THE GAME
#18 North Carolina Central Univ. "Eagles" vs. North Carolina A&T State Univ. "Aggies"

THE KICKOFF
Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023 – Kickoff at 7:00 p.m.

THE SITE
Truist Stadium (21,500 capacity/natural grass) - Greensboro, N.C.

THE RECORDS
#18 N.C. Central (1-0 overall, 0-0 MEAC); N.C. A&T (0-1, 0-0 CAA)

MEDIA COVERAGE
TV/Video: Streaming live on FloFootball

QUICK HITS
• This will be the 94th meeting between the Eagles and Aggies. The Aggies lead the series 53-35-5.  NC A&T has won 22 of the last 31 meetings, while the Eagles have won eight of the most recent 16 match-ups.
• NCCU is coming off a 10-win campaign that included a MEAC championship and an HBCU national title.
• NCCU is ranked 18th in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) FCU Top 25.
• NCCU was No. 1 in the preseason BOXTOROW HBCU FCS coaches poll, receiving all but two first place votes.
• Among NCCU's 11 regular-season contests, the Eagles will host five home games, play UCLA in Rose Bowl Stadium (Sept. 16), and travel to Indianapolis for the Circle City Classic (Sept. 23).
• In 2022, NCCU won its first MEAC football championship since 2016, and defeated No. 5 Jackson State University, 41-34, in an overtime thriller in the Cricket Celebration Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The victory delivered the university's fourth HBCU national championship title, joining the company of those captured in 1954, 2005 and 2006.
• The 2022 NCCU Eagles became just the third team in school history to win 10 games in a season and earned the program's highest NCAA Division I-FCS national ranking at No. 17 in the final American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Coaches' Poll.
• Under the direction of 2022 MEAC Coach of the Year Trei Oliver, the Eagles celebrated non-conference FCS triumphs over North Carolina A&T, Tennessee Tech, No. 25 New Hampshire, and No. 5 Jackson State.
• For the 2023 season, NCCU returns 12 All-MEAC performers, including five first team all-conference honorees. Headlining the group are senior quarterback Davius Richard, the 2022 MEAC Offensive Player of the Year, and senior defensive back Khalil Baker, the 2022 MEAC Defensive Player of the Year. NCCU's other All-MEAC returners are senior running back Latrell Collier, junior center Torricelli Simpkins III, senior kicker Adrian Olivo, junior receiver Devin Smith, junior defensive lineman Jaden Taylor, junior linebacker Jaki Brevard, senior defensive back Manny Smith, junior running back J'Mari Taylor, junior defensive lineman Christian Smith, and senior return specialist/defensive back Brandon Codrington.
• Two NCCU football games have been selected for Thursday night ESPNU telecasts during the upcoming 2023 season. On Thursday, Oct. 19, the defending MEAC and Cricket Celebration Bowl champions hit the road to square off against Morgan State. The following Thursday, Oct. 26, NCCU will be back home to take on South Carolina State. Both games will air live on ESPNU at 7:30 p.m. ET.
• The 2022 Eagles shattered NCCU single-season offensive records, including points scored (463 points), first downs (273), and total offense (5,344 yards/445.3 ypg). NCCU led NCAA Division I-FCS in third down conversions (55.8%) and ranked fifth in the nation in scoring (38.6 points per game). Defensively, NCCU topped the NCAA Division I-FCS in red zone defense and ranked 20th in the nation in both scoring defense (21.5 points allowed per game) and total defense (333.6 yards allowed per game).
• During NCCU's 22-20 road victory over Tennessee Tech on Nov. 19, 2022, NCCU played its first penalty-free game, dating back to at least 1994.
• After NCCU's season-opening victory over Winston-Salem State, the Eagles extended their home win streak to seven games, including a 4-0 record inside O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium last season. In those four 2022 home victories, NCCU out-scored its opponents 209-55, averaging 52.3 points and 502.8 yards of total offense per contest. Defensively, the Eagles held the opposition to just 13.8 points and 214.5 total yards per game. 
• NCCU is under the direction of fourth-season head coach Trei Oliver, who was an all-region safety and punter (1994-97) at NCCU, as well as an Eagles' assistant coach (2003-06).
• Following the 28-13 win over North Carolina A&T in Bank of America Stadium on Sept. 3, NCCU improved its record to 6-2 in games played in an NFL stadium since 2000. The Eagles play Mississippi Valley State University on Sept. 23 in Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts, as part of the Circle City Classic.
• Since the start of the 2012 season, NCCU has scored 44 touchdowns on defense and special teams, including Brandon Codrington's 81-yard punt return touchdown versus Winston-Salem State, the fourth longest punt return in NCCU history.
• NCCU's Davius Richard ranks second in NCCU history with 7,050 career passing yards, 8,488 yards of total offense, and 55 career passing touchdowns, trailing only NCCU hall of famer Earl "Air" Harvey (1985-88).
• NCCU's Davius Richard is just the second quarterback in NCCU history to record 2,000 passing yards in three consecutive seasons, joining NCCU hall of famer Earl Harvey (1985-88). Richard threw for 2,020 yards in 2019, 2,133 yards in 2021, and 2,661 yards in 2022.
• NCCU junior kicker Adrian Olivo, a two-time First Team All-MEAC honoree (2022, 2021), ranks fourth in career scoring at NCCU with 210 points, needing 70 points to break the school's career scoring record, held by Brandon Gilbert (2004-08; 279 points). 

