MEAC Announces the 2014 Football Television Schedule

NORFOLK, Virginia --The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) announced its 2014 television football lineup featuring eight appealing matchups scheduled to telecast on the ESPN networks- including ESPN, ESPNU, ESPN Classic and ESPN3. The nationally televised games highlight the continued partnership between the MEAC and ESPN.

“The MEAC is proud of its continued partnership with ESPN, the Worldwide Leader in Sports,” said MEAC Commissioner Dennis Thomas.  “We are excited about these competitive matchups and look forward to highlighting our great and talented student-athletes, coaches and institutions on a global landscape.”

The 2014 schedule kicks off with the 10th annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney, Sunday, August 31 in Orlando, Fla. The game will air live at 11:45 a.m. on ESPN.  This year's game will feature the MEAC’s North Carolina A&T State against the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s Alabama A&M.  The matchup will pose the first ever meeting between the two institutions.

The Thursday night slate features three live conference matchups on ESPNU.  Hampton will face North Carolina A&T in the first Thursday night matchup on October 9 beginning at 7:30 p.m. in Greensboro, North Carolina. Norfolk State will host defending MEAC Co-Champion Bethune-Cookman on November 6 at 7:30 p.m.  The B-CU Wildcats will also meet Hampton during a telecast at 7:30 p.m. on November 13. 

Saturday televised games will feature MEAC conference rivals Morgan State against Howard in the NY Urban League Classic.  The game will telecast live on ESPN3 and taped delayed at 10 p.m. on ESPNU. 

In a battle of the Carolina’s, defending Co-Champion South Carolina State will face North Carolina A&T in the Atlanta Football Classic on Saturday, October 4.  The game will air live on ESPN3 and will re-air later that day at 10 p.m. on ESPNU. 

Hampton will face local foe Norfolk State in the annual Battle of the Bay Classic during a televised contest on October 18 in Hampton, Virginia.  The game will air live at 1 p.m. on ESPN3 and will telecast taped-delayed at 10 p.m. on ESPNU. 

The 2014 televised schedule wraps up with the annual Florida Classic featuring Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M on Saturday, November 22.  The game will air live at 2 p.m. on ESPN Classic and ESPN3.  The game will re-air on ESPNU during a time slot to be determined and announced at a later time. 

All games will also be available for viewing on computers, smartphones, tablets, Xbox and Apple TV via the WatchESPN application.  

Sun., August 31
North Carolina A&T v. Alabama A&M (MEAC/SWAC Challenge)
ESPN/WatchESPN
11:45 a.m.

Sat., Sept. 20
Morgan State v. Howard
(NY Urban League)
ESPNU/ESPN3
4 p.m.*

Sat., Oct. 4 
South Carolina State v. North Carolina A&T
(Atlanta Football Classic)
ESPNU/ESPN3
3:30 p.m.**

Thurs., Oct. 9
Hampton at North Carolina A&T
ESPNU/WatchESPN
7:30 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 18
Norfolk State at Hampton
ESPNU/ESPN3
1 p.m.***

Thur., Nov. 6
Bethune-Cookman at Norfolk State
ESPNU/WatchESPN
7:30 p.m.

Thurs., Nov. 13
Bethune-Cookman at Hampton
ESPNU/WatchESPN
7:30 p.m.

Sat., Nov. 22
Bethune-Cookman vs. Florida A&M
(Florida Classic)
ESPN Classic/ESPN3/ESPNU
2 p.m. on ESPN Classic and ESPN3

TD on ESPNU**

*Game will air live on ESPN3 at time listed; will air on ESPNU taped-delayed Sept. 20 at 10 p.m.
**Game will air live on ESPN3 at time listed; will air on ESPNU taped-delayed Oct. 4 at 10 p.m.
***Game will air live on ESPN3 at time listed; will air on ESPNU taped-delayed Oct. 18 at 10 p.m.

COURTESY MEAC MEDIA RELATIONS