HBCU Football: Can Delaware State contend for MEAC title in 2021?

Can the Hornets contend in the MEAC this fall?

It is going to be hard for the Hornets to find victories this fall. Playing ball control offense will give Delaware State opportunities to win games in the fourth quarter. Look for better play with an entire offseason with both new offensive and defensive coordinators.

• Game 1: Bowie State (W) — Despite Bowie State being Division II, this is not a cakewalk for the Hornets. The Bulldogs are one of the better programs in D-II, going 11-1 in 2019. Look for Delaware State to pull away in the second half after adjusting during halftime.
• Game 2: Georgetown (W) — This game should let coach Milstead know where his program is in year three. The Hoyas are a lower-tier FCS program, but then so are the Hornets. Look for Delaware State to control the ball and the trenches on their way to a close win.
• Game 3: at East Tennessee State (W) — Much like the Georgetown game, East Tennessee is a game Delaware State wants to win as a measure of improvement. The Buccaneers are a solid program that has not been that good the last couple of seasons. Give the Hornets their first road win of the season.
• Game 4: Merrimack (W) — This is a game the Hornets should win. Merrimack is transitioning to Division I this season, and Delaware State should take advantage of that.
• Game 5: at Wagner (W) — An easy win against a team that went winless in the spring and won one game in 2019.
• Game 6: Virginia University of Lynchburg (W) — This is another confidence booster playing an opponent who did not win a football game in 2019.
• Game 7: South Carolina State (W) — This game could go either way. The Bulldogs beat the Hornets in the spring and 2019, though both games were relatively close (spring was a one-possession win for SCSU). This one goes to the wire.
• Game 8: Howard (W) — The Hornets pick up their first sure conference win of the season against the Bison. Though Delaware State was one of their two wins in 2019, the Hornets returned the favor in the spring. Look for the Hornets to make it two in a row.
• Game 9: at Morgan State (W) — Another toss-up. Morgan State defeated Delaware State in 2019, but that was two years ago. The Bears return to the field after not playing at all in 2020. This game is one game, and the Hornets get the edge because they played in the spring.
• Game 10: Norfolk State (L) — This may be an upset by the Spartans, but this is the Dawson Odoms effect coming into play. The Spartans have not played since 2019, and Odoms will have the Spartans ready in his first year as head coach.
• Game 11: at North Carolina Central (L) — The Eagles won a close game at home against the Hornets in 2019. This one, a toss-up, could go either way. Look for NCCU to find a way and win this one as well.

Prediction 9-2, 3-2 MEAC

Could Delaware State go from two wins in 2019 to nine wins this fall? Yes, because of how they scheduled. With just five conference games this year, the Hornets have more non-conference games on their schedule. There are four toss-up games on their schedule, so the Hornets could quickly go 5-6. However, five wins are better than their spring and fall of 2019 combined.