Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
FCS Non-Conference Schedule Analysis
Scheduling operations for schools in the Mid-Eastern don’t run alongside those of automatic qualifying conferences in FCS. Many of these schools look for the FBS paycheck and make no qualms about it. These games help finance the athletic programs, the entire programs, for many of these schools. This usually produces many road games and lopsided contests with more talented and healthier financially-supported programs. But with the conference champion getting a bid into the Celebrations Bowl, teams in the MEAC are less concerned about prospective playoff implications. One major note, Savannah State is no longer in FCS, or the MEAC, so these teams will all get a true round-robin in conference play for the first time in years.
Bethune-Cookman: vs. Jackson State, vs. Southeastern Louisiana, @ Miami, FL (FBS), @ Mississippi Valley State.
- This is a decent schedule for Bethune-Cookman. They landed a home game with an AQ opponent and still got their money game with in-state, Miami, FL. Two games against fellow HBCUs, one being a showcase game, should have the alma mater excited.
Delaware State: @ Delaware, vs. Lincoln, PA (lower), vs. Merrimack (trans), vs. St. Francis.
- The Hornets pulled a coup with their schedule this year. Rarely do MEAC schools get three home games in non-conference action. And they did it one better, as the one road game they have is in-state also. Home revenue and little travel. A+ schedule here.
Florida A&M: @ Central Florida (FBS), vs. Fort Valley State (lower), vs. Southern.
- A&M pulled a similar deal here. Only playing an eleven game schedule, they only have three non-conference match-ups. But two are at home. The FBS road game looks like a near impossible climb to victory, but they stay in-state for the pile of cash.
Howard: @ Maryland (FBS), @ Youngstown State, vs. Hampton, @ Harvard.
- It was mentioned before with the Big South analysis, but it’s good to see Howard and Hampton playing each other again, for the “Real H-U” game. All three road games are tough, but it is what it is.
Morgan State: @ Bowling Green (FBS), @ James Madison, @ Army (FBS).
- This is probably the most daunting non-conference schedule in the MEAC. Two FBS roadies sandwiched around a trip to James Madison. The Bears will make some money playing this schedule, but a victory is highly unlikely.
Norfolk State: @ Old Dominion (FBS), vs. Virginia State (lower), @ Coastal Carolina (FBS), @ Montana State.
- An interesting set of games here. Two FBS road games are not uncommon and neither is the home game against a lower division opponent. But not really sure where the connection is to prompt a road game at Montana State of all places. But, hey, it mixes up the old opponent bag. There should be more of it.
North Carolina A&T: vs. Elon, @ Duke (FBS), @ Charleston Southern.
- Here’s the one team in the MEAC not afraid of anyone. Having won multiple years in a row, three to be exact, at FBS programs, they might be becoming the new NDSU of upsets. Pulling one this year would be colossal in the Tar Heel State. In fact, a home win against Elon would turn some heads also.
North Carolina Central: @ Austin Peay, @ Towson, @ Gardner-Webb, vs. Elizabeth City State (lower).
- This is a pretty rough schedule. Three road games, none of which are FBS money grabs and the first two are decent trips. The lone home game is against a sub-Division I school. It’s not a lot to get excited about.
South Carolina State: vs. Wofford, @ South Florida (FBS), vs. Miles (lower).
- The ability to get Wofford at home is a nice change of scenery and a big time draw for the home folks. The FBS game is going to be bruising. Would have been nice to have had another game on the schedule, if possible.
MEAC Numbers
1 vs. Big Sky
3 vs. Big South
4 vs. Colonial
1 vs. Ivy
1 vs. MVFC
2 vs. NEC
1 vs. OVC
1 vs. Southern
1 vs. Southland
3 vs. SWAC
9 vs. FBS
5 vs. Lower Division (Div-II, Div-III, NAIA, NCCAA)