THE SERIES
This will be the 94th meeting between the Eagles and Aggies. The Aggies lead the series 53-35-5.  NC A&T has won 22 of the last 31 meetings, while the Eagles have won eight of the most recent 16 match-ups.
09/03/2022 - NCCU 28, NCA&T 13 (Charlotte, N.C.)
09/25/2021 - NCA&T 37, NCCU 14 (Greensboro, N.C.)
11/23/2019 - #24 NCA&T 54, NCCU 0 (Greensboro, N.C.)
11/17/2018 - #12 NCA&T 45, NCCU 0 (Durham, N.C.)
11/18/2017 - #7 NCA&T 24, NCCU 10 (Greensboro, N.C.)
11/19/2016 - #20 NCCU 42, #9 NCA&T 21 (Durham, N.C.)
11/21/2015 - NCCU 21, #13/16 NCA&T 16 (Greensboro, N.C.)
11/22/2014 - NCCU 21, #24 NCA&T 14 (Durham, N.C.)
11/23/2013 - NCA&T 28, NCCU 0 (Greensboro, N.C.)
11/17/2012 - NCA&T 22, NCCU 16 OT (Durham, N.C.)
11/19/2011 - NCA&T 31, NCCU 21 (Greensboro, N.C.)
09/25/2010 - NCCU 27, NCA&T 16 (Durham, N.C.)
10/03/2009 - NCA&T 23, NCCU 17 OT2 (Greensboro, N.C.)
10/04/2008 - NCCU 28, NCA&T 27 (Charlotte, N.C.)
09/22/2007 - NCCU 27, NCA&T 22 (Greensboro, N.C.)
09/05/2005 - NCCU 23, NCA&T 22 (Raleigh, N.C.)
09/05/2004 - NCA&T 16, NCCU 15 (Raleigh, N.C.)
08/31/2003 - NCA&T 25, NCCU 0 (Raleigh, N.C.)
09/01/2002 - NCCU 33, NCA&T 30 OT (Raleigh, N.C.)
09/01/2001 - NCA&T 22, NCCU 0 (Raleigh, N.C.)
(Complete game-by-game series on last page of game notes)

THE COACHES
NCCU: Trei Oliver (N.C. Central, 1998) is in his fourth season as a college head coach. With more than two decades of college coaching experience that includes six conference championships and four Black college football national titles, Oliver returned to his alma mater as North Carolina Central University's 24th head football coach in December 2018. A native of Yorktown, Virginia, Oliver earned all-conference and all-region honors as a defensive back and punter during his four-year playing career at NCCU from 1994-97. The 1998 graduate later returned to NCCU as an assistant coach from 2003-06, helping the Eagles to back-to-back Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) championships in 2005 and 2006.

North Carolina A&T: Vincent Brown (Mississippi Valley State University) is in his first season as head coach at North Carolina A&T. Brown spent the past four seasons as William & Mary's associate head coach, defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. He has also made Division I collegiate coaching stops at Howard University (2017-18), UConn (2014-16), the University of Virginia (2010-13) and the University of Richmond (2008-09). In addition, he served as a graduate assistant at UVa., in 2007 after serving as the Dallas Cowboys inside linebackers coach in 2006. Brown became a 1988 second-round draft pick of the New England Patriots and a three-time All-Pro linebacker.

