The 2025 South Carolina State Bulldogs football team represented South Carolina State University as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bulldogs were led by second-year head coach Chennis Berry. South Carolina State played their home games at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium in Orangeburg, South Carolina.
The Bulldogs finished the regular season with an overall record of 9–3. The team went 5–0 in MEAC play to win the program's second straight MEAC title. South Carolina State faced off against Prairie View A&M in the Celebration Bowl; the Bulldogs fell behind 21–0 entering halftime before coming back in the second half to tie the game at 35–35 and force overtime. The two teams traded field goals in the first overtime and in the second overtime period the Panthers intercepted a Ryan Stubblefield pass, but missed a 31-yard field goal on their ensuing possession. Both teams failed their respective two-point conversion in the third overtime. In the fourth overtime period, the Bulldogs converted their attempt while the Panthers' attempt fell incomplete, sealing a 40–38 victory for South Carolina State, the seventh Celebration Bowl victory for a MEAC team. This was also the seventh Black college national championship for the Bulldogs.
Preseason MEAC prediction poll
The MEAC released its preseason prediction poll on July 22, 2025. The Bulldogs were predicted to finish first in the conference, receiving 63 overall points and 5 of the 9 first place votes, narrowly edging out North Carolina Central, who had 61 and 4, respectively.
Preseason All-MEAC team First team defense Jarod Washington (DB)
Second team offense Roger Smith (OL)
Second team defense Josh Barker (DL)
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries Wofford
Statistics WOF SCST First downs 10 23 Total yards 142 410 Rushing yards 86 111 Passing yards 56 299 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 6–21–0 27–50–0 Time of possession 25:47 34:13 Team Category Player StatisticsWofford Passing Jayden Whitaker 6/21, 56 yards Rushing Gerald Modest 7 carries, 34 yards Receiving C. J. Adams 1 reception, 16 yardsSouth Carolina State Passing William Atkins IV 17/33, 175 yards Rushing K. Z. Adams 15 carries, 50 yards Receiving Jalen Johnson 6 receptions, 93 yards
at No. 10 (FBS) South Carolina
Statistics SCST SC First downs 13 16 Total yards 270 253 Rushing yards 62 125 Passing yards 208 128 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–28–0 11–20–0 Time of possession 34:39 25:21 Team Category Player StatisticsSouth Carolina State Passing William Atkins IV 10/14, 118 yards Rushing Kacy Fields 5 carries, 19 yards Receiving Jalen Johnson 5 receptions, 67 yardsSouth Carolina Passing LaNorris Sellers 11/19, 128 yards, TD Rushing Jawarn Howell 7 carries, 30 yards Receiving Vandrevius Jacobs 4 receptions, 57 yards, TD
Bethune–Cookman
Statistics BCU SCST First downs 29 28 Total yards 507 561 Rushing yards 182 226 Passing yards 325 335 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 23–38–1 22–37–0 Time of possession 31:26 28:34 Team Category Player StatisticsBethune–Cookman Passing Cam'Ron Ransom 20/30, 302 yards, 4 TD Rushing Cam'Ron Ransom 11 carries, 78 yards, TD Receiving Maleek Huggins 8 receptions, 148 yards, 2 TDSouth Carolina State Passing Ryan Stubblefield 21/35, 286 yards, TD Rushing Mason Pickett-Hicks 4 carries, 87 yards, TD Receiving Jordan Smith 9 receptions, 87 yards, TD
at South Florida (FBS)
Statistics SCSTUSF First downs 20 20 Plays–yards 80–305 54–504 Rushes–yards 38–70 28–252 Passing yards 235 252 Passing: comp–att–int 25–42–1 18–26–1 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 43:07 16:53 Team Category Player Statistics South Carolina State Passing William Atkins IV 18/28, 151 yards RushingKacy Fields 7 carries, 24 yards, TD Receiving Deyandre Ruffin 4 receptions, 41 yards South Florida Passing Byrum Brown 14/20, 236 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing Sam Franklin 4 carries, 91 yards, 2 TD Receiving Chas Nimrod 4 receptions, 119 yards, 2 TD
at Charleston Southern
Statistics SCST CHSO First downs 25 18 Total yards 449 345 Rushing yards 255 147 Passing yards 194 198 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–26–0 13–28–1 Time of possession 33:47 26:13 Team Category Player StatisticsSouth Carolina State Passing Ryan Stubblefield 18/24, 194 yards Rushing Tyler Smith 13 carries, 85 yards, TD Receiving Jalen Johnson 8 receptions, 77 yardsCharleston Southern Passing Zolten Osbourne 13/28, 198 yards, TD, INT Rushing Ke'Marion Baldwin 18 carries, 122 yards, 2 TD Receiving Chris Rhone 5 receptions, 106 yards
Savannah State (DII)
