Morgan State saga continues; NCCU at Rose Bowl

LUT WILLIAMS BCSP Editor

One of the most surprising and impressive black college teams so far in the young 2023 season is Morgan State under second-year head coach Damon Wilson.

The Bears opened with a stunning 17-10 road win over CAA member and FCS No. 17 Richmond on Sept. 2.

On Saturday, the Bears were perhaps more impressive as they were on the verge of a huge upset of FBS Mid American Conference (MAC) member Akron. They were up 21-17 with less than a minute to play before a fumble by running back J. J. Davis was picked up for a scoop and score by the Zips (1-1).

Morgan State (1-1) will face the second of four CAA teams on its schedule this Saturday (6 p.m., ESPN+) when it hosts Towson.

The 0-2 Tigers, under new head coach Pete Shinnick, have dropped decisions to Maryland (38-6) and CAA member Monmouth 42-23). In the preseason, Towson was picked to finish ninth in the 14-member league by conference coaches. The CAA currently has five teams in the FCS Top 25.

Morgan State will also face CAA members Albany on Sept. 23 and Stony Brook on Oct. 7 at the Bears’ homecoming.

North Carolina Central (2-0), ranked 17th in the latest AFCA FCS Coaches Poll and first in the BCSP FCS Top Five, steps up to face AFCA FBS No. 25, 2-0 UCLA Saturday (2 p.m. PT, PAC-12 Network) in an historic game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Ca.

Trei Oliver’s defending MEAC and HBCU national champions have handled former CIAA and Div. II rival Winston-Salem State (47-21) and former FCS MEAC rival N. C. A&T (30- 16) to open the season. Saturday’s game will the first time NCCU has faced a nationally-ranked FBS opponent. UCLA has dubbed the game “The Black Excellence Game.”

UCLA Athletics Director Martin Jarmond is a native of Fayetteville, N. C. whose father Matt attended N. C. A&T and his late mother Virginia attended NC Central.

New CAA member NC A&T (0-2) will face its first conference opponent and look for its first victory when it travels to nearby Elon (0-2)Saturday (6 p.m., FloFootball)).

CIAA members Virginia State and Virginia Union are both 2-0 headed into their contests this week vs. conference opponents. VSU is at 0-2 Livingstone (1 p.m.) while VUU is at 1-1 Saint Augustine’s (6 p.m.). The VUU/ SAU game has been relocated to John H. Baker Jr. Stadium on the campus of Southeast Raleigh High School because the field at the George Williams Athletic Complex is being resurfaced.

SIAC members Miles, Benedict and Tuskegee are off to 2-0 starts.

Miles, under second-year head coach Sam Shade, is coming off a 21-17 win Saturday over Alabama State of the SWAC. The Golden Bears of the SIAC will go for their second straight SWAC scalp as they travel to Arkansas-Pine Bluff Saturday (4 p.m.). Tuskegee hosts 1-1 Central State at 1 p.m. while defending SIAC champ Benedict is at 0-2 Lane (2 p.m.).

Also Saturday, Howard and Hampton, both 1-1, will stage the battle for the Real HU in Washington, DC (3:30 p.m., ESPN+).

AFCA FCS No. 24 Florida A&M (1-1) hosts (6 p.m., HBCUGo) West Florida (2-0). UWF is fourth nationally in the AFCA Div. II poll.

CIAA members Virginia State and Virginia Union are both 2-0 headed into their contests this week vs. conference opponents. VSU is at 0-2 Livingstone (1 p.m.) while VUU is at 1-1 Saint Augustine’s (6 p.m.). The VUU/ SAU game has been relocated to John H. Baker Jr. Stadium on the campus of Southeast Raleigh High School because the field at the George Williams Athletic Complex is being resurfaced.

SIAC members Miles, Benedict and Tuskegee are off to 2-0 starts.

Miles, under second-year head coach Sam Shade, is coming off a 21-17 win Saturday over Alabama State of the SWAC. The Golden Bears of the SIAC will go for their second straight SWAC scalp as they travel to Arkansas-Pine Bluff Saturday (4 p.m.). Tuskegee hosts 1-1 Central State at 1 p.m. while defending SIAC champ Benedict is at 0-2 Lane (2 p.m.).

Also Saturday, Howard and Hampton, both 1-1, will stage the battle for the Real HU in Washington, DC (3:30 p.m., ESPN+).AFCA FCS No. 24 Florida A&M (1-1) hosts (6 p.m., HBCUGo) West Florida (2-0). UWF is fourth nationally in the AFCA Div. II poll.

Jackson State (2-1) is in San Marco, Texas 6p.m., ESPN +)to face Texas State out of the FBS Sun Belt Conference. Texas State upset Baylor 42-31 to open season.

Southern (0-2) coming off a 27-14 loss to Jackson State looks to its first hosting game Alabama A&M (6 p.m., ESPN+). A&M running back Ryan Morrow ran 191 yards and three TDS in the Bulldogs’ 51-13 win over Lane last week.

Bethune-Cookman (1-1) opens this week’s schedule with a game Thursday night at 2-0 Miami (7:30 p.m., ACC Network).

Two 0-2 teams, Albany State and Morehouse, will tangle Saturday at the HBCU NYC Football Classic at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, NJ (3 p.m.).

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