SC State Set for Seven National Television Appearances

 

No. 24 SC State Set for Seven National Television Appearances

ORANGEBURG, S.C. — Defending Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champion and No. 24-ranked South Carolina State will make seven nationally televised appearances during the 2026 football season, highlighting one of the most visible schedules in the Football Championship Subdivision.

The Bulldogs enter the season after capturing back-to-back MEAC championships under third-year head coach Chennis Berry. South Carolina State also claimed the 2025 Cricket Wireless HBCU National Championship with a thrilling victory over Prairie View A&M in the Cricket Celebration Bowl.

South Carolina State opens the 2026 campaign on Saturday, Aug. 29, hosting Savannah State at 6 p.m. on ESPN+. The Bulldogs will then travel to Miami Gardens, Florida, to face Florida A&M in the Orange Blossom Classic on Sunday, Sept. 6, at 3 p.m. on ESPN.

Conference play will feature five additional national television appearances as the Bulldogs continue their pursuit of a third consecutive MEAC championship.

South Carolina State hosts Norfolk State on Oct. 24 at 1:30 p.m. on ESPN+ before traveling to Morgan State for a nationally televised Thursday night matchup on Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. on ESPNU.

The Bulldogs return to ESPNU on Nov. 5 for a key MEAC showdown at Howard beginning at 5 p.m. South Carolina State closes the regular season with wildcard television selections against North Carolina Central on Nov. 14 and Delaware State on Nov. 21. Broadcast network assignments for both contests will be announced at a later date.

The 2026 Cricket Celebration Bowl, featuring the MEAC champion and Southwestern Athletic Conference champion, is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 12, at noon on ABC.

South Carolina State 2026 National Television Schedule

• Aug. 29 — Savannah State at South Carolina State, 6 p.m. (ESPN+)

• Sept. 6 — Florida A&M vs. South Carolina State (Orange Blossom Classic), 3 p.m. (ESPN)

• Oct. 24 — Norfolk State at South Carolina State, 1:30 p.m. (ESPN+)

• Oct. 29 — South Carolina State at Morgan State, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)

• Nov. 5 — South Carolina State at Howard, 5 p.m. (ESPNU)

• Nov. 14 — North Carolina Central at South Carolina State, 1:30 p.m. (Wildcard/TBD)

• Nov. 21 — Delaware State at South Carolina State, 1:30 p.m. (Wildcard/TBD)

2026 MEAC Football Television Schedule

Saturday, Aug. 29

• South Carolina State vs. Savannah State, 6 p.m. (ESPN+)

• Howard vs. Alabama A&M, 7:30 p.m. (ABC)

Sunday, Sept. 6

• Florida A&M vs. South Carolina State, 3 p.m. (ESPN)

Saturday, Sept. 12

• North Carolina Central vs. North Carolina A&T, 6 p.m. (ESPN+)

Saturday, Oct. 10

• Morgan State vs. Robert Morris, Noon (ESPN+)

• North Carolina Central vs. William & Mary, 1 p.m. (ESPN+)

Saturday, Oct. 17

• Howard vs. Morehouse, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN+)

Friday, Oct. 23

• Delaware State vs. North Carolina Central, 5 p.m. (ESPN2)

Saturday, Oct. 24

• Morgan State vs. Howard, 3 p.m. (ESPN+)

• South Carolina State vs. Norfolk State, 1:30 p.m. (ESPN+)

Thursday, Oct. 29

• Morgan State vs. South Carolina State, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)

Saturday, Oct. 31

• North Carolina Central vs. Howard, 2 p.m. (ESPN+)

• Norfolk State vs. Delaware State, 2 p.m. (ESPN+)

Thursday, Nov. 5

• Howard vs. South Carolina State, 5 p.m. (ESPNU)

Saturday, Nov. 7

• Delaware State vs. Morgan State, 1 p.m. (ESPN+)

• Norfolk State vs. North Carolina Central, Noon (ESPN+)

Saturday, Nov. 14 (Wildcard)

• Howard vs. Delaware State, 1 p.m. (TBD)

• Morgan State vs. Norfolk State, Noon (TBD)

• South Carolina State vs. North Carolina Central, 1:30 p.m. (TBD)

Saturday, Nov. 21 (Wildcard)

• South Carolina State vs. Delaware State, 1:30 p.m. (TBD)

• Norfolk State vs. Howard, Noon (TBD)

• North Carolina Central vs. Morgan State, 2 p.m. (TBD)

Saturday, Dec. 12

• Cricket Celebration Bowl, Noon 

5 Bulldogs Named to HBCU Football All-American Team

ORANGEBURG, S.C. — Five South Carolina State football players have been named to the BOXTOROW 2026 HBCU College Football Preseason All-America Team, tying Prairie View A&M for the most selections among all programs.

Running back Tyler Smith and center James Reddick II were selected to the offensive team, while defensive tackles Joshua Barker and Ka'Von Chisolm, along with inside linebacker Jordan Franklin, earned spots on the defensive team.

The recognition adds to the preseason accolades for the defending MEAC and HBCU national champion Bulldogs, who have been picked by BOXTOROW media members to repeat as national champions in 2026.

South Carolina State's five selections come after another championship season under third-year head coach Chennis Berry. The Bulldogs captured their second consecutive MEAC championship in 2025 before claiming the HBCU national championship.

Bulldogs Named Preseason All-Americans

Offense

Tyler Smith, Running Back

James Reddick II, Center

Defense

Joshua Barker, Defensive Tackle

Ka'Von Chisolm, Defensive Tackle

Jordan Franklin, Inside Linebacker

South Carolina State's defensive selections played a key role in a unit that ranked 29th nationally in total defense among FCS programs last season.