Statistics SAV SCST First downs 12 21 Total yards 198 414 Rushing yards 33 46 Passing yards 165 368 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–38–2 23–41–0 Time of possession 35:10 24:50 Team Category Player StatisticsSavannah State Passing Christian Burks 11/21, 116 yards, INT Rushing Joseph Hampton 5 carries, 20 yards Receiving Cinsere Clark 4 receptions, 64 yardsSouth Carolina State Passing Ryan Stubblefield 14/30, 206 yards, 2 TD Rushing Mason Pickett-Hicks 5 carries, 28 yards Receiving Jordan Smith 5 receptions, 86 yards
at North Carolina A&T (rivalry)
Statistics SCST NCAT First downs 17 20 Total yards 294 241 Rushing yards 129 47 Passing yards 165 194 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–31–1 17–34–1 Time of possession 27:55 32:05 Team Category Player StatisticsSouth Carolina State Passing William Atkins IV 10/21, 101 yards, 2 TD Rushing Mason Pickett-Hicks 15 carries, 67 yards Receiving Cyrus Ellison 4 receptions, 54 yards, TDNorth Carolina A&T Passing Kevin White 17/34, 194 yards, TD, INT Rushing Wesley Graves 15 carries, 66 yards Receiving Jamison Warren 5 receptions, 57 yards
at Norfolk State
Statistics SCST NORF First downs 30 13 Total yards 613 291 Rushing yards 185 61 Passing yards 428 230 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–36–1 10–20–1 Time of possession 37:52 22:08 Team Category Player StatisticsSouth Carolina State Passing William Atkins IV 24/36, 428 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing Tyler Smith 19 carries, 113 yards, TD Receiving Jordan Smith 7 receptions, 197 yards, 2 TDNorfolk State Passing Otto Kuhns 10/18, 230 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing X'Zavion Evans 11 carries, 48 yards Receiving J. J. Evans 4 receptions, 85 yards, 2 TD
Morgan State
Statistics MORG SCST First downs 18 21 Total yards 394 496 Rushing yards 165 133 Passing yards 229 363 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–30–2 21–32–1 Time of possession 30:27 29:33 Team Category Player StatisticsMorgan State Passing Raymond Moore III 17/30, 229 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Rushing Randall Nauden 12 carries, 81 yards Receiving Justin Perry 4 receptions, 77 yards, TDSouth Carolina State Passing William Atkins IV 21/32, 363 yards, TD, INT Rushing Tyler Smith 18 carries, 110 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jordan Smith 4 receptions, 107 yards
Howard
Statistics HOW SCST First downs 13 17 Total yards 209 337 Rushing yards 63 116 Passing yards 146 221 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 9–30–1 16–26–2 Time of possession 30:44 29:16 Team Category Player StatisticsHoward Passing Tyriq Starks 7/22, 97 yards, INT Rushing Anthony Reagan Jr. 12 carries, 34 yards Receiving Eric Slater 1 reception, 48 yards, TDSouth Carolina State Passing William Atkins IV 15/23, 213 yards, TD, INT Rushing Josh Shaw 9 carries, 64 yards, TD Receiving Jalen Johnson 6 receptions, 87 yards, TD
At North Carolina Central
Statistics SCST NCCU First downs 24 17 Total yards 454 306 Rushing yards 140 88 Passing yards 314 218 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–36–1 13–31–0 Time of possession 36:29 23:31 Team Category Player StatisticsSouth Carolina State Passing William Atkins IV 24/36, 314 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Josh Shaw 10 carries, 83 yards, TD Receiving Jordan Smith 7 receptions, 72 yards, TDNorth Carolina Central Passing Walker Harris 13/31, 218 yards, TD Rushing Chris Mosley 21 carries, 105 yards, TD Receiving Mehki Wall 5 receptions, 88 yards, TD
At Delaware State
Statistics SCST DSU First downs 16 22 Total yards 406 526 Rushing yards 157 439 Passing yards 249 87 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–24–0 15–33–4 Time of possession 28:40 31:20 Team Category Player StatisticsSouth Carolina State Passing William Atkins IV 14/24, 249 yards, 2 TD Rushing Josh Shaw 16 carries, 99 yards Receiving Nigel Johnson 2 receptions, 74 yardsDelaware State Passing Kaiden Bennett 8/20, 59 yards, 2 INT Rushing Marquis Gillis 14 carries, 159 yards, TD Receiving Kyree Benton 3 receptions, 37 yards
Vs. Prairie View A&M (Celebration Bowl)
Statistics SCST PV First downs 22 21 Total yards 357 491 Rushing yards 78 55 Passing yards 279 436 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–39–1 25–37–0 Time of possession 34:15 25:45 Team Category Player StatisticsSouth Carolina State Passing Ryan Stubblefield 15/29, 234 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Jordan Smith 5 rushes, 28 yards, TD Receiving Jordan Smith 9 receptions, 152 yards, 2 TDPrairie View A&M Passing Cameron Peters 24/36, 412 yards, 4 TD Rushing Cameron Peters 9 rushes, 35 yards, TD Receiving Andre Dennis 7 receptions, 131 yards, TD
References