The MEAC has set the format for its spring 2021 schedule. While game-by-game opponents have yet to be determined, the conference has the rest of the slate figured out.
The season will begin the weekend of Feb. 27 and run through April 24 -- a 9-week stretch to play six games. The conference will split all of its sports into two, six-team divisions, divided north to south.
North
Coppin State
Delaware State
Howard
Maryland-Eastern Shore
Morgan State
Norfolk State
South
Bethune-Cookman
Florida A&M
North Carolina A&T
North Carolina Central
South Carolina State
Coppin State and Maryland-Eastern Shore do not play football, so adjustments will be required there. The conference is also set to lose North Carolina A&T and Florida A&M after this season, meaning NC A&T could conceivably win the MEAC in the spring and the Big South in the fall, and FAMU could double dip between the MEAC and the SWAC.
As for the MEAC Championship, the title game will be held May 1. This schedule just so happens to align perfectly with the SWAC's, meaning the Celebration Bowl could conceivably be held on May 8.
However, conference leaders cautioned this schedule will not be played if conditions surrounding the pandemic do not improve over the next four months.
“Although it’s still too early to tell if the coronavirus conditions will improve fast enough to allow us to reconvene spring sports, we want to be prepared with a plan of action,” Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, President of Howard University and chair of the MEAC presidents and chancellors, said.
“As has been the case since this pandemic started in March, the health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches, university staff and fans are paramount,” MEAC Commissioner Dennis E. Thomas said. “I want to thank both the Forecasting Committee and the Health and Medical Advisory Group for their tireless efforts in formulating this plan.”
The MEAC is celebrating its 50th year of existence in the 2020-21 academic year, and clearly the conference hopes to do much more celebrating in 2021 than 2020. Playing a spring football season will be a large part of that.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.