# South Carolina State Bulldogs football

The South Carolina State Bulldogs football team represents South Carolina State University in college football. The Bulldogs play in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).
A historically dominant football program, the Bulldogs lead the MEAC in conference championships. The school has produced four players enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame including Harry Carson, Deacon Jones, Marion Motley, and Donnie Shell. Other legendary Bulldog players include Robert Porcher, Shaquille Leonard, Barney Chavous, Charlie Brown and Orlando Brown Sr., Javon Hargrave, Decobie Durant, among others.
Former SC State Coach Willie Jeffries became the first African American Head Coach of a predominantly white Division I-A football program, when he was hired to coach the Wichita State football program in 1979. Jeffries is enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.

## History

List of South Carolina State Bulldogs football seasons

### Classifications

* 1956–1972: NCAA College Division
* 1967–1969: NAIA
* 1970–1978: NAIA Division I
* 1973–1977: NCAA Division II
* 1978–present: NCAA Division I–AA/FCS

### Conference memberships

* 1907–1928: Independent
* 1929–1934: Southeastern Athletic Conference
* 1935–1970: Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
* 1971–present: Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

## Bulldogs vs. in-state NCAA Division I schools

| School | Record | Percentage | Streak | First Meeting | Last Meeting |
| Charleston Southern | 7–0 | 1.000 | Won 7 | 1991 | 1999 |
| Clemson | 0–5 | .000 | Lost 5 | 2008 | 2021 |
| Coastal Carolina | 0–5 | .000 | Lost 5 | 2005 | 2015 |
| Furman | 5–12 | .294 | Lost 1 | 1982 | 2015 |
| Presbyterian | 2–0 | 1.000 | Won 2 | 1989 | 1990 |
| South Carolina | 0–2 | .000 | Lost 2 | 2007 | 2009 |
| The Citadel | 3–4 | .428 | Won 2 | 1989 | 2024 |
| Wofford | 3–6 | .333 | Won 1 | 1974 | 2019 |
| South Carolina State 19 – in-state NCAA Division I Schools 33 ||||||

## Championships
### National championships

The Bulldogs have been awarded a NCAA-recognized black college football national championship six times in program history.
| Year | Coach | Selector | Record | Bowl |
| 1976 | Willie Jeffries | ADW, Jet, MBN, NPC | 10–1 | W Bicentennial Bowl |
| 1977 | Willie Jeffries | NPC | 9–1–1 | W Gold Bowl |
| 1981 | Bill Davis | ADW, SBN | 10–3 | |
| 1994 | Willie Jeffries | ADW, BCSP, Heritage Bowl | 10–2 | W Heritage Bowl |
| 2009 | Oliver Pough | ADW, AURN, B-CP, B-MP, BCSP, PCWDC | 10–2 | |
| 2021 | Oliver Pough | B-CP, Celebration Bowl, DCCC-M, HBCUS-UP | 7–5 | W Celebration Bowl |

### Conference championships

South Carolina State has won nineteen Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference titles, eleven outright and eight shared. Asterisk denotes shared title.
| Year | Coach | Overall record | Conference record |
| 1974* | Willie Jeffries | 8–4 | 5–1 |
| 1975* | Willie Jeffries | 8–2–1 | 5–1 |
| 1976* | Willie Jeffries | 10–1 | 5–1 |
| 1977 | Willie Jeffries | 9–1–1 | 6–0 |
| 1978 | Willie Jeffries | 8–2–1 | 5–0–1 |
| 1980 | Bill Davis | 10–1 | 5–0 |
| 1981 | Bill Davis | 10–3 | 5–0 |
| 1982 | Bill Davis | 9–3 | 4–1 |
| 1983 | Bill Davis | 7–3 | 4–0 |
| 1994 | Willie Jeffries | 10–2 | 6–0 |
| 2004* | Oliver Pough | 9–2 | 6–1 |
| 2008 | Oliver Pough | 10–3 | 8–0 |
| 2009 | Oliver Pough | 10–2 | 8–0 |
| 2010* | Oliver Pough | 9–3 | 7–1 |
| 2013* | Oliver Pough | 9–4 | 7–1 |
| 2014* | Oliver Pough | 8–4 | 6–2 |
| 2019* | Oliver Pough | 8–3 | 6–2 |
| 2021 | Oliver Pough | 7–5 | 5–0 |
| 2024 | Chennis Berry | 9–3 | 5–0 |

