Florida A&M football returns in 77 days.
The Rattlers will play a full 12-game regular season as they defend their National Black College Football Championship.
Eight of FAMU’s games are within the Southwestern Athletic Conference, and the remaining four are non-conference contests, including two against teams from the Football Bowl Subdivision.
With last year’s success, including the program’s first SWAC and Celebration Bowl titles, and now under a new regime from first-year head coach James Colzie III, FAMU football should be a must-see this season.
Here are six games FAMU football fans can’t miss during the 2024 season.
Week 0, August 24: FAMU vs. Norfolk State – MEAC/SWAC Challenge; Atlanta Georgia
The MEAC/SWAC Challenge is a Week 0 battle between the two NCAA Division I HBCU conferences.
It will give FAMU and HBCU football fans an early look at the Rattlers under new coach Colzie when they take on the Norfolk State Spartans in Atlanta.
The last time FAMU played in Atlanta, it won the Celebration Bowl 30-26 over Howard at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Since then, the Rattlers have spent the offseason reloading their roster to stay at the top of HBCU football, knowing they will have the best chance of either team to defeat the defending champions.
This year is FAMU’s third time playing in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge, but the first time representing the SWAC, which the athletic program joined in 2021.
Broadcast on KeynoteUSA, the MEAC/SWAC Challenge begins at 7:30 pm from Center Parc Stadium.
Week 1, August 31: FAMU vs. South Carolina State – Tallahassee, Florida
This season, the Rattlers will face their old MEAC foes, the South Carolina State Bulldogs.
FAMU and SCSU football are under new leadership.
Colzie is Chief Rattler. Trainer Chennis Berry is the best Bulldog.
It will also be FAMU’s first home game at Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium to defend its second-longest home winning streak in the Football Championship Subdivision behind South Dakota State’s 21. The Rattlers have won 19 straight games at Bragg, including a 30-7 upset over the Bulldogs in 2021.
However, SCSU is the last team to beat FAMU in Bragg with a 44-21 victory in 2018.
The Rattlers are Bulldogs kick off on August 31 at 6 p.m.
Week 6, October 5: FAMU at Alabama State – Montgomery, Alabama
There are a lot of rumors about who will win the SWAC this season.
Alabama State is often a team that has emerged in discussions to dethrone FAMU in 2024, especially after adding former Texas Southern quarterback Andrew Body to lead the offense.
The last time the Rattlers went to Montgomery, it was a close matchup between the SWAC foes, as the game was decided when Alabama State’s game-winning field goal attempt was blocked and ended with a 51-yard return from FAMU defensive back Kendall Bohler. to secure a 21-14 victory.
Additionally, the FAMU-Alabama State matchup is the Hornets’ homecoming football game in 2024.
The Rattlers and Hornets kick off at 3 pm ET in Montgomery.
Week 8, October 19: FAMU at Jackson State – Jackson, Mississippi
FAMU and Jackson State’s chapter in the Orange Blossom Classic has closed.
This season marks the start of the matchup between the Rattlers and the Tigers in a traditional SWAC game without a neutral location, as it will be played at Jackson State’s Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.
‘The Vet’ is said to be one of the best playing environments at HBCUs and in all of Division I football.
FAMU will go to Jackson for the first time since 2014. The Rattlers narrowly fell 22-17 that year.
Last season, FAMU defeated Jackson State 28-10. It was the first time the Rattlers beat the Tigers since 2003, when the teams met five times between 2014, 2018 and 2021-2023.
Week 9, October 26: FAMU vs. Southern – Tallahassee, Florida
It’s a good time every time FAMU and Southern get together.
Last year, the Rattlers and Jaguars had a showdown with a light show before the fourth quarter of their showdown in Baton Rouge. FAMU ended up winning 26-19.
The Jaguars will come to the Rattlers’ Bragg Stadium for this year’s annual rivalry showdown.
Although FAMU will play its homecoming game next week, the meeting of the Rattlers and Jaguars should still have an electric atmosphere in Bragg.
Week 13, November 23: FAMU vs. Bethune-Cookman – Florida Classic; Orlando, Florida
Like FAMU, Bethune-Cookman has added plenty of talent from the FBS ranks.
Quality recruiting classes taught by the Rattlers and Wildcats set the stage for the 2024 edition of the Florida Classic in Orlando.
After a nine-game losing streak to Bethune-Cookman, FAMU has had the Wildcats’ number of late. Since 2021, the Rattlers have won the last three Florida Classics by double-digit margins.
The Wildcats will therefore look to restore some parity in the annual showdown with the Rattlers this season at Camping World Stadium when the rivals meet on November 23 at 3:30 pm inside Camping World Stadium.
Florida A&M Rattlers 2024 Football Schedule
- August 24 vs. Norfolk State in MEAC/SWAC Challenge, Atlanta* at 7:30 p.m., KeynoteUSA
- Aug. 31 vs. South Carolina State, 6 p.m.
- September 7 in Miami, 6 p.m.
- September 21 in Troy, 7 pm Eastern Time
- Sept. 28 vs. Alabama A&M, 6 p.m.
- October 5 in the state of Alabama, at 6 pm Eastern Time
- October 19 at Jackson State, TIME to be confirmed
- October 26 vs. Southern, TIME TBA
- Nov. 2 vs. Texas Southern (HOMECOMING), 4 p.m.
- Nov. 9 at Prairie View A&M, 3 p.m. ET
- Nov. 16 vs. Mississippi Valley State, 1 p.m.
- Nov. 23 vs. Bethune-Cookman, Orlando*, 3:30 p.m.
BOLD = SWAC
* = Neutral Site
Gerald Thomas, III covers Florida A&M University sports for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter. @3peatgee.
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