Bethune-Cookman: B
To be fair, BCU 4-1 and nationally ranked. And one of those wins came over an FCS opponent. Still, the Wildcats have struggled in the last two games against teams that it should have had easy wins. BCU found itself down to both Grambling and D2 Florida tech before coming away with wins.
Delaware State: C
DSU started the season with a tough schedule, and came out with a predictable 0-4 record. It opened up conference play last week with a 35-10 win over Savannah State, but the jury is still out on this team. Saturday’s game against Bethune-Cookman could be a good test for DSU.
FAMU: F
FAMU is off to its worst start in 30 years, and one loss away from its worst start in recorded school history. Not only is the team 0-4, it hasn’t really been in any game other than the second half of its season-opening loss to Jackson State. FAMU has scored just 34 points in its first four games, leading head coach Earl Homes to strip Quinn Gray of his offensive playcalling duties. The good news is, Savannah State will be coming to town in two weeks.
Hampton: C+
On the surface, this grade may appear a bit generous. Outside of a four point win against D2 Miles, Hampton has come away with a loss in every game. A deeper look reveals a young team that put up a respectable fight against Old Dominion in its opener and pushed South Carolina State on Saturday. The Pirates’ turnaround may be closer than many people think.
Howard: C
The story for Howard so far has been “close, but not enough.” From a respectable effort against Rutgers to a tough loss to Morgan State, Howard has been frustratingly close to having a breakthrough win but not been able to capitalize on that. Quarterback Greg McGhee is doing everything he can to keep his team moving the ball, but his receivers butterfingers have to get better if the Bison want to get back into the conference picture.
Morgan State: A
Not much was expected of Morgan State in Lee Hull’s first season, but the Bears have surprised everyone. MSU has had a legit chance to win every game it has played in so far this season. So far, NC A&T is the only one on this list who can say that.
Norfolk State: C-
NSU has a championship defense and an offense that has barely registered a pulse five games into the season. NSU is averaging just under nine points per game. Even in the MEAC, that won’t cut it.
North Carolina A&T: A
The Aggies are one missed extra point and a couple of questionable calls away from being 5-0. The running game has been a problem for defenses all season long and the passing game is coming a long. No HBCU is playing better football right now than North Carolina A&T.
North Carolina Central: C
Like Hampton and Howard, NCCU’s only win came against a Division II school. Coach Jerry Mack’s squad will look to turn the corner as it hosts HU in its first conference game on Saturday.
Savannah State: F+
Not much was expected of Savannah State, but thus far they’ve managed to still underachieve. Savannah State is 0-4, including an 83-9 loss to Georgia Southern and an embarrassing 42-28 loss to D2 Fort Valley State.
South Carolina State: C+
SC State was predicted to be a contender for the MEAC championship, and depending on which week you catch them, that prediction either looks very good or very bad. The highlight of the season has been a 17-7 win over Furman. The lowlight was a 73-7 loss to Clemson, followed by a 30-3 beating by FCS rival Coastal Carolina. This weekend’s game against NC A&T at the Atlanta Classic will be a good measuring stick for SCSU.