# North Carolina Central Eagles football

The North Carolina Central Eagles football program is a college football team representing North Carolina Central University. The Eagles play at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

## History
### Classifications

* 1952–1972: NCAA College Division
* 1955–1969: NAIA
* 1970–1986: NAIA Division I
* 1973–2010: NCAA Division II
* 2011–present: NCAA Division I–AA/FCS

### Conference memberships

* 1922–1927: Independent
* 1928–1970: Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
* 1971–1978: Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
* 1979–2006: Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
* 2007–2009: NCAA Division II independent
* 2010–present: Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

## Championships
### National

| Year | Championship | Coach | Overall record | Conference |
| 1954 | Black College National co-champions | Herman Riddick | 7–1–1 | CIAA |
| 2005 | Black College National DII Champions | Rod Broadway | 10–2 | CIAA |
| 2006 | Black College National co-champions | Rod Broadway | 11–1 | CIAA |
| 2022 | Black College National Champions | Trei Oliver | 10–2 | MEAC |

### Conference championships

North Carolina Central has won fifteen conference championships, five shared and ten outright.
| Year | Conference | Coach | Overall record |
| 1953 | CIAA | Herman Riddick | 5–3 |
| 1954 | CIAA | Herman Riddick | 7–1–1 |
| 1956* | CIAA | Herman Riddick | 5–2–2 |
| 1961 | CIAA | Herman Riddick | 7–0–2 |
| 1963 | CIAA | Herman Riddick | 8–1 |
| 1972 | MEAC | George Quiett | 9–2 |
| 1973 | MEAC | Willie Smith | 7–4 |
| 1980 | CIAA | Henry Lattimore | 7–5 |
| 2005 | CIAA | Rod Broadway | 6–1 |
| 2006 | CIAA | Rod Broadway | 7–0 |
| 2014* | MEAC | Jerry Mack | 7–5 |
| 2015* | MEAC | Jerry Mack | 8–3 |
| 2016 | MEAC | Jerry Mack | 9–3 |
| 2022* | MEAC | Trei Oliver | 10–2 |
| 2023* | MEAC | Trei Oliver | 9–3 |

## Alumni in the NFL

Over 25 North Carolina Central alumni have played in the NFL, including:
* John Baker
* Louis Breeden
* William Frizzell
* Robert Massey
* Doug Wilkerson
* Aaron B. Martin, Sr
* Ryan Smith
* Greg Peterson

## Playoff appearances
### NCAA Division I-AA/FCS

The Eagles have appeared in the Division I-AA/FCS playoffs one time, with a combined record of 0–1.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 2023 | First Round | Richmond | L, 27–49 |

### NCAA Division II

The Eagles made three appearances in the Division II playoffs, with a combined record of 1-3.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1988 | First Round Quarterfinals | Winston-Salem State Sacramento State | W, 31–16 L, 7–56 |
| 2005 | Second Round | North Alabama | L, 21–24 |
| 2006 | Second Round | Delta State | L, 17–24 |

## Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of February 26, 2025
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 |
| vs Southern (Atlanta, GA) MEAC/SWAC Challenge | at East Carolina | vs North Carolina A&T (Charlotte, NC) Duke's Mayo Classic | North Carolina A&T | at North Carolina A&T | North Carolina A&T |
| New Hampshire | North Carolina A&T | Florida A&M | | | |
| at Old Dominion | | | | | |
| Fayetteville State | | | | | |
| at North Carolina A&T | | | | | |
| at East Texas A&M | | | | | |
| at Florida A&M | | | | | |