As the 2025 FCS football season closed, final conference records painted a familiar picture of power balance across the subdivision.
But for followers of HBCU football, the real storyline came further down the standings.
The MEAC posted a 12–14 mark, finishing eighth out of fourteen conferences — a respectable showing that placed it ahead of the Southland, SoCon, and notably, the SWAC, which ended the season at the bottom of the standings with a 4–11 record.
MEAC programs such as Delaware State, South Carolina State and North Carolina Central managed key non-conference victories that buoyed the league’s overall standing.
The conference’s disciplined defenses and improving offensive consistency kept it competitive in interleague matchups.
Meanwhile, SWAC teams, struggled in cross-conference contests, managing only four wins against FCS opponents.
While both conferences continue to serve as vital cultural and athletic cornerstones in Black college football, the gap in on-field performance remains a challenge.
The MEAC’s slight edge in 2025 may reflect its smaller size and tighter competitive balance, whereas the SWAC is top-heavy.
As the 2026 season approaches, both conferences will look to strengthen their national profiles reassert their legacies with stronger non-conference showings.
