RFC Summer Semester--Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Preview (FCS)

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2011 Final Standings

Looking back: Norfolk State took home the MEAC crown last season, as well as advanced to the FCS playoffs for the first time ever last season, only to be ousted in the first round of the FCS playoffs by Old Dominion, 35-18.  Also, Bethune-Cookman missed out on the 2011 postseason despite a season-ending six-game winning streak.

Looking ahead: With two of its teams, Hampton and North Carolina A&T, both recently being declared postseason ineligible due to the Academic Progress Rate (APR), the MEAC championship race will be watered down tremendously in 2012.

2012 Predicted Order of Finish (2011 overall record in parentheses)

1. Norfolk State (9-3):  The Spartans not only got the job done on the field--in winning the MEAC title with a 7-1 record against conference opponents--they also got it done off the field, winning the league's APR award for the third straight season.  As for 2012, Norfolk State will travel to Liberty for a non-conference game on September 8, before beginning defense of their conference crown against Howard at home the following week.  If that wasn't enough, the Spartans will hit the road again to face FBS Ohio the week after that.

2. Bethune-Cookman (8-3):  Despite a six-game winning streak to end 2011, it was likely that 2-3 start that spelled doom for the Wildcats postseason hopes.  A better start to 2012, which includes a non-conference visit to FCS (BCS/ACC) Miami (Fla.) on September 15, could help their chances down the stretch.


3. South Carolina State (7-4):  The Bulldogs will face two teams from BCS conferences--Arizona from the Pac-12, as well as Texas A&M from the SEC--in back-to-back weeks this season.  That's followed by a critical home game against defending MEAC champion Norfolk State on September 29.


4. Florida A&M (7-4):  The Rattlers look to put themselves in the thick of the MEAC title race after finishing 5-3 in conference play last season.


5. Howard (5-6):  The Bison will look to take that next step after finishing MEAC play at 4-4 in 2011.


6. Morgan State (5-6):  Back-to-back games against the MAC (FBS Mid-American Conference), in the form of visits to Buffalo and Akron, respectively, will highlight the non-conference portion of the Bears schedule in 2012.

7. Delaware State (3-8):  The Hornets were one of three teams that finished in a three-way tie for last place in the MEAC at 1-7 last season.  If they have any hope of winning their first conference title since 2007, they must replace 17 starters lost due to graduation.


8. North Carolina Central (2-9):  The Eagles look to soar high in their second full season in the MEAC.


9. Savannah State (1-10):  The Tigers open their 2012 campaign with back-to-back visits to BCS conference schools in Big 12 Oklahoma State and ACC Florida State.  Additionally, they'll pay another visit to Tallahassee later in this season, as they face Florida A&M on October 13.


Not eligible for MEAC title/FCS playoffs

Hampton (7-4):  With the reality of the APR ban starting to sink in, all the Pirates can do in 2012 is simply play for pride.


North Carolina A&T (5-6):  The Aggies find themselves in the same situation as the Pirates: having nothing to play aside from pride.