## Division I-AA/FCS Playoffs results

The Bulldogs have appeared in the I-AA/FCS playoffs six times with a record of 2–6.
| Season | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1981 | Quarterfinals | Tennessee State | W 26–25 $^{OT}$ |
| 1981 | Semifinals | Idaho State | L 12–41 |
| 1982 | First round | Furman | W 17–0 |
| 1982 | Quarterfinals | Louisiana Tech | L 3–38 |
| 2008 | First round | Appalachian State | L 21–37 |
| 2009 | First round | Appalachian State | L 13–20 |
| 2010 | First round | Georgia Southern | L 16–41 |
| 2013 | First Round | Furman | L 20–30 |

## Bowl game results

The Bulldogs have appeared in 15 bowl games, with a record of 7–8.
| Year | Bowl | Opponent | Result |
| 1946 | Pecan Bowl | Johnson C. Smith | W 13–6 |
| 1947 | Pecan Bowl | Allen (SC) | W 7–0 |
| 1950 | Peninsula Bowl | Allen | L 13–47 |
| 1973 | Orange Blossom Classic | Florida A&M | L 12–23 |
| 1974 | Textile Bowl | Wofford | L 0–20 |
| 1974 | Pelican Bowl | Grambling State | L 7–28 |
| 1975 | Pelican Bowl | Southern | L 12–15 |
| 1976 | Bicentennial Bowl | Norfolk State | W 26–10 |
| 1977 | Gold Bowl | Winston-Salem State | W 10–7 |
| 1979 | Gold Bowl | Norfolk State | W 39–7 |
| 1994 | Heritage Bowl | Southern | L 0–11 |
| 1994 | Heritage Bowl | Grambling State | W 31–27 |
| 1997 | Heritage Bowl | Southern | L 28–34 |
| 2021 | Celebration Bowl | Jackson State | W 31–10 |
| 2024 | Celebration Bowl | Jackson State | L 7–28 |

## Pro Football Hall of Fame members

Pro Football Hall of Fame members :
| Player | Pos. | Years at SCSU | Year inducted |
| Harry Carson | LB | 1972–1975 | 2006 |
| Deacon Jones | DE | 1958 | 1980 |
| Marion Motley | FB | 1939–1940 | 1968 |
| Donnie Shell | S | 1970–1973 | 2020 |

## College Football Hall of Fame members

College Football Hall of Fame members :
| Player | Pos. | Years at SCSU | Year inducted |
| Harry Carson | DE | 1972–1975 | 2002 |
| Willie Jeffries | HC | 1973–1978, 1989–2001 | 2010 |
| Donnie Shell | S | 1970–1973 | 1998 |

## Alumni in the NFL

Over 40 South Carolina State alumni have played in the NFL, including:
* Phillip Adams
* Charlie Brown
* Orlando Brown Sr.
* Rafael Bush
* Barney Bussey
* Harry Carson
* Barney Chavous
* Anthony Cook
* Cobie Durant
* John Gilliam
* Javon Hargrave
* Dwayne Harper
* Antonio Hamilton
* Temarrick Hemingway
* Michael Hicks
* Willie Holman
* Deacon Jones
* William Judson
* Angelo King
* James Lee
* Shaquille Leonard
* Marshall McFadden
* Kimario McFadden
* Ervin Parker
* Robert Porcher
* Joe Thomas
* Christian Thompson
* Chuck Darby

## Rivalries

SC State has maintained heated rivalries with the North Carolina A&T Aggies, Florida A&M Rattlers, and Bethune-Cookman Wildcats.

## NCAA Record

On November 19, 2016, Joe Thomas Sr., father of Green Bay Packers linebacker Joe Thomas, became the oldest player to play in an NCAA Division I game. At 55 years of age, Thomas Sr. had one carry for three yards as a running back in a contest versus Savannah State.

## Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of March 7, 2025
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
| Wofford | at Appalachian State | vs Alabama State (Atlanta, GA) MEAC/SWAC Challenge |
| at South Carolina | Alabama State | at Coastal Carolina |
| Bethune–Cookman | at Furman | at Wofford |
| at USF | | Furman |
| at Charleston Southern | | |
| Savannah State | | |
| at North Carolina A&T | | |