Howard University Athletics

WASHINGTON (NOVEMBER 6, 2026) --The Howard University football team was given little chance in its MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) Thursday night game against the nationally ranked South Carolina State (SC State) Bulldogs. After all, the Bison were coming off a 34-0 whitewash at the hands of North Carolina Central last week (Oct. 31). South Carolina State (8-2, 3-0 in the MEAC), on the other hand, had vanquished a good Morgan State team, 51-10, Thursday (Oct.29) in Baltimore.
 
But Howard (4-6, 1-2 MEAC) refused to follow the script and put up a valiant effort and battled the highly favored Bulldogs only to drop a tough 35-28 decision at Greene Stadium.
 
The Bulldogs, who have run roughshod over its recent MEAC opponents, got off to a good start moving the ball to the Howard 32 before the Bison defense tightened and forced a 49-yard Jett Jackson field goal at the 5:58 mark of the first quarter.
 
Three minutes later, the Bison struck quickly, going 75 yards on only six plays with Se'Quan Osborne (Charlotte, N.C.), finishing off the drive with a dazzling 38-yard run on a flea flicker that caught the Bulldog defense off guard.
 
On their ensuing possession, SC State took advantage of some field position, but again, the Howard defense stiffened and the visitors had to settle for another Jackson field, this time from 34 yards.
 
Then, the explosive Bulldog offense woke up and exploded for two touchdowns in a span of less than five minutes to take a 21-7 lead to the locker room.
 
Howard came out of the locker room and quickly established that it was not going to fall prey to the vaunted Bulldogs as most opponents have experienced the past few weeks.
 
Using an up-tempo offense, Howard went on its longest drive of the season, taking 12 plays to go 90 yards with sophomore wide receiver Antonio Hunter (Cincinnati) catching an 11-yard pass from Isaiah Freeman (Chester, Pa.), who has his best day in a Howard uniform.
 
The Buffalo Soldier defense forced another SC State punt, and it was the generalship of Freeman who used his legs and his arm to move the ball effectively against the vaunted Bulldog defense. It was a six-play, 70-yard drive with Hunter and Freeman again connecting this time for 26 yards to tie the game, 21-21, just before the end of the third quarter.
 
Then, SC State running back Ricorian Brown entered the game, and it took the Bulldogs just three plays to go 90 yards.
 
Howard junior punter Matt Conord (Lithia, Fla.) had pinned them back at their own 10-yard line.
 
Brown finished with a career-high 143 yards and two TDs. He personally accounted for 73 of the yards with runs of 64 and the latter going for a nine-yard TD that helped his team regain the lead, 28-21, with 10:21 in the fourth quarter.
 
But the resilient Bison refused to wilt to the defending Black National Champions.
 
It was Freeman, again, ensuring that his team not go away. He took the Bison 86 yards in only six plays with him connecting with CJ Neeley (Greensboro, N.C.) from 51 yards to send the game into another tie.
 
There was 1:31 left on the clock in the final period. Then, the Bulldogs showed why they have won 12 straight MEAC games over the last three years.
 
SC State quarterback Keely Watson and wide receiver Malagqhi Jones personally moved their team down the field, using only seven plays to go 71 years as Brown finished off the drive with a nine-yard burst that put the game away.
 
Freeman, a graduate transfer from Hampton, rushed 11 times for 62 yards and completed 19-of-37 for 233 yards and three TDs.
 
Hunter grabbed five passes for 52 yards and two TDs.
 
NEXT UP: Howard closes out the 2026 home slate when it hosts Delaware State Saturday (Nov. 14) at 2 p.m., inside Greene Stadium. It will be Senior Day.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.