Early season games in South Florida and Chapel Hill – plus a home date against rival North Carolina A&T – headline North Carolina Central’s 2024 football schedule, released Jan. 24.
The Eagles, coming off a 9-3 season and an at-large berth to the FCS playoffs, will kick off ’24 playing in the Orange Blossom Classic in Miami. The HBCU showcase against Alabama State will be Sunday, Sept. 1 at Hard Rock Stadium, home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.
This will mark Central’s fourth game in an NFL Stadium over the past three seasons. The team faced A&T at the Carolina Panthers’ home stadium in 2022, as well as competed in the ’22 Celebration Bowl in Atlanta (Falcons). Last season, NC Central faced Mississippi Valley State in the Circle City Classic in Indianapolis (Colts).
NCCU will open its home schedule on Saturday, Sept. 7 against Elon. The Eagles beat the Phoenix 34-23 on the road a year ago.
Central will face the North Carolina Tar Heels from the ACC in week three, Sept. 14, in Chapel Hill. This will be the first football meeting between the neighboring programs.
The Aggie-Eagle Classic will renew on Saturday, Sept. 21 with A&T visiting O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium.
After a bye week, NC Central will finish its non-conference slate with a road trip to Campbell from the CAA on Oct. 5 and a home date against Division II Virginia-Lynchburg on Oct. 12. NCCU and Campbell played a barn-burner last season in Durham, with the home-standing Eagles prevailing 49-48 in overtime.
NC Central will take another week off before launching into its five-game MEAC schedule. NCCU will host Morgan State (Oct. 26) and defending champion Howard (Nov. 16) this season, while traveling to South Carolina State (Nov. 2), Norfolk State (Nov. 9) and Delaware State (Nov. 23).
Kickoff times and TV schedules will be announced at a later date.
NC Central’s 2024 Football Schedule
- Sept. 1 – Alabama State (in Miami)
- Sept. 7 – Elon
- Sept. 14 – at North Carolina
- Sept. 21 – North Carolina A&T
- Sept. 28 – Bye
- Oct. 5 – at Campbell
- Oct. 12 – Virginia-Lynchburg
- Oct. 19 – Bye
- Oct. 26 – Morgan State*
- Nov. 2 – at SC State*
- Nov. 9 – at Norfolk State*
- Nov. 16 – Howard*
- Nov. 23 – at Delaware State*
* denotes MEAC game
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