Howard and Morgan State open MEAC play with contrasting momentum
The Bison bring a homecoming win to Baltimore, while the Bears look to reset after their four-game winning streak ended.
Howard and Morgan State begin their MEAC schedules Saturday with an opportunity to separate their conference ambitions from an uneven finish to nonconference play. Howard arrives off a win; Morgan State returns home after its first FCS defeat of the season.
The Bison, 3-4, visit the 5-2 Bears at Hughes Stadium in Baltimore at 3 p.m. Eastern on October 24. ESPN+ will stream the game, and Morgan State’s radio broadcast will air on WEAA 88.9 FM. The matchup is also Morgan State’s Hall of Fame Game. Morgan State’s official game preview
Howard’s ground game has something to build on
Howard beat Morehouse 31-17 on October 17, rushing for a season-high 201 yards and four touchdowns. Eden James ran for 120 yards, and quarterback Ja’Shawn Scroggins scored twice on the ground.
James earned MEAC Offensive Player of the Week, while defensive lineman Kyle Dillon received the league’s defensive award. Those honors give Howard a concrete starting point for the conference opener: carry last week’s rushing production forward and get enough disruption from its own front to limit Morgan’s offensive options. Howard’s official game notes, pages 7, 23–24
Protection will matter when the Bison do throw. Morgan defensive lineman Donovan Moyer has six sacks and nine tackles for loss through seven games, according to the Bears’ matchup report. Productive first-down runs would help Howard avoid giving that pass rush a steady diet of obvious throwing situations. Morgan State’s scouting report
Morgan needs to protect its possessions
Morgan’s four-game winning streak ended with a 25-16 loss at Tennessee State last Saturday. Cameron Edge completed 16 of 30 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown, but he also threw two interceptions and was sacked three times.
Keith Jenkins Jr. supplied a productive rushing option, gaining 116 yards on 11 carries, including a 28-yard touchdown. The question for the Bears is whether they can pair that kind of ground-game efficiency with fewer lost possessions. Morgan State’s recent-game summary
This is the 79th meeting between the schools. Morgan leads the series 44-33-1, but Howard won last year’s game 33-27 in overtime. The Bears’ most recent win came at Hughes Stadium in 2024. Howard’s series notes, Morgan’s series history
Saturday’s clearest watchpoint is the exchange between running success and passing pressure. If Howard can stay ahead of the chains and Morgan can avoid repeating last week’s turnovers, both have a route to a better start in league play.