Tag: South Carolina State Football

South Carolina State Falls to Charleston Southern, 49–39, Despite 470 Yards of Offense

Brandon King

image via Kelvin L. Bonnette 39 SCS 49 Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F SCS 6 10 15 8 39 CSU 14 21 7 7 49 South Carolina State showed offensive resilience on the road Saturday, but costly special-teams plays and turnovers proved too much to overcome in a 49–39 loss to Charleston Southern. The Bulldogs finished with 470 total yards, 27 first downs and 35:29 in possession time, yet the Buccaneers capitalized on explosive plays to secure the 10-point victory. How the game was decided Charleston Southern established control…

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South Carolina State’s perfect season ends on walk-off field goal

Brandon King

ORANGEBURG, S.C. — South Carolina State’s perfect start to the 2026 season came to a heartbreaking end Saturday afternoon. The Citadel stunned the No. 15/12 Bulldogs 34-31, with Evan Kiely drilling a 31-yard field goal as time expired to give The Citadel its first victory over a ranked opponent since 2022. SC State entered the matchup 5-0 and nationally ranked, but The Citadel repeatedly answered every Bulldog push — and ultimately delivered the knockout punch on the final play of the game.  The loss snapped SC State’s five-game winning streak…

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South Carolina State Defeats Bethune-Cookman 31-21, Improves to 5-0

Brandon King

South Carolina State remained unbeaten Saturday night, defeating Bethune-Cookman 31-21 at Daytona Stadium in Daytona Beach, Florida. The Bulldogs improved to 5-0 on the season, while Bethune-Cookman fell to 2-2. South Carolina State built a 24-7 halftime advantage, survived a second-half rally by the Wildcats and put the game away with a fourth-quarter touchdown. South Carolina State finished with 430 yards of total offense, including 282 rushing yards and 148 passing yards. Bethune-Cookman managed 238 total yards. How It Happened South Carolina State struck first when Josh Shaw scored on…

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South Carolina State Hangs On to Defeat Furman, 20-17

Brandon King

image via South Carolina State Athletics South Carolina State remains unbeaten. The No. 16 Bulldogs jumped on No. 24 Furman early, weathered a second-half comeback and made the biggest defensive play of the night late in the fourth quarter to escape with a 20-17 victory Saturday night in Greenville. The win moves South Carolina State to 4-0 on the season, while Furman falls to 2-2. It was the first meeting between the programs since 2015. (Furman University⁠) SC State Comes Out Firing The Bulldogs needed just one play to get…

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South Carolina State Climbs to No. 20 in Latest AFCA FCS Coaches Poll

Brandon King

South Carolina State is moving up the national rankings. The Bulldogs have climbed to No. 20 in the latest AFCA FCS Coaches Poll following their impressive 31-13 victory over Florida A&M in the Orange Blossom Classic. SC State improved to 2-0 with the win, continuing what has been an impressive start for the defending HBCU national champions. (NCAA.com⁠) The Bulldogs controlled the Orange Blossom Classic from the line of scrimmage, piling up 479 yards of total offense, including 292 rushing yards, while holding FAMU to just 161 total yards and…

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South Carolina State Defeats FAMU 31-13 in Orange Blossom Classic

Brandon King

Image via the Tallahassee Democrat MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — South Carolina State made a statement on one of HBCU football’s biggest stages Sunday, overpowering Florida A&M 31-13 in the Orange Blossom Classic at Hard Rock Stadium. The No. 22 Bulldogs improved to 2-0 behind a dominant rushing attack and a defense that made life miserable for the Rattlers throughout the afternoon. South Carolina State finished with 479 total yards, including 292 on the ground, while limiting Florida A&M to just 161 total yards and minus-1 rushing yard. The Bulldogs also…

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South Carolina State Climbs to No. 22 in AFCA FCS Coaches Poll After 87-0 Week Zero Rout

Brandon King

image via South Carolina State Athletics South Carolina State Is Making Noise South Carolina State has wasted no time making a statement in the 2026 college football season. After an emphatic 87-0 shutout victory in Week Zero, the Bulldogs have moved up to No. 22 in the latest AFCA FCS Coaches Poll. The jump puts South Carolina State firmly among the nation’s ranked FCS programs and gives the Bulldogs plenty of momentum heading into the rest of the season. An 87-0 Statement South Carolina State’s opening-week performance was about as…

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South Carolina State Blasts Savannah State 87-0 Behind Explosive First Half

Brandon King

ORANGEBURG, S.C. — South Carolina State opened the season with an emphatic 87-0 victory over Savannah State. The Bulldogs scored 21 points in the first quarter. Quarterback Keely Watson threw touchdown passes to Malaqhi Jones from 23 yards and Mason Pickett-Hicks from 9 yards, while Ronnie Robinson added a 30-yard touchdown run. SC State added 31 points in the second quarter to take a 52-0 halftime lead, emphatically slamming the door on the competitive portion of the evening’s festivities. Watson connected with Tyler Smith for his third touchdown pass, Zaivan…

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South Carolina State, Johnson C. Smith Headline Inaugural 2026 Preseason Black College Football Poll

Brandon King

Defending HBCU champions South Carolina State and Johnson C. Smith have been voted No. 1 in the inaugural 2026 Preseason Black College Football Poll, making history as the first programs to top the newly established national rankings. The poll, which is endorsed by the MEAC, SWAC, CIAA and SIAC, provides an official weekly ranking of HBCU football programs across NCAA Division I (FCS) and Division II. The rankings are determined by a panel of HBCU head coaches and media members and are designed to become the definitive benchmark for Black…

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Chennis Berry named AFCA Coach of the Year

Staff

South Carolina State head coach Chennis Berry was named the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Minority Advancement Forum Coach of the Year.  Coach Berry led the Bulldogs to a 10-3 overall record and a 5-0 mark in the MEAC. In addition to claiming the MEAC championship, their second consecutive under Berry, South Carolina State defeated Alcorn State 40-38 in the Celebration Bowl in a quadruple overtime thriller. In celebration of this achievement, the SCSU flag flew over the State House in Columbia, the first time for an HBCU.  Thirteen Bulldogs…

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