South Carolina State Unveils 12-Game 2026 Football Schedule With Five MEAC Contests

South Carolina State released its 12-game 2026 football schedule on March 22, built around five MEAC contests and backed by the momentum of back-to-back conference championships under head coach Chennis Berry.

The Bulldogs open at home on Aug. 29 against Savannah State at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium in Orangeburg, then make an early cross-state trip to Miami the following week for the Orange Blossom Classic against Florida A&M on Sunday, Sept. 6. That neutral-site matchup is the marquee non-conference draw on a schedule that also features FCS opponents Furman, Bethune-Cookman, The Citadel, and Charleston Southern.

After returning home Sept. 12 to host Division II Virginia State, SCSU hits the road for consecutive weeks at Furman on Sept. 19 and at Bethune-Cookman on Sept. 26. The Citadel then visits Orangeburg on Oct. 3 in the final non-conference home game, before the Bulldogs travel to Charleston Southern on Oct. 10 to close out seven non-league contests. An open date follows on Oct. 17.

MEAC play opens Oct. 24 at home against Norfolk State, a game that also doubles as Homecoming. The conference road slate runs through back-to-back weeks at Morgan State on Oct. 31 and at Howard on Nov. 7. SCSU closes the regular season with two home conference games: North Carolina Central on Nov. 14 and Delaware State on Nov. 21.

The six home games at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium are balanced against five road contests and one neutral-site appearance in Miami. Kickoff times and broadcast information have not yet been announced and will be updated on the SCSU athletics schedule page as they are confirmed.

Berry's program enters 2026 having captured consecutive MEAC titles and consecutive Cricket Celebration Bowl berths, capping last season with a Celebration Bowl victory that delivered the program's first Black college football national title since 2021.