LUT WILLIAMS BCSP Editor
The hits (big games) kept on coming with the biggest this past week coming at Morgan State and in the SWAC.
First, up in Baltimore at the MSU homecoming, the Bears won their fourth straight game 28-27 over Robert Morris to move to 5-1 overall, the best record in the MEAC. That’s because South Carolina State lost its second straight game, this time to Charleston Southern 40-39 to fall to 5-2. What should be exciting MEAC conference play will begin on Oct. 23.
In the SWAC, there were several big game results.
Grambling State (4-2, 1-1 SWAC W) got a five-touchdown performance from Southern Miss transfer quarterback Jacobe Robinson to knock Jackson State (5-1, 2-1 E) from the unbeaten ranks with a 45-38 decision in “The Hole” at Grambling. It was the third straight win for the G-Men over their SWAC rivals.
Mississippi Valley State (3-4, 2-1 E), one week after knocking off 2025 West division and SWAC reigning kingpin Prairie View, got a sensational five-touchdown performance from QB Josh Brown in downing Texas Southern 38-24. The surprising Delta Devils are now all of a sudden in the thick of the SWAC East race at 2-1.
It didn’t stop there as Florida A&M, ineligible for the conference title, stunned Alabama State with two 88-yard fourth-quarter touchdowns to spoil the preseason SWAC favorite Hornets’ (2-3, 1-2 E) homecoming, 28-27. (see all the BIG WINNERS on the BCSP Xtra!! at bcspin.net).
Just as impactful was Marshall Faulk’s Southern squad (3-4, 1-2 W) going on the road and giving Prairie View (2-5, 2-2 W) its second straight conference loss, 28-14.
The SWAC East now has five teams (including FAMU) with one conference loss. The West has three teams with one loss.
By virtue of their losses, both SC State and Jackson State dropped out of the AFCA and Stats Perform FCS Top 25s. Damon Wilson’s MSU Bears, moved up to No. 1 in the BCSP FCS ranking and entered the Stats Perform poll at No. 24.
This week, the MEAC has just two final non-conference games Saturday on ESPN+ – Morehouse at Howard’s homecoming (3:30 p.m.) and Morgan State at Tennessee State’s homecoming (5:30 p.m.). Among 13 homecoming games this week – the SWAC stretch run continues with a full menu of such critical match-ups.
Grambling is in for homecoming (2 p.m., SWAC TV) at Alabama A&M (5-2, 2-1 E), Florida A&M is at Jackson State’s homecoming (2 p.m., ESPN+), Alcorn State (4-3, 2-1 W) is at Prairie View’s homecoming (2 p.m., HBCUgo.tv), Bethune-Cookman (3-3, 1-1 E) is at MVSU’s homecoming (2 p.m., SWAC TV) and Alabama State is at 3-2, 1-1 Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s homecoming (2 p.m., SWAC TV).
Among the CIAA leaders, Virginia Union (5-1, 4-0) is at Bowie State (3-3, 3-1) and Virginia State (6-1, 5-0) is at Shaw (4-3, 2-3) at 1 p.m. on the CIAASN while J. C. Smith (5-1, 4-0) has its homecoming vs. Lincoln (Pa.) at 2 p.m. on the network.
SIAC leader and BCSP Div. II No. 1 Edward Waters (5-1, 4-0 SIAC) after a week off, has a big challenge at homecoming (2 p.m., ESPN+) at No. 4 Benedict (5-1, 3-1).
Also chasing EWU is Kentucky State (5-2, 4-1) who hosts winless Lane (0-7, 0-5) at 2 p.m. and Albany State (3-3, 3-1) who plays at Tuskegee (2-4, 2-2) at 2 p.m. Central State (4-3, 4-1) is off this week.
