ORANGEBURG, S.C. (November 7, 2025) – The Howard University football team will be looking to stay in the title race when it takes on the Bulldogs of South Carolina State (SCSU) at Oliver C. Dawson Bulldog Stadium.
GAME INFO
GAME 10
PARTICIPANTS: Howard (Bison) at South Carolina State (Bulldogs)
DATE: Saturday, November 8, 2025
TIME: 1:30 p.m. (ET)
LOCATION: Oliver C. Dawson Bulldog Stadium (22,000) in Orangeburg, S.C.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
WATCH:
ESPN+
LISTEN:
WHBC
IN-GAME:
LIVE RESULTS
LAST TIMEOUT
HOWARD
Howard (4-5, 1-1 MEAC) is coming off a 35-14 home loss to North Carolina Central University Saturday (Nov. 1).
The Bison were led on offense by graduate quarterback
Tyriq Starks (Carol City, Fla.), who was 17-of-27 for 149 yards. Sophomore running
Travis Kerney (Sebring, Fla.) led the ground attack with 18 yards while freshman wideout
Antonio Hunter (Cincinnati) caught a career-high three passes for 44 yards.
Defensively, redshirt junior defensive back
Kedrick Green (Winston-Salem, N.C.) led the way with 12 total tackles and an interception that set up one of the Howard's two TDs. Sophomore linebacker
Ja'Quavion Smith (Wingate, N.C.) aided the cause with two tackles for losses and a blocked kick. Redshirt junior defensive back
Kaleb Gallop (Portsmouth, Va.) added seven total tackles.
Howard freshman punter
Liam Allen IV (Lake Mary, Fla.) had a great day, averaging 50 yards on five punts, two of which were over 50 yards, including a career-best 68 yarder.
SOUTH CAROLINA STATE
SCSU (6-3, 2-0 MEAC) comes into the game riding a four-game win streak, following a 36-30 home win over Morgan State Saturday (Nov. 1).
The Bulldogs were led offensively by graduate quarterback William Atkins IV, who completed 21-of-32 for 363 yards and a TD. Redshirt junior running back Tyler Smith led the ground attack with 110 yards on 18 carries and two TDs.
The SC State defense was led by graduate linebacker Malik Harp (8 tackles), junior defensive lineman Joshua Barker (5 tackles, 1.5 tackles for losses & 1.0 sack) and redshirt sophomore linebacker Jordan Franklin (6 tackles, 1.0 tackle for a loss & an interception).
SEASON RECAP
HOWARD
On Aug. 30, the Bison opened the season with 10-9 win over Florida A&M at the Orange Blossom Classic in Miami Gardens, Fla., followed by a 55-7 loss at Temple (Sept. 6) before defeating Morehouse (Sept. 13) and Hampton (Sept. 20) and then three straight road losses at Richmond (Sept. 27), Sacred Heart (Oct. 11) and Tennessee State (Oct. 18) before the OT win over the Bears (Oct. 25) and last week's setback to NC Central (Nov. 1).
SOUTH CAROLINA STATE
The Bulldogs opened the season with a win over Wofford (16-15), then followed a loss at South Carolina (38-10), followed by a victory over Bethune Cookman (55-51), then losses to Central Florida (63-14) and Charleston Southern (31-24) before reeling off victories over Savannah State (49-6), North Carolina A&T State (22-16), Norfolk State (51-20) and last week's decision over Morgan State (36-30).
THE SERIES: The Bulldogs won last year's matchup, 38-14 in Washington, DC. SC State has won two in a row and seven of the last 9. The Bison last won in Orangeburg in 2017 (28-20). The Bulldogs hold a commanding 39-12 advantage in the series.
THE COACHES
Howard is coached by
Larry Scott (USF, '00), who is in his sixth season, and SCSU is led by Chennis Berry (Savannah State,) who is in his second season at the helm.
WHAT THE COACHES ARE SAYING
COACH SCOTT
"With South Carolina State, it starts with the offensive and defensive lines. They run the football and play fast. In order for us to come away with a win, we will have to play our best football."
COACH BERRY
"Howard is a well-coached football team. They do some really good things on defense. They are big upfront and they fly around the ball."
KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH
SCOUTING THE BISON
On offense, the Bison will rely on the talents of Starks (114-of-192 for 1,107 yards & 6 TDs; 3 rushing TDs).
The run game is powered by the duo of sophomore running backs Kerney (59 carries for 261 yards & 2 TDs),
Anthony Reagan Jr. (84 carries for 509 yards, 7 TDs & 6.1 YPC) and freshman
Billy Roberson (35 carries for 172 yards & a TD).
The passing game will be bolstered by graduate wide receiver
Breylin Smith (24 receptions for 205 yards & a TD), junior wide receiver
Zaden Jackson (12 receptions for 127 yards & a TD) and freshman wide receiver
CJ Neely (12 receptions for 126 yards & a TD).
The nationally ranked Buffalo Soldier defense is led by Smith (27 total tackles, 7.0 TFLs, 3.0 sacks, 2 FFs & 4 PBs), senior All-MEAC defensive lineman
Noah Miles (25 total tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 3.0 sacks & a FR), senior linebacker
Judah McJimpsey (34 total tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 2.0 sacks, 2 FRs & 3 PBs) and redshirt freshman defensive back
Zuri Watson (20 total tackles, 2.0 TFLs & a team-leading 6 PBs).
