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The 22-year wait is over. Morgan State will finally appear in a MEAC-SWAC Challenge in 2027. The Bears will play Alabama State in the preeminent HBCU kickoff game next season. Morgan State and Texas Southern were the two MEAC/SWAC schools to not appear in the MEAC-SWAC Challenge since its inception in 2005.
The presence of Alabama State, 2.5 hours away from Atlanta, should offset concerns of Morgan State’s traveling fanbase. Notably, the Bears played in front of a crowd of 3,000 in the 2025 Circle City Classic against Miles.
Surprisingly, this will be only the second time that Morgan State has played in Atlanta ever. In 1972, the Bears met Tennessee State in the Atlanta Gridiron Classic at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium. 10,093 fans witnessed the Tigers shut out Morgan State 14-0. The Bears could only amass 66 yards, including 48 yards from just six completions on 21 passes.
Morgan State’s long scoring opportunity came in the first quarter, when 42 yards worth of Tennessee State penalties helped them reach the Tennessee State 21. Unfortunately, the Tigers blocked Morgan State’s field goal and never looked back. The Tigers held a 7-0 lead until the final minute when Ken Pettiford connected with James Thaxton for a 27-yard touchdown pass with 26 seconds left to seal the win.
The game may have been a low-scoring affair, but this was Black College Football at its peak. Future College Football Hall of Famers Earl Banks and John Merritt roamed the sidelines for Morgan State and Tennessee State, respectively.
An estimated 30 pro scouts attended the game. Both schools had already produced household names such as Leroy Kelly, Claude Humphrey, and many others.
In a way, the MEAC-SWAC Challenge is a faint reminder of Morgan State’s reign as Black College Football royalty. Once again, the program will take center stage on ABC to open the season as it did in 1971 when the network broadcast its yearly classic against Grambling.
There’s a possibility they’ll face an Alabama State squad fresh off a Celebration Bowl title. This will be appointment television.
Bears fans have not had much to cheer about since the legendary Earl Banks stepped down after the 1983 season. Morgan State has just one shared MEAC title, and two winning seasons over the last 43 years. Not only is this a rare moment in the spotlight for Morgan State, it could be a turning point for one of the MEAC’s longest-suffering programs.
Special thanks to the Morgan State Football Record Book for being an indispensable resource for this article. You can access it here.
Morgan State will face Alabama State in next year's MEAC/SWAC Challenge, per the event's website. The matchup was previously set to feature SC State vs. Alabama State. The announcement comes amid ESPN's extension of its agreements with both conferences through 2031.
