Florida A&M (FAMU) had a magical 2023 HBCU soccer season. The Rattlers went 12-1 general and undefeated within the SWAC en path to the 2023 Celebration Bowl title and the designation because the undisputed champions of HBCU soccer. Regardless of its low season teaching turmoil and switch portal forwards and backwards, FAMU appeared to have the items to be thought of the workforce to beat within the SWAC coming into the 2024 season. That’s till the discharge of the Predicted Order of End on the 2024 SWAC soccer media day, the place the Alabama State Hornets had been picked to win the SWAC East over FAMU this season.
Voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports activities data administrators, Alabama State obtained 114 factors to FAMU’s 104, the Hornets obtained probably the most factors in the complete convention as Alcorn State’s 112 factors was the subsequent closest whole.
Alabama State completed the 2023 season with a 7-4 document together with a 21-17 loss to Division II HBCU Miles Faculty of the SIAC and a 23-10 loss on the street in Tallahassee to FAMU.
Whereas each groups misplaced key gamers to commencement and the switch portal, FAMU leads the nation in incoming FBS to FCS transfers, boasting 30 transfers who had been at the very least dedicated to enjoying “large time” school soccer, together with three former Florida State Seminoles and gamers from high applications just like the College of Miami and the College of Michigan.
Alabama State pulled in 4 FBS to FCS transfers in the course of the low season, hailing from faculties like Air Power, Coastal Carolina, and Troy.
With FAMU having the higher 2023 season and racking up extra expertise within the switch portal, the thumb on the dimensions which may have tipped the steadiness towards Alabama State may very well be at crucial place on the sphere… Quarterback.
Alabama State added one of many high sign callers within the SWAC when former Texas Southern quarterback Andrew Physique took his skills from Houston, Texas to Montgomery, Alabama to play for his second SWAC faculty.
The Corpus Christi, TX native made a reputation for himself in HBCU soccer as a freshman. Physique completed the 2021 season because the Texas Southern College single-season document holder in whole offense whereas ending second within the SWAC and fourth-all time in single-season passing at Texas Southern.
Andrew Physique began the primary recreation of his junior season in September 2023 in opposition to Prairie View A&M however didn’t play after that. He comes into 2024 trying to reestablish himself with an Alabama State workforce identified to run the ball effectively and play robust protection beneath head coach Eddie Robinson Jr.
Alabama State is bound to be one of many high groups within the convention this season however bumping an undefeated champion reloaded with FBS transfers to quantity two with no single recreation being performed is bound to be bulletin board materials in Tallahassee and a summertime reminder that nobody creates intrigue in HBCU soccer fairly just like the SWAC.
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