North Carolina Central’s mid-November home football game against South Carolina State has been moved to a Friday night.
The battle between the projected MEAC front-runners will now be played on Friday, Nov. 14 at 5 p.m. instead of Saturday, Nov. 15. The contest from O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium will be broadcast on ESPN and will serve as the undercard for a Friday night ACC showdown between Louisville and Clemson later in the evening.
South Carolina State has been picked to repeat as MEAC champs this season. North Carolina Central was voted second in the MEAC coaches poll, released a few weeks ago. That is the way both teams finished the 2024 season.
South Carolina State topped NCCU 24-21 in their last meeting – a Thursday night Halloween contest a year ago.
North Carolina Central football will make multiple appearances on national TV again this season. The Eagles and coach Trei Oliver open on Saturday, Aug. 23 in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Atlanta against Southern University. That game will be played on ABC, kicking off at 7:30 p.m.
Road games at Old Dominion (Sept. 6) and East Texas A&M (Sept. 27) are slated for ESPN+.
View North Carolina Central’s 2025 football schedule HERE.
📊 2025 MEAC Preseason Poll
(as voted by head coaches and SIDs)
- South Carolina State (5) – 63 pts
- North Carolina Central (4) – 61 pts
- Morgan State – 39 pts
- Norfolk State (1) – 36 pts
- Howard (1) – 33 pts
- Delaware State (1) – 20 pts