolina A&T
When the 2013 NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoff pairings were announced last Sunday on ESPNU, of the 24 teams selected, three of them (Bethune-Cookman, South Carolina State, Tennessee State) were from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. It was the first time three HBCU’s had been selected for the postseason since 1999 (FAMU, Hampton, Tenn. State). Bethune-Cookman won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s automatic berth, while South Carolina State (MEAC) and Tennessee State (Ohio Valley) were selected as at-large participants.
During the regular season, those teams forge some of the most intense rivalries in FCS football but once the playoffs begin, it’s not uncommon to hear coaches from opposing teams rooting for their HBCU brethren to do well in the tournament.
For head coach Brian Jenkins of Bethune-Cookman, he was extremely excited to see all three schools make the field of 24.
“I think it would speak volumes about the direction of where HBCU football is headed, Jenkins said. We play football just like every other school and because of our establishment I don’t think that should be taken into any type of consideration when you look at the brand of football.”
For the second consecutive year, Bethune-Cookman (10-2) and Coastal Carolina (10-2) will square off in the first round of the FCS playoffs.
The Wildcats, who fell to the Chanticleers 24-14 in Daytona Beach last season, will travel to Brooks Stadium in Conway, S.C. for a 1:00 kickoff according to www.ncaa.com.
The BCU/CCU winner will travel cross-country for a matchup with Montana who received a first-round bye and the tournaments 8th seed.
BCU is one of three HBCU teams headed to the FCS playoffs this season. MEAC Co-Champion, South Carolina State (9-3), and Ohio Valley 2nd place finisher, Tennessee State (9-3), join the Wildcats in the field of twenty-four.
South Carolina State will host their first ever FCS playoff game in a matchup against fellow Palmetto State foe Furman of the Southern Conference while Tennessee State will hit the road for a matchup against Butler (9-3) of the Pioneer League.
The Wildcats own victories over both SCSU and Tenn State this season. All three games involving HBCU squads kickoff on Saturday at 1:00 EST and can be seen on ESPN3.
Bethune-Cookman head football coach Brian Jenkins has received a letter of reprimand and has been fined by the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference for his public comments concerning officiating following the Bethune-Cookman/North Carolina Central football game on Saturday, November 2, Commissioner Dennis Thomas announced today.
Coach Jenkins violated the MEAC’s Bylaw on criticizing officials which states that members of the coaching staffs, student-athletes, or other representatives of participating institutions shall not make public statements critical of officiating in any MEAC contests or events.
“It is unfortunate that Coach Jenkins decided to violate the conference’s policy on criticizing officials,” Thomas said. “I hope that in the future that he will be in compliance with the policy.”
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