The reigning Celebration Bowl champion Florida A&M Rattlers enter the 2024 season with a totally completely different group roster from the earlier yr.
For the primary time since 2017, the Rattlers is not going to have Willie Simmons roaming the sidelines. He has now moved on to the ACC as an assistant at Duke.
In his place is FAMU assistant James Colzie III, who’s getting into his first head teaching job on the Division I degree.
Colzie shall be working with a group that’s shifting on from the reigning SWAC Offensive Participant of the 12 months, Jeremy Moussa, and SWAC Defensive Participant of the 12 months, Isaiah Main, amongst different adjustments the Rattlers went by way of within the offseason.
Right here is the game-by-game prediction for Florida A&M’s 2024 soccer season.
8/24 vs Norfolk State- W
Final Assembly: Florida A&M 30-28
Florida A&M begins its season within the MEAC/SWAC Problem, going through off in opposition to the Norfolk State Spartans. It will make the Rattlers the primary group to have represented the MEAC and SWAC within the MEAC/SWAC Problem. Since snapping a five-game dropping streak on this sequence in 2017, the SWAC has been on a roll, successful 4 of the final six matchups, together with wins within the earlier two MEAC/SWAC Challenges. Florida A&M is seeking to give the SWAC three straight wins for the primary time within the sport’s existence.
Document: 1-0
8/31 vs South Carolina State- W
Final Assembly: Florida A&M 20-14, 2022
Florida A&M will enter Bragg Stadium with one other matchup in opposition to the MEAC, enjoying its house opener in opposition to South Carolina State. This would be the first sport for South Carolina within the Chennis Berry period going in opposition to a FAMU group they practically knocked off of their most up-to-date matchup. After main 20-0 by way of three quarters, the Rattlers had been capable of cling on for the win after surrendering two consecutive fourth-quarter touchdowns. This shall be a superb take a look at for 2 groups ushering in new rosters and will doubtlessly be a preview of this yr’s Celebration Bowl.
Document: 2-0
9/7 at Miami- L
Final Assembly: Miami 70-3, 2016
The Rattlers will get away from the MEAC of their third sport of the season, taking a visit to the ACC to face off in opposition to the College of Miami. The final time FAMU confronted Miami, it didn’t go effectively, as they misplaced by 67 factors. Florida A&M has a a lot better group this time, offering a greater alternative for them to have a way more aggressive contest in opposition to the Energy 5 opponent.
Document: 2-1
9/21 at Troy- L
Final Assembly: Troy 59-7, 2018
After a bye week, Florida A&M will face one other FBS opponent on the highway at Troy. The Rattlers will face a Troy group that recorded its second 10-win season in a row, ending with an 11-3 file. This shall be one other nice take a look at for a Florida A&M group that has not misplaced consecutive video games in a single yr because the 2018 season.
Document: 2-2
9/28 vs Alabama A&M- W
Final Assembly: Florida A&M 42-28, 2023
Florida A&M begins its quest for back-to-back SWAC championships once they play Alabama A&M of their convention opener. These two groups went on a battle of runs final yr, beginning with FAMU taking a 17-0 lead within the first quarter, adopted by AAMU scoring 21 unanswered factors to take the lead earlier than the half. The Rattlers completed the job, forcing two Alabama A&M turnovers within the third quarter (resulting in 10 factors) on their approach to victory. They need to win this sport simply as a result of Florida A&M has considerably extra expertise than Alabama A&M.
Document: 3-2, 1-0
10/5 at Alabama State- L
Final Assembly: Florida A&M 23-10, 2023
These subsequent two video games might make or break the Rattlers as they go on the highway to face their high competitors within the SWAC East, starting with Alabama State. The final time Florida A&M performed Alabama State in Montgomery, within the 2022 season, they received a thriller, returning a blocked game-winning discipline objective try for a landing as time expired.
Final yr, though Florida A&M got here away with the win, Alabama State’s protection gave them issues, limiting them to a season-low 23 factors and 59 dashing yards (lowest in convention play).