EAGLES IN TOP-25
The NCCU Eagles received their first national ranking as a Division I-FCS program on Nov. 7, 2016, when the FCS Coaches Poll announced NCCU at No. 25. By the end of the 2016 regular season, the Eagles jumped to No. 18 and finished at No. 19 in the final FCS Coaches poll. NCCU ranked No. 22 in the final 2016 STATS FCS Top 25 poll.
Jan. 9, 2023 - #17 AFCA FCS Coaches' Top 25 / #21 Stats Perform (Final 2022)
Nov. 21, 2022 - #21 AFCA FCS Coaches' Top 25
Nov. 14, 2022 - #25 AFCA FCS Coaches' Top 25
Sept. 19, 2022 - #25 Stats Perform FCS Top 25
Oct. 16, 2017 - #25 STATS FCS Top 25
Oct. 9, 2017 - #25 STATS FCS Top 25
Jan. 9, 2017 - #19 FCS Coaches Poll / #22 STATS FCS Top 25 (Final 2016)
Nov. 21, 2016 - #18 FCS Coaches Poll / #20 STATS FCS Top 25
Nov. 14, 2016 - #20 FCS Coaches Poll / #24 STATS FCS Top 25
Nov. 7, 2016 - #25 FCS Coaches Poll

EAGLES AGAINST NATIONALLY-RANKED OPPOSITION                                            
Since the start of the transition to NCAA Division I-FCS in 2007, NCCU is 5-13 against nationally-ranked FCS opponents. The Eagles knocked off No. 25 New Hampshire on Sept. 17, 2022 and No. 5 Jackson State on Dec. 17, 2022.
12/17/2022 - #5 Jackson State - 41-34 OT W
9/17/2022 - #25 New Hampshire - 45-27 W
9/7/2019 - #8 Towson - 3-42 L
11/17/2018 - #12 North Carolina A&T - 0-45 L
11/18/2017 - #7 North Carolina A&T - 10-24 L
12/17/2016 - #14 Grambling - 9-10 L
11/19/2016 - #9 North Carolina A&T - 42-21 W
11/21/2015 - #13 North Carolina A&T - 21-16 W
11/22/2014 - #24 North Carolina A&T - 21-14 W
11/1/2014 - #20 Bethune-Cookman - 20-34 L
11/2/2013 - #13 Bethune-Cookman - 14-38 L
9/21/2013 - #4 Towson - 17-35 L
10/23/2010 - #14 Bethune-Cookman - 10-23 L
9/18/2010 - #1 Appalachian State - 16-44 L
10/10/2009 - #9 Appalachian State - 21-55 L
9/12/2009 - #24 Liberty - 10-35 L
11/8/2008 - #3 Cal Poly - 3-49 L
9/6/2008 - #8 James Madison - 7-56 L

NCCU EAGLES IN NFL VENUES
Since 2000, NCCU has played in NFL venues nine times with a 7-2 record. During that time, NCCU's only losses were in the Georgia Dome (2016, 2010).
Recent Trips to NFL Stadiums:
Mercedes-Benz Stadium - Atlanta Falcons (Dec. 17, 2022 vs. Jackson St. - W 41-34 OT)
Bank of America Stadium - Carolina Panthers (Sept. 3, 2022 vs. N.C. A&T - W 28-13)
Georgia Dome - Atlanta Falcons (Dec. 17, 2016 vs. Grambling - L, 9-10)
Lucas Oil Stadium - Indianapolis Colts (Oct. 6, 2012 vs. S.C. State - W, 40-10)
Cleveland Browns Stadium (Sept. 10, 2011 vs. Central State - W, 42-3)
Georgia Dome - Atlanta Falcons (Oct. 16, 2010 vs. Georgia State - L, 17-20 OT)
Giants Stadium - New York Giants (Sept. 15, 2007 vs. Elizabeth City State - W, 18-10)
Ericsson Stadium - Carolina Panthers (Nov. 4, 2001 vs. Johnson C. Smith - W, 34-3)
Veterans Stadium - Philadelphia Eagles (Sept. 30, 2000 vs. Morris Brown - W, 19-16)

HOME SWEET HOME
The Eagles extended their home win streak to seven games with a season-opening triumph over Winston-Salem State and by posting a 4-0 record inside O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium last season. In those four 2022 triumphs, NCCU out-scored its opponents, 209-55, averaging 52.3 points and 502.8 yards of total offense per contest. Defensively, the Eagles held the opposition to just 13.8 points and 214.5 total yards per game. That equates to a differential of +38.5 points and +288.3 total yards per outing.