The special teams are paced by Allen (almost 40 yards per punt, including seven of 50 yards or more and 10 inside the 20-yard line), Hunter (almost 8 yards per punt return) and freshman kick returner
John Washington III (22.0 yards per return). The Howard special team has blocked three kicks this season.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
SCSU is led by the combination of Atkins (111-of-170 for 1,504 yards & 10 TDs) and redshirt senior quarterback Ryan Stubblefield (83-of-144 for 1,052 yards & 5 TDs).
The running game is led by Smith (91 carries for 444 yards & 5 TDs) and sophomore running back Mason Pickett-Hicks (55 carries for 258 yards & 2 TDs).
The trio of graduate wide receivers Jordan Smith (36 receptions for 595 yards & 4 TDs), Jalen Johnson (39 catches for 468 yards & a TD) and Deyandre Ruffin (33 catches for 376 yards & a TD) gives the Bulldogs balance on offense.
Defensively, the Bulldogs are led Franklin (46 tackles, 8.0 TFLs, 2.0 sacks & an INT), Harp (37 tackles, 45. TFLs & 3 PBs), graduate defensive lineman Michael Lunz (34 tackles, 15.0 TFLs & 8.0 sacks) and redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Jordan Dollard (22 tackles, 6.0 TFLs & 2.5 sacks).
Of special teams, SCSU is solid with graduate punter Janish Elliott (39 yards per punt) and senior placekicker Nico Cavanillas-Alt (12-of-15 field goals with a long of 50).
CONFERENCE STATISTICAL RANKINGS
HOWARD
Howard leads the MEAC in scoring defense (22.1), total defensive yards (308.5 yards allowed), pass defense (142.5 yards allowed), fourth-down conversion (70-percent) and first-down defense.
Individually, Reagan ranks third in all-purpose yards, fifth in rushing, sixth in scoring (TDs) and seventh in kick returns…Starks is fourth in passing, sixth in total offense and ninth in scoring (TDs)…Washington is sixth in kick returns…Hunter is second in punt returns…Allen ranks fourth in punting.
Defensively, Green is fifth in interceptions, seventh in tackles, 10
th in sacks and tackles for loss…Smith leads the conference in forced fumbles and fifth in tackles for losses…Watson is fourth in pass breakups…McJimpsey is second in fumble recoveries and third in fumble returns…redshirt junior defensive lineman
CJ Wesley (West Orange, N.J.) is second in forced fumbles and eighth in sacks…senior defensive back
J. Augustus Olidge (Atlanta) is ninth in pass breakups…graduate linebacker
Jay Jones II (Charlotte, N.C.) is sixth in interceptions.
SOUTH CAROLINA STATE
The Bulldogs lead the MEAC in total offense (31.9 ppg), passing offense (288.8 ypg), third down conversion offense and defense and in Red Zone offense.
Individually, Smith is seventh in rushing…Atkins is third in passing offense and fourth in total offense…Stubblefield is seventh in passing…Smith is second in receiving and eighth in all-purpose yards…Johnson leads the conference in punt returns, sixth receiving and 10
th in all-purpose yards…Ruffin is ninth in receiving…Elliott leads the MEAC in punting and leads in field goal kicking.
Defensively, Lunz leads the conference in tackles for losses, second in sacks and eighth in fumble recoveries…Franklin is sixth in tackles for losses…senior defensive back Jarrod Washington leads the MEAC in passes broken up.
NATIONAL FCS STATS
HOWARD
Howard is eighth in pass defense, tied for eighth in first down pass efficiency defense, tied for 10
th in fumbles recovered, tied for 13
th in blocked kicks, tied for ninth in blocked punts and tied for 21
st in third down conversion defense.
SOUTH CAROLINA STATE
SCSU ranks seventh in passing offense, second in third down conversion defense and sacks.
Individually, Washburn leads the country in passes broken up…Lunz leads the country in tackles for losses, second in sacks and eighth in forced fumbles…Franklin is sixth in tackles for losses.
GAME NOTES
BISON HOOVES
Howard has played in five different professional stadiums: Hard Rock Stadium (Aug. 30); Lincoln Financial Field (Sept. 6); MetLife Stadium (Sept. 13); Audi Field (Sept. 20) and Nissan Field (Oct. 18)…16 different receivers have caught at least one pass in the Howard equal opportunity passing offense…Reagan has emerged as one of the top backs in the MEAC…Reagan has rushed for more than 100 yards in three of the last five games and scored at least one TD in four of those four contests…Reagan has also developed pass receiving skills as he grabbed four passes for 36 yards in the win over Morgan State (Oct. 25)…Green had the best game of his career, collecting 12 total tackles versus North Carolina Central (Nov. 1)…Allen also had his best outing in his young career, averaging 50 yards per punt, including a career best 68-yard effort, against the Eagles.
BULLDOG BARKS
SCSU is averaging over 38 points in its six wins…The Bulldogs, the reigning MEAC Champions, were the preseason pick to repeat.
NEXT UP
The Bulldogs have a showdown with the Eagles of North Carolina Central on a rare Friday night (Nov. 14) clash in Durham, N.C., at 6 p.m., while the Bison travel to Dover, Del., where they will take on the Hornets of Delaware State at 1:30 pm.
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at
www.HUBison.com.
