This year in HBCU football rivalry games will decide conference titles and post season berths. Both the MEAC and SWAC titles are up for grabs going into this weekend and all will be decided in some of the biggest games in all of FCS. Over in the MEAC the conference crown will be decided this weekend in a few HUGE matchups. FAMU currently leads the MEAC and must beat in-State rival Bethune-Cookman in the Florida Classic to win the conference title and secure a bid to the Celebration Bowl. If the Rattlers lose to BCU on Saturday and North Carolina A&T wins over in-State rival North Carolina Central, then the Aggies would win the conference and get the Celebration Bowl invitation. If both Rattlers and Aggies win then FAMU would win the conference and get a bid to the Celebration Bowl while A&T would be in position to get an at-large bid into the playoffs. Now if both FAMU and A&T lose on Saturday, Bethune-Cookman would create a 3-way tie for the conference title with FAMU and A&T which the conference would use tiebreakers and rankings to award the Celebration Bowl bid.

Over in the SWAC the Eastern Division title is on the line in Lorman, Mississippi as Jackson State visits Alcorn State in a game affectionately known as the Soul Bowl. Alcorn State officials are expecting a record crowd on Saturday as JSU comes to visit. Winner of the game will clinch a berth to the SWAC title game on December 1st. The SWAC Western Division is on the line next Saturday in New Orleans in the Bayou Classic between Southern and Grambling. Fewer than 7,000 tickets remain in the Superdome for the game that will decide the Western Division of the SWAC.