Barker and Chisolm combined for 63 tackles, including 44 solo stops, 21 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks.

Franklin was among the highest vote-getters of all players selected to the preseason team. He finished the 2025 campaign with 62 tackles, including 42 solo stops, 12 tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions and four pass breakups.

Smith and Reddick II represent the Bulldogs on offense. Smith returns as one of SC State's top offensive weapons, while Reddick anchors an offensive line expected to play a major role in the Bulldogs' pursuit of another conference and national championship.

Alabama State quarterback Andrew Body, the 2025 BOXTOROW National HBCU Offensive Player of the Year, was selected as the preseason quarterback. Prairie View A&M defensive lineman Malik Gucake and defensive back Eric Zachery were also among the top vote-getters.

Alabama State placed four players on the team, while Jackson State had three selections. Alcorn State and Johnson C. Smith each had two players selected.

A total of 15 programs are represented among the 30 preseason selections.

This marks the 20th season BOXTOROW has produced its HBCU College Football Preseason All-America Team. The team is selected by media members who cover HBCU football. BOXTOROW has recognized HBCU All-America teams since 2007.

The 2026 HBCU college football Preseason All-America team

OFFENSE

QB: Andrew Body, Alabama State, r-Sr., Corpus Christi, Texas$!

RB: Tyler Smith, South Carolina State, r-Sr., Gaffney, S.C.

RB: Chase Bingmon, Prairie View A&M, r-Soph., Terrell Texas

OL: Elijah Baker, Alabama State, r-Sr., Phoenix, Ariz.$

OL: Jamari Mason, Johnson C. Smith, Sr., Carrollton, Ga.$

OL: Calvin McMillian, Prairie View A&M, Gr., Houston, Miss.$

OL: James Reddick II, South Carolina State, Gr., Fort Valley, Ga.

OL: Quaveon Davis, Jackson State, St., Port St. Lucie, Fla.*

OL: Christian Loving, Bethune-Cookman, r-Sr., Hamilton, Ala.*

TE: Travon Jones, Prairie View A&M, Gr. Miami, Fla.

WR: Nate Rembert, Jackson State, Gr., Wildwood, Fla.

WR: Darius Cyprian, Kentucky State Sr. Baton Rouge, La.*

WR: Chance Peterson, North Carolina Central, r-Soph, Wake Forest, N.C.*

DEFENSE

DL: Joshua Barker, South Carolina State, Sr., Kennesaw, Ga.

DL: Malik Gucake, Prairie View A&M, Sr., Sacramento, Calif.

DL: Ka'Von Chisolm, South Carolina State, r-Soph., Estill, S.C.*

DL: Derrick Drayton, Albany State r-Sr. College Park, Ga.*

DL: Eric Thomas Jr., Alcorn State, Jr., Columbus, Miss.*

LB: Danarius Hilliard, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Sr., Hazlehurst, Miss.$

LB: Jordan Franklin, South Carolina State r-Jr. Waynesboro, Ga.

LB: Vincent Hill, Johnson C. Smith, r-Sr., Atlanta, Ga.

DB: Ta'Shaun Sims, Alabama State, Jr., Chipley, Fla.$

DB: Eric Zachery, Prairie View A&M, Jr., Dallas, Texas

DB: Wayne Favors, Delaware State, r-Sr., Miami, Fla.

DB: Kam Sallis, Jackson State, r-Jr., Pickens, Miss.

SPECIALISTS

P: Demetrion Duvall, Alcorn State, Jr., Akron, Ohio

PK: David Faulk, Alabama A&M, Soph., Madison, Ala.

PR: Zaire Tart, Virginia Union, Sr., Camden, N.J.$

KR: Nehemiah Hixon, Alabama State, Soph., Spanish Fort, Ala.

RS: Elijah Kennedy, North Carolina A&T, Sr., High Point, N.C.$

*Tie

$2025 HBCU All-American

!2025 BOXTOROW HBCU National Offensive Player of the Year

 

 

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SC State’s Four Stars on South Carolina Football Hall of Fame Ballot

The South Carolina Football Hall of Fame has launched online voting for its Class of 2024, featuring 75 players and coaches, along with 10 legacy nominees. Notably, four nominees hail from South Carolina State University: Barney Chavous, Chartric Darby, Marion Motley (legacy), and Oliver Buddy Pough. Voting is open to everyone until December 16, 2024, allowing fans and media to select up to four modern era nominees and one legacy nominee. The selected Class of 2024 will be honored at the 12th Annual Enshrinement Ceremony on April 17, 2025, in Greenville, SC.

By the Numbers

75 total nominees for the Class of 2024.

4 nominees represent South Carolina State University.

Yes, But

While the nominees represent a wide range of South Carolina's football talent, some might argue that not all deserving candidates made the ballot. The criteria for selection may not fully capture the contributions of all players and coaches from the state's diverse football history.

State of Play

Current voting is conducted online through scfootballhof.org until December 16, 2024.

Over 10 college football programs are represented on the ballot, a SCFHOF record.

What's Next

Following the conclusion of the first round of voting, a final round will determine the Class of 2024 inductees. The ceremony will take place on April 17, 2025, showcasing the selected nominees' contributions to South Carolina football.

Bottom Line

This voting process for the Hall of Fame offers a crucial opportunity to recognize and honor impactful figures in South Carolina football history. Engaging the community in this nomination process strengthens the legacy of contributions made to the sport.

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