MEAC-SWAC Challenge moves to campus sites

Apr 22, 2016 - 7:15 PM (STATS) - The next two matchups of the MEAC-SWAC Challenge were announced for campus sites Friday, including Alcorn State at Bethune-Cookman on Sept. 4.

The 2017 matchup will feature South Carolina State at Southern on Sept. 3.

The season-opening matchup between teams from the two FCS conferences for historically black colleges - annually televised on ESPN - was previously held at neutral sites.

Game organizers, though, said the Challenge will continue to have a neutral "bowl-like" experience.

This year's 12th annual game - a matchup STATS reported over two months ago - will be played at Municipal Stadium in Daytona Beach, Florida, and double as "The Battle by the Beach."

Alcorn is coming off two straight SWAC championships, including a 9-4 campaign last year, and will have a first-year coach in Fred McNair, brother of late former NFL quarterback Steve McNair. Bethune earned a share of the MEAC title and went 9-2 in coach Terry Sims' first season last year.

Bethune won its two previous appearances in the Challenge in 2011 and '12. Alcorn will make its first appearance.

The 2017 game between MEAC member South Carolina State and SWAC member Southern will be played at A.W. Mumford Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. South Carolina State is 3-0 in the Challenge, winning in 2005, '09 and last year, while Southern has won its two appearances in 2007 and '10.