They thought they were one or two losses away from an NCAA FCS Playoff berth. So this year, they are on a mission to win the Ohio Valley Conference and make a better run at an NCAA championship.
That mission starts Thursday night in a very intriguing match-up in Atlanta at Georgia State.
GSU is an FBS member of the Sun Belt Conference and will be hyped on a big night. New head coach Shawn Elliott will be making his debut; they are opening up their new stadium, the former home of the Atlanta Braves (and the 1996 Olympics), Turner Field which is now Georgia State Stadium. And they are a team aching to prove that they are better than the eighth place finish (and 2016's 3-9 record) that Sun Belt Conference coaches saw in them. They also have the Sun Belt's top passer from last season, Connor Manning, returning to lead the offense and return seven starters to a solid defense.
Tennessee State is in a much different position.
The Tigers are ranked among or just outside the Top 25 FCS teams in the country by a number of outlets and are picked to finish third in the tough Ohio Valley Conference.
Harris, a dual-threat who started 15 games in two years at Florida, will be throwing to the OVC's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year in wide receiver Patrick Smith, and the rest of a deep receiving corps. Who he won't be handing the ball of to is starting running back Earl Harrison who is out with an injury, as is offensive lineman Thomas Burton. Sabree Curtis will step in at running back.
On defense, nine starters return for the Tigers, including preseason All-American defensive lineman Ebenezer Ogundeko.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3 and streamed for free on GeorgiaStateSports.com.
Here is the rest of Thursday night's HBCU football schedule:
CIAA
Saint Augustine's vs. Catawba - One thing about Catawba - they like to move the football. They are led by preseason All-South Atlantic Conference quarterback Reid Carlton, who threw five touchdowns and more than 300 yards in their spring game. St. Aug returns their dual threat quarterback D.J. Johnson, who led them in passing and rushing last season.
Winston-Salem State at UNC-Pembroke - UNC-Pembroke has had Winston-Salem State's number for two straight season openers. But this WSSU squad is deep, experienced and talented. Rod Tinsley returns at quarterback as well as running back Kerrion Moore. They've shored up the one area where they've been vulnerable, and that's on defense where last year they tended to give up a lot of points. UNC-Pembroke, the 19th ranked team in Division II, only returns six starters from last season and lost their top three tacklers. And they are still ranked in the top 25, which shows how deep and good they are this season.
MEAC
Delaware State at Delaware - Delaware State will be looking for their first win since 2015 against the in-state big brother Delaware in the Battle of the First State. DSU has gone to the wire in deciding on a starting quarterback - it'll be either be highly-touted freshman Jack McDaniels or the starter during the spring, Keenan Black who didn't attempt a pass last season. The Hornets do have two really good running backs in Mike Waters and Brycen Alleyne. But the defense will have to step up. Last year Delaware won 56-14 and outscored DSU 279-82. The Hornets gave up 395 yards rushing and five TDs in last year's game.
Florida A&M at Arkansas - Nothing about this match-up, matches up. First, FAMU is playing a team that is better at most positions. Arkansas has way more depth than FAMU. And then the Rattlers, who looked good in defeating played Texas Southern, played only five days ago. And they are busing from Tallahassee, Fla, to Fayetteville, Ark., the night before a game in which they will play an FBS SEC team in their opener.
SIAC
Mississippi College at Clark Atlanta - On paper, this looks like it could be a cakewalk for Clark Atlanta. Mississippi College was 3-7 last season and lost seven starters on offense, including their top quarterback, running back and receiver. CAU quarterback Johnathan McCrary, the SIAC's preseason Offensive Player of the Year, is looking for a fast start. He will be throwing to fellow preseason All-SIAC receiver Dre Martin. But the Mississippi College defense returns eight starters and played teams like West Georgia and Valdosta State tough last year.
Fort Valley State at West Georgia - Last year's SIAC champs, Fort Valley State, open with a toughie - perennial good-team, West Georgia. Both teams open the season with new coaches - Kevin Porter at FVSU and David Dean for West Georgia. UWG has had to replace five starters from a good 2016 defense but are looking for running back Devontae Jackson to return to his 1,000-yard, 2015 form after an injury-laden 2016 season. FVSU is looking to get a better start this year than they did last season, when they went 1-6, and look more like the team that ran off four straight wins to close the season and win a title. Devonte West and Kentron James lead a rugged defense, which Porter hopes will be his team's calling card. Jomari Clark will be their brightest spot on offense.
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