North Carolina Central will enter the 2025 Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge with a home-field advantage against Southern.
That’s because the Eagles have had a good recent relationship with Atlanta and big-time HBCU classic football games.
Dating back to 2021, North Carolina Central is 2-0 in neutral-site games played in Georgia, including a MEAC/SWAC Challenge win in 2021 against Alcorn State and a Celebration Bowl upset victory over Jackson State in 2022.
“Atlanta has been good to us. We’ve done well in classics since we’ve been here, said Eagles head coach Trei Oliver on Monday. “I think we’re 6 and 0 now, whether it be the Circle City Classic, Orange Blossom, or Celebration Bowls. So we’ve had some success on the big stage.”
Addressing the pressures of playing under the national spotlight, Oliver emphasized stability and consistency in his approach.
“We don’t prepare any differently just because we’re playing on national television or in this classic. Everything is exactly the same. We practice for two hours; we don’t have three-hour practices or all that extra stuff. We never change our routine.”
Looking ahead to game week, Oliver explained, “We will go down Thursday. That’s a little different to hit some events on Friday, but we talk about thermostat mentality — not too high, not too low. We’re going to set the summer sound about 68 degrees and let it rise up.”
Summing up his mindset and expectations, Oliver said, “I’m not going to put any added pressure on my guys. They’ll be ready to play.”
With the Eagles’ reputation of strong performances on the big stage and steady leadership from Oliver, NCCU aims to extend its legacy of success in the storied Atlanta classic.
The Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff will air live from Center Parc Stadium at 7:30 PM on Saturday, August 23.