LUT WILLIAMS BCSP Editor
It is hard to figure out where to start as Week 3 of the 2021 HBCU football season begins.
There’s a little of everything – conference tussles, intriguing out-of-conference match-ups, FCS vs. FBS games, etc.
Let’s start in the conferences.
SIAC
Perhaps the most anticipated game in the SIAC this week is in Savannah, Ga. Saturday (6 p.m.) where East Division favorite Savannah State (1-1, 0-0 SIAC E) meets undefeated Benedict (2-0, 1-0 E).
Savannah State was throttled by NCAA Div. II No. 5 Valdosta State (53-7) to open the season before putting a similar beating on Livingstone of the CIAA this past week (50-6).
Benedict has built its undefeated mark against the SIAC’s newest additions Edward Waters (44-3) and Allen (45-12). We’ll see if Savannah State brings the Tigers back down to earth.
Two-time defending SIAC champion Miles (0-2, 0-0 SIAC W) is at Morehouse (0-2, 0-0 SIAC E) Saturday (2 p.m.) with each team looking for its first victory.
Miles finally gets to play somebody on its own level after showing its mettle against two SWAC opponents, Southern (41-24 loss) and Alabama State (14-13, loss in OT). Morehouse, on the other hand, has been outscored 95-7 in losses to West Alabama (48-7) and West Georgia (47-0). Look out Morehouse!
But perhaps even more eyes will be on Albany State (2-0, 0-0 E) Saturday (7 p.m.) as it tries its hand at slowing down NCAA Div. II No. 5 Valdosta State (2-0).
Valdosta State has so far run roughshod over contenders in both HBCU Div. II conferences. The Blazers humbled Savannah State (53-7) and then took down Virginia Union of the CIAA Saturday, 51-7. VSU, who sat out the 2020-21 season, won the Div. II national title in 2018 and lost in the second round of the playoffs in 2019.
Head coach Gabe Gardinia and the Golden Rams will have their hands full with VSU.
We should also find out Saturday (6 p.m.) what’s going on with Willie Slater’s Golden Tigers of Tuskegee, perennial SIAC West contenders. After big losses to West Alabama (33-7) and Fort Valley State (33-0), TU (0-2) hosts (1 p.m.) Edward Waters (1-1).
FVSU (1-1) and Lane (1-1) meet at 2 p.m. in Fort Valley, Ga.
SWAC
The race for SWAC supremacy, at least in the East Division, continues Thursday (7:30 p.m.) as defending division and conference champion Alabama A&M (1-0, 0-0 E) travels to Daytona Beach, Fla. for a date with new division and conference member Bethune-Cookman (0- 2, 0-0 E).
While much of the attention has focused on Florida A&M joining the SWAC, B-CU is not to be overlooked. In fact, the Wildcats have beaten FAMU nine straight times.
Watch out Bulldogs!
The rest of the SWAC teams have out-ofconference dates against FBS or FCS opponents.
Topping that list is Jackson State (2-0, 1-0 E) and coach Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders hitting the road Saturday (7 p.m.) to test itself at Louisiana Monroe (0-1) of the FBS Sun Belt Conference. ULM’s only game was a 45-10 loss at Kentucky.
Florida A&M (1-1, 0-1 E) will also be tested on the road Saturday (7 p.m.) at South Florida (0-2). USF, who competes in the FBS American Athletic Conference (AAC), is hungry for a win after losses to N. C. State (45-0) and Florida (42-20).
Alcorn State (1-1, 0-0 E) is at South Alabama (2-0), also a member of the Sun Belt at 7 p.m. Saturday. USA has defeated Southern Miss (31-7) and Bowling Green (21-19).
Grambling State (1-1) is at FBS AAC member Houston (1-1).
Two SWAC teams will take on FCS Southland Conference members Saturday and two face FCS Atlantic Sun members. All start at 6 p.m. CT.
Prairie View A&M (1-1, 1-0 W) hosts Houston Baptist (0-2) and Southern (1-1, 0-0 W) hosts 0-2 McNeese State in Southland match ups. Mississippi Valley State (0-1, 0-0 E) is at Stephen F. Austin (1-1) and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-0, 0-0 W) is at Central Arkansas (0-2) in tilts with the A-Sun.
MEAC
MEAC members continue their six-game non-conference schedule Saturday.
Howard (0-2) welcomes 1-1 Hampton of the Big South to Washington, D. C. The game is 12 noon and will be played at the 20,000-seat Audi Field, the home of MLS member D. C United.
There are two MEAC vs. CIAA matches Saturday at 6 p.m. North Carolina Central(1-1) renews an old rivalry when it hosts 0-1 Winston-Salem State and Norfolk State (0- 2) does the same hosting 0-2 Elizabeth City State.
Delaware State (1-1) is on the road (7:30 p.m.) at East Tennessee State (2-0). ETSU is 17th in the AFCA FCS poll. Morgan State (0- 2) is at 1-1 Sacred Heart at 1 p.m. and South Carolina State (0-2) wanders out to New Mexico State (0-2) for a 6 p.m. MT start.
CIAA
Chowan (2-0, 0-0 N) has won two overtime games to kick off its season and is hosting 0-2 Erskine Saturday (1 p.m.). CIAA favorite Bowie State (1-1) travels to Connecticut to tackle New Haven (1-0).
In other games involving CIAA teams, Shaw (0-2) hosts SIAC member Central State (1-1), Livingstone (0-2) is at Allen (1-1), Johnson C. Smith (0-1) hosts 1-1 Bluefield State and Lincoln (Pa.) is at Gardner-Webb.
Bluefield State and head coach Anthony Coaxum got their first win last week since returning to competition last season, knocking off Elizabeth City State, 35-27. Before last season, Bluefield State last fielded a football team or had a win in 1980.