EAGLES TURN DEFENSE, SPECIAL TEAMS INTO POINTS Since the start of the 2012 season, the Eagles have demonstrated a knack for finding the end zone when the offense is off the field. In the past 114 games, NCCU has scored 44 touchdowns on defense and special teams, including an 81-yard punt return by Brandon Codrington against Winston-Salem State this season, a 33-yard interception return by Khalil Baker at New Hampshire in 2022, two in 2021, two in 2019, two in 2018, three in 2017, three in 2016, six in 2015, five in 2014, nine in 2013 and 10 in 2012. In that time, the Eagles have made trips to the end zone on 17 punt returns, seven kickoff returns, three blocked field goal returns, 13 interceptions and four fumble recoveries. 

ABOUT NCCU FOOTBALL
• North Carolina Central University is in its 12th season of full NCAA Division I (FCS) athletics competition as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. 
• The Eagles have won 12 conference championships as members of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (1953, 1954, 1956, 1961, 1963, 1980, 2005, 2006) and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (1972, 1973, 2016, 2022), and have made three appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs (1988, 2005, 2006). The Eagles won back-to-back football conference championships and a Black College National Championship in their final two years in the Division II ranks (2005 and 2006) before starting the transition to Division I in 2007.
• During its storied gridiron tradition, NCCU has produced 156 all-conference selections (first team), 71 all-Americans, 41 NFL draft picks, 12 conference championships and four Black College National Championships (1954, 2005, 2006, 2022).
• Three Eagles have represented NCCU on the National Football League's grandest stage - the Super Bowl. The first NCCU Eagle to make a Super Bowl appearance was Richard Sligh, who was a reserve tackle with the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl II against the Green Bay Packers on Jan. 14, 1968. Sligh, who holds the distinction as the tallest player in NFL history (7'0"), played at NCCU from 1962-64 and was later drafted by the Raiders in the 10th round of the 1967 NFL draft. On Jan. 24, 1982, former NCCU Eagle Louis Breeden was a starting cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XVI against the San Francisco 49ers. Earlier in the season (Nov. 8, 1981), Breeden intercepted a pass thrown by San Diego Chargers quarterback Dan Fouts and returned it a team-record 102 yards for a touchdown. The following year, he was selected as a First-Team All-Pro. He completed his 10-year NFL career with 33 interceptions for 558 return yards and two touchdowns. The third Eagle to play in the Super Bowl was Ryan Smith with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Feb. 7, 2021, as Smith became the first NCCU Eagle to play in a Super Bowl victory.
• The first Eagle selected in the NFL Draft was Matt Boone, who was taken by the Giants with the eighth pick in the 18th round in 1956. The latest Eagle announced during the NFL Draft was Ryan Smith, who was chosen by the Buccaneers in the fourth round in 2016. NCCU's highest draft pick was Doug Wilkerson, who was selected in the first round with the 14th overall pick of the 1970 NFL Draft by the Oilers. The Eagles have also had three second-round NFL draft picks, including Robert Massey in 1989 by the Saints, Charles Smith in 1975 by the Broncos and Chuck Hinton in 1962 by the Browns. 
• HBCU football pioneer John Brown, who represented NCCU (then North Carolina College) on the gridiron in the 1940s, was one of the first to play professional football out of a historically Black college or university. Brown shares the honor with Ezzret Anderson of Kentucky State and Elmore Harris of Morgan State, who all began their professional football careers in 1947. Brown and Anderson were teammates on the Los Angeles Dons, while Harris was a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers. According to NCCU records, Brown was the first of the three to sign a professional football contract. He played center and linebacker with the Dons from 1947-49, before moving to the Canadian Football League.