A renewal of the Two Rivers Classic, a first-time opponent from Georgia and seven CIAA games await Fayetteville State’s football program this season.
The Broncos’ recently released their 2024 schedule, which features four home dates and nine total contests.
The ’24 campaign will begin under the lights on Saturday, Sept. 7 when UNC Pembroke visits at 6 p.m. This will be the 11th meeting between the rival schools in what has been tabbed the Two Rivers Classic. The Broncos lost a 19-17 nail-biter last season to the Braves but won for the first time against UNCP in 2022.
Week two of the season (Sept. 14) brings a road trip to Valdosta State. Fayetteville State has never played the Blazers in football before. The game will be a challenge, as Valdosta State finished 12-2 a year ago before falling to Lenoir-Rhyne in the NCAA Division II playoffs.
The CIAA schedule kicks off Sept. 21 when Elizabeth City State comes to town. FSU’s game against Bowie State on Oct. 5 with be broadcast by HBCU GO. Homecoming and Senior Day will come Oct. 26 against visiting Shaw.
Other CIAA opponents this season include Virginia State, Livingstone, Johnson C. Smith and Winston-Salem State. St. Augustine’s is not playing football this fall, leaving a bye week in the Broncos schedule in mid-October.
Fayetteville State has won the CIAA’s Southern Division six years in a row and played in the league title game all six seasons (winning in 2022). This year’s CIAA title game will be held Nov. 16 in Salem, Va.
FSU started 0-2 a year ago before ripping off eight straight wins. Six of those victories were by a touchdown or less. The Broncos fell to Virginia Union 21-10 in the CIAA championship.
Richard Hayes Jr. returns to coach the Broncos. He has been head of the program since 2016 and has had just one losing season, his first. FSU has never had a losing conference record under Hayes’ watch, posting a 41-8 overall mark in CIAA play in the regular season from 2016-23.
Fayetteville State 2024 Football Schedule
Sept. 7 UNC Pembroke Fayetteville Sept. 14 at Valdosta State Valdosta, Ga. Sept. 21 Elizabeth City State Fayetteville Sept. 28 at Virginia State Petersburg, Va. Oct. 5 Bowie State Fayetteville Oct. 12 at Livingstone Salisbury Oct. 19 BYE Oct. 26 Shaw Fayetteville Nov. 2 at Johnson C. Smith Charlotte, Nov. 9 at Winston-Salem State Winston-Salem Nov. 16 CIAA Championship Salem, Va.
