DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University football program will wrap up its 2025 home slate Friday evening, squaring off against South Carolina State at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium.

Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m., and the game will air live on ESPN2.

The Match-Up: This will be the 30th meeting between the Bulldogs and the Eagles. NCCU leads the all-time series 15-14. The Bulldogs have won four of the last five meetings; NCCU last won in 2023, 62-28 in Durham.

NCCU vs. the MEAC: Since taking over as head coach before the 2019 season, head coach Trei Oliver is 21-10 in MEAC games following this past Saturday's win over Norfolk State. This includes a 4-1 mark in conference play in each of the last four seasons. 2019 was NCCU's last losing season in MEAC play, when the Eagles went 3-5. Since rejoining the MEAC in 2011, the Eagles are 58-43 in conference games.

NCCU at Home: NCCU is 20-8 at home under head coach Trei Oliver, after defeating Norfolk State 31-28 this past Saturday. The Eagles are 2-2 at home so far this season. The Eagles have finished with a winning home record in each of the last four seasons, including undefeated home campaigns in 2022 (4-0) and 2023 (5-0). The Eagles went 4-1 at home last season.

Last Time Out: NCCU (7-3, 2-1 MEAC) defeated Norfolk State 31-28 this past Saturday in O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium, behind three touchdown passes from quarterback Walker Harris. Harris threw for 265 yards, passing 2,500 for the season. Wide receiver Chauncey Spikes caught eight passes for 71 yards and two touchdowns. In his last two games, Spikes has 17 receptions for 279 yards and five scores. Running back Arthur Rodgers, Jr. rushed for 80 yards on 24 carries. Kicker Kaleb Robison kicked a career-best three field goals, and he made multiple field goals in a single game for the fourth time this season. Linebacker Isaiah Lawson led the Eagles' defense with eight tackles, including two for a loss and one sack. Defensive back Eric Adams recorded his third interception of the season, tying the team high.

Harris Busts Out: Harris followed up his career performance against Fayetteville State with another fantastic game, passing for 380 yards and three touchdowns against North Carolina A&T. After throwing for three scores against Norfolk State, Harris has thrown 19 touchdown passes in the last six games. Through 10 contests, he ranks fourth in FCS in passing yards and t-9th in passing touchdowns. He is the MEAC's top passer, and the only quarterback in the conference to eclipse the 2,500-yard mark. With 2,732 passing yards so far this season, Harris has the second highest single-season passing total in program history. Harris came into the season as a Preseason First Team All-MEAC honoree and one of the players on Stats Perform's HBCU Player of the Year Watch List. He was also named to the 2025 Black College Football Player of the Year Watch List.

Mosley Starting Strong: Running back Chris Mosley has come out of the gates strong in the Eagles' first six games. He ran for a game-high 182 yards and a touchdown in the season opener against Southern, en route to being named the Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kick-Off MVP. The performance was the first 100-yard rushing game of Mosley's collegiate career; Mosley recorded another 100-yard rushing effort against New Hampshire, going for 106 yards on 19 carries. Having recorded four 100-yard rushing games so far this season, Mosley currently leads the MEAC (and sits 11th nationally) in all-purpose yards and is second in both rushing yards (where he ranks 17th in the nation) and rushing yards per game (19th in FCS).

Oliver High on Johnson: Oliver expected big things out of defensive lineman Thomas Johnson this season, his fourth with the program. Johnson, a senior from Lawndale, Calif., has played in 25 career games to this point. In 2024, Johnson had 11 tackles in three games, including five tackles for loss and four sacks. Johnson was strong in the season opener against Southern, with seven tackles (two for loss), a sack, a quarterback hurry, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He added six tackles and 1.5 sacks against New Hampshire. Johnson, who had one sack against Norfolk State, currently sits tied for sixth in all of FCS in sacks, and he also leads the MEAC (and ranks t-12th nationally) in tackles for loss.

Scouting South Carolina State: The Bulldogs are 7-3 overall and 3-0 in MEAC play after a 42-12 win over Howard this past Saturday. S.C. State has won five in a row. The Bulldogs lead the MEAC in passing offense (286.3 ypg). William Atkins IV is the Bulldogs' top passer, going for 1,760 yards and 12 touchdowns on the season. He is averaging 176 yards per game through the air. Wideout Jordan Smith leads the team, and ranks second in the MEAC, averaging 66.6 receiving yards per game. He has 666 yards and five touchdowns on 39 catches. S.C. State leads the MEAC in total defense (308.3 ypg) and rushing defense (116.0 ypg), while ranking second in the conference in passing defense (192.3 ypg). Linebacker Jordan Franklin leads the team with 50 total tackles, ranking seventh in the MEAC. Michael Lunz II is second in the MEAC in both tackles for loss (10.5) and sacks (5.5). He is tied for 13th in all of FCS in sacks.

Non-Conference Success: NCCU is 23-14 in non-conference games under Oliver after defeating Florida A&M 45-7 on Oct. 11. Over the last two-plus seasons, the Eagles are 20-6 against opponents from outside the MEAC. This includes wins over three top 25 teams (No. 25 Elon [2023], No. 25 New Hampshire [2022], and No. 5 Jackson State [2022]). This season, the Eagles faced opponents from the SWAC, CAA Football, the Sun Belt, the CIAA and the Southland Conference this season, and NCCU also faced one FBS opponent this season in Old Dominion.

Watch Out Now: Three Eagles are on the Stats Perform HBCU Player of the Year Watchlist heading into the 2025 season: quarterback Walker Harris, defensive back Malcolm Reed and offensive lineman Trevon Humphrey. All three are Preseason First Team All-MEAC honorees, and Reed is also a Stats Perform Preseason All-American.

Continuity Up Front: NCCU will have a remarkable level of experience along the offensive front, which is uncommon in college football these days, especially in the FCS. In addition to returning quarterback Walker Harris and tight end Luke Bracey, the Eagles are returning starters at all five offensive line positions. That includes Preseason All-MEAC honorees Noah McKinney and Trevon Humphrey.

For more information on NCCU athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.