This time round, Alabama State may have a stronger offense to enrich its excellent protection, making it a harder matchup for the Rattlers. This sport might go both approach, however homecourt benefit might present Bama State with the enhance it must snap its dropping streak in opposition to FAMU.
Document: 3-3, 1-1
10/19 at Jackson State- W
Final Assembly: Florida A&M 28-10, 2023
Of their second sport on their SWAC East highway journey, the Rattlers face one other key take a look at in a battle with Jackson State. Florida A&M overcame late-game adversity to lastly recover from the hump and knock off Jackson State in final yr’s matchup.
This is a crucial sport that would resolve the SWAC East’s consultant within the convention championship sport. Though the Tigers could possibly be higher geared up to beat the Rattlers of their second season beneath head coach T.C. Taylor, they nonetheless are a great distance from competing with FAMU.
Document: 4-3, 2-1
10/26 vs Southern- W
Final Assembly: Florida A&M 26-19, 2023
The Rattlers will return to their house discipline for a possible SWAC championship preview in opposition to the Southern Jaguars. Southern gave Florida A&M a run for its cash the final time they performed, turning into the one SWAC group to steer within the fourth quarter in opposition to all of them season. The Jagssucceeded in opposition to the Rattlers’ run sport, limiting them to 2.9 yards per keep on 23 makes an attempt.
Nonetheless, Jeremy Moussa helped climate the storm, main the Rattlers to a game-winning drive, after which the protection completed the job, getting a cease of fourth all the way down to safe the win. Don’t be shocked to see this sport go all the way down to the wire once more.
Document: 5-3, 3-1
11/2 vs Texas Southern- W
Final Assembly: Florida A&M 31-21, 2023
Within the second sport of a back-to-back house tilt, Florida A&M welcomes Texas Southern to Bragg Stadium. Florida A&M struggled with the Tigers of their matchup final season, needing a 21-point third quarter to squeak previous them for the win. Texas Southern is coming off a disastrous offseason highlighted by a tumultuous seek for a brand new head coach. Except the Rattlers utterly break down, they haven’t any motive to have any bother successful this sport.
Document: 6-3, 4-1
11/9 at Prairie View A&M- W
Final Assembly: Florida A&M 35-14, 2023
In a rematch of final yr’s SWAC championship sport, Florida A&M goes again on the highway to play in opposition to Prairie View A&M. FAMU performed PV twiceprevioust season successful each contests by a mixed rating of 80-21. The Rattlers’ protection was very important in these wins, forcing three interceptions in every sport whereas recording 13 whole sacks. Not a lot has modified for Prairie View A&M this season, so there’s no motive to imagine they may fare any higher in opposition to FAMU this time.
Document: 7-3, 5-1
11/16 vs Mississippi Valley State- W
Final Assembly: Florida A&M 31-7, 2023 Florida A&M welcomes the Mississippi Valley State Delta Satan of their remaining house sport of the season. Don’t let final yr’s sport’s 31-7 rating idiot you; FAMU had its troubles with the Delta Devils. The Rattlers didn’t rating their first offensive landing till late within the third quarter, recording interceptions of their final drive of the primary half and their first drive of the second half. There isn’t a doubt that Florida A&M will win this sport; the one query is how arduous Mississippi Valley State will make them work for it.
Document: 8-3, 6-1
11/23 vs Bethune-Cookman- W
Final Assembly: Florida A&M 24-7, 2023
Their 2024 season wraps up because it does yearly in Orlando, Florida, enjoying within the Florida Traditional in opposition to their heated rival Bethune-Cookman Wildcats. Florida A&M has not misplaced to Bethune-Cookman since transitioning to the SWAC, marking the longest win streak on this sequence since they received three straight from 2008-2010.
They wish to win 4 straight in opposition to BCU for the primary time since they received seven straight from 1995 to 2001.
On paper, that is one of the best Bethune-Cookman group they may have confronted within the SWAC and will conceivably give Florida A&M some issues. Nonetheless, the Rattlers are nonetheless the superior group and will get previous the Wildcats on their approach to a second straight SWAC championship berth.
2024 Document: 9-3, 7-1
