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 as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. 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, Darius Leonard, Charlie Brown and Orlando Brown Sr. among others. Legendary former SC State Coach Willie Jeffries became the first African American Head Coach of a predominantly white Division 1-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

Classifications

Mid- Eastern Athletic Conference Championships

1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1994, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2019

Division I-AA/FCS Playoffs results

The Bulldogs have appeared in the I-AA/FCS playoffs six times with a record of 2–6.
YearRoundOpponentResult
1981Quarterfinals
Semifinals		Tennessee State
Idaho State		W 26–25 OT
L 12–41
1982First Round
Quarterfinals		Furman
Louisiana Tech		W 17–0
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

The Bulldogs have appeared in 13 bowl games, with a record of 6–7.
YearBowlOpponentResult
1946Pecan BowlJohnson C. Smith W 13–6
1947Pecan BowlAllen W 7–0
1950Peninsula BowlAllen L 13–47
1973Orange Blossom ClassicFlorida A&ML 12–23
1974Textile BowlWofford L 0–20
1974Pelican BowlGrambling St. L 7–28
1975Pelican BowlSouthern L 12–15
1976Bicentennial BowlNorfolk St. W 26–10
1977Gold BowlWinston-Salem St. W 10–7
1979Gold BowlNorfolk St. W 39–7
1994Heritage BowlSouthern L 0–11
1994Heritage BowlGrambling St. W 31–27
1997Heritage BowlSouthern L 28–34

Professional Football Hall of Fame members (Canton, Ohio)

Over 40 South Carolina State alumni have played in the NFL, including:
SC State has maintained a heated rivalry with the North Carolina A&T Aggies, Florida A&M Rattlers, and Bethune-Cookman Wildcats.

Oldest player to play in a NCAA Division I game

On November 19, 2016, Joe Thomas, Sr., father of Green Bay Packers linebacker Joe Thomas, became the oldest player to play in a 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.