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South Carolina State Bulldogs football

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South Carolina State Bulldogs football
2026 South Carolina State Bulldogs football team
First season1907; 119 years ago (1907)[a]
Head coachChennis Berry
3rd season, 19–6 (.760)
LocationOrangeburg, South Carolina
StadiumOliver C. Dawson Stadium
(capacity: 22,000)
NCAA divisionDivision I FCS
ConferenceMEAC
ColorsGarnet and blue[1]
   
All-time record582–366–27 [2] (.611)
Bowl record8–8 (.500)
Black college national championships
1976, 1977, 1981, 1994, 2009, 2021, 2025
Conference championships
MEAC: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1994, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2021, 2024, 2025
RivalriesNorth Carolina A&T (rivalry)
Marching bandThe Marching 101
Websitescsuathletics.com

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.[3] Jeffries is enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.

History

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List of South Carolina State Bulldogs football seasons

Classifications

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  • 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

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Bulldogs vs. in-state NCAA Division I schools

[edit]
SchoolRecordPercentageStreakFirst MeetingLast Meeting
Charleston Southern7–2.778Lost 219912026
Clemson0–5.000Lost 520082021
Coastal Carolina0–5.000Lost 520052015
Furman6-12.333Won 119822026
Presbyterian2–01.000Won 219891990
South Carolina0–3.000Lost 320072025
The Citadel3–5.375Lost 219892026
Wofford4–6.400Won 219742025
South Carolina State 22 - in-state NCAA Division I Schools 37

Championships

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National championships

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The Bulldogs have been awarded a NCAA-recognized black college football national championship seven times in program history.[4]

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 B-CP, Celebration Bowl, DCCC-M, HBCUS-UP 7–5 W Celebration Bowl
2025 Chennis Berry Celebration Bowl 10–3 W Celebration Bowl

Conference championships

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South Carolina State has won twenty Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference titles, twelve outright and eight shared. Asterisk denotes shared title.

Year Coach Overall record Conference record
1974*Willie Jeffries8–45–1
1975*Willie Jeffries8–2–15–1
1976*Willie Jeffries10–15–1
1977Willie Jeffries9–1–16–0
1978Willie Jeffries8–2–15–0–1
1980Bill Davis10–15–0
1981Bill Davis10–35–0
1982Bill Davis9–34–1
1983Bill Davis7–34–0
1994Willie Jeffries10–26–0
2004*Oliver Pough9–26–1
2008Oliver Pough10–38–0
2009Oliver Pough10–28–0
2010*Oliver Pough9–37–1
2013*Oliver Pough9–47–1
2014*Oliver Pough8–46–2
2019*Oliver Pough8–36–2
2021Oliver Pough7–55–0
2024Chennis Berry9–35–0
2025Chennis Berry10–35–0

Division I-AA/FCS Playoffs results

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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
Semifinals Idaho State L 12–41
1982 First round Furman W 17–0
Quarterfinals Louisiana Tech L 3–38
2008First roundAppalachian StateL 21–37
2009First roundAppalachian StateL 13–20
2010First roundGeorgia SouthernL 16–41
2013First RoundFurmanL 20–30

Bowl game results

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The Bulldogs have appeared in 16 bowl games, with a record of 8–8.[5]

Year Bowl Opponent Result
1946Pecan BowlJohnson C. SmithW 13–6
1947Pecan BowlAllenW 7–0
1950Peninsula BowlAllenL 13–47
1973Orange Blossom ClassicFlorida A&ML 12–23
1974Textile BowlWoffordL 0–20
1974Pelican BowlGrambling StateL 7–28
1975Pelican BowlSouthernL 12–15
1976Bicentennial BowlNorfolk StateW 26–10
1977Gold BowlWinston-Salem StateW 10–7
1979Gold BowlNorfolk StateW 39–7
1994Heritage BowlSouthernL 0–11
1994Heritage BowlGrambling StateW 31–27
1997Heritage BowlSouthernL 28–34
2021Celebration BowlJackson StateW 31–10
2024Celebration BowlJackson StateL 7–28
2025Celebration BowlPrairie View A&MW 40–38 4OT

Pro Football Hall of Fame members

[edit]
Pro Football Hall of Fame members
Player Pos. Years at SCSU Year inducted Ref.
Harry Carson LB 1972–1975 2006 [6]
Deacon Jones DE 1958 1980 [7]
Marion Motley FB 1939–1940 1968 [7]
Donnie Shell S 1970–1973 2020 [8]

College Football Hall of Fame members

[edit]
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

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Over 40 South Carolina State alumni have played in the NFL,[9] including:

Rivalries

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

NCAA Record

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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.[11][12]

Future non-conference opponents

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Announced schedules as of August 11, 2026[13]

2026 2027 2028 2029 2031
Savannah State vs Alcorn State (Atlanta, GA)
MEAC/SWAC Challenge		 Florida A&M
vs Florida A&M
(Miami Gardens, FL)		 at Coastal Carolina
Virginia State at Wofford
at Furman Furman
at Bethune–Cookman
The Citadel
at Charleston Southern

See also

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Notes and references

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  1. ↑ The team was disbanded from 1908 to 1914, then reinstalled. It was canceled once again from 1917 to 1922, and re-launched in 1923; 103 years ago.
  1. ↑ South Carolina State University Style Manual (PDF). Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  2. ↑ "NCAA Statistics".
  3. ↑ ""ESPN SportsCentury" Willie Jeffries (TV Episode 2002)". IMDb – via www.imdb.com.
  4. ↑ "Football championship subdivision records" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 18, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Bowl/all star game records" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 26, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Harry Carson | Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site". www.profootballhof.com.
  7. 1 2 "David (Deacon) Jones | Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site". www.profootballhof.com.
  8. ↑ "Donnie Shell | Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site". www.profootballhof.com.
  9. ↑ "South Carolina St. Players/Alumni". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  10. ↑ D'Andrea, Christian (December 18, 2016). "Bears' Ka'Deem Carey gets helmet decal knocked off by huge hit". SBNation.com.
  11. ↑ "Joe Thomas Sr. runs S.C. State into college football history, is ready to play again". The Times and Democrat. Chris Clark T&D Sports. November 24, 2016.
  12. ↑ "55-year-old running back makes D-I football history". Sports Illustrated. November 19, 2016. Retrieved September 16, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Future South Carolina State Bulldogs Football Schedules". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
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