Florida A&M’s 2024 football season is within reach.

On Aug. 24, the Rattlers will kick off the new year in Week 0’s MEAC/SWAC Challenge versus Norfolk State at Atlanta’s Center Parc Stadium.

The Rattlers will play 12 regular season games in 2024.

Last season, FAMU collected the Southwestern Athletic Conference and Celebration Bowl titles to claim the football program’s 16th Black College National Championship.

The Rattlers look for similar success under first-year head coach James Colzie III.

Here are game-by-game predictions and best and worst-case scenarios for the Rattlers.

Predicting FAMU football's wins and losses for the 2024 season

Aug. 24: vs. Norfolk State (MEAC/SWAC Challenge) in Atlanta: FAMU 23 (W), Norfolk 7

Aug. 31: vs. South Carolina State: FAMU 28 (W), SCSU 13

Sept. 7: at Miami: Miami 40, FAMU 17 (L)

Sept. 21: at Troy: Troy 31, FAMU 14 (L)

Sept. 28: vs. Alabama A&M (SWAC opener): FAMU 34 (W), AAMU 13

Oct. 5: at Alabama State (SWAC): FAMU 21 (W), ASU 10

Oct. 19 at Jackson State (SWAC): JSU 17, FAMU 13 (L)

Oct. 26: vs. Southern (SWAC): FAMU 24 (W), Southern 9

Nov. 2: vs. Texas Southern (SWAC): FAMU 31 (W), Texas Southern 10

Nov. 9 at Prairie View A&M (SWAC): FAMU 24 (W), PVAMU 12

Nov. 16 vs. Mississippi Valley State (SWAC): FAMU 28 (W), MVSU 7

Nov. 23 vs. Bethune-Cookman (Florida Classic/SWAC): FAMU 23 (W), B-CU 12

Overall Record Prediction: 9-3 (7-1 SWAC)

FAMU football's 2024 record prediction explained

FAMU will earn its fourth consecutive nine-win season, dating back to 2019.

The Rattlers will start perfect in their first two games versus Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opponents Norfolk State and South Carolina State.

FAMU will drop its next two games against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents Miami and Troy on the road before two bounce-back victories in their first two SWAC games against Alabama A&M at home and then at Alabama State.

After a bye week, FAMU will make the trip to Jackson State’s Veteran Memorial Stadium, a place the Rattlers haven’t visited since 2014. This is a trap game and will be the Rattlers’ only SWAC loss.

However, the result can land either way, as Jackson State is also coming off a bye week for this game.

FAMU will respond to the Jackson State result by ending its season with a convincing five-game winning streak, culminated by beating Bethune-Cookman for the fourth consecutive year in the Florida Classic.

The Rattlers will also maintain their second-longest home winning streak in the nation by winning all five games on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium for 24 straight victories.

A 9-3 overall record and 7-1 SWAC output will still be good enough for the Rattlers to host the SWAC Championship for a chance to reach the Celebration Bowl.

What is FAMU football's best-case scenario for the 2024 season?

FAMU’s ceiling is 10-2 overall, with a perfect 8-0 SWAC record.

To finish 10-2 (8-0 SWAC), the Rattlers must overcome their October gauntlet by beating SWAC foes Alabama State, Jackson State, and Southern. Those games could have postseason implications.

A 10-2 season will unquestionably place the Rattlers in Dec. 7’s SWAC Championship game. And if the SWAC East continues to dominate the SWAC West, the Rattlers will be in the Celebration Bowl against the MEAC’s best on Dec. 14.

What is FAMU football's worst-case scenario for the 2024 season?

The Rattlers’ floor is going 8-4 overall record with a 6-2 finish in the SWAC.

However, the only way FAMU can finish that low is losing two out of three of the critical October games against Alabama State, Jackson State, and Southern. FAMU would be more likely to lose on the road at Alabama State and Jackson State instead of dropping to Southern at Bragg.

Finishing 8-4 overall and 6-2 in the SWAC may place the Rattlers in a SWAC East tiebreaker situation that leaves them fighting and hoping to earn a spot in HBCU football’s postseason.

If FAMU ends the regular season with a 6-2 SWAC record but qualifies for the SWAC title game, there’s a world the Rattlers may have to travel to their SWAC West opponent for it.

But, at least the Celebration Bowl would still be a possibility for the reigning Black College Football National Champions.

Florida A&M Rattlers 2024 Football Schedule

• Aug. 24 vs. Norfolk State in MEAC/SWAC Challenge, Atlanta* at 7:30 p.m., ABC

• Aug. 31 vs. South Carolina State, 6 p.m., ESPN+

• Sept. 7 at Miami, 6 p.m., ACC Network

• Sept. 21 at Troy, 7 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN+

• Sept. 28 vs. Alabama A&M, 6 p.m., ESPN+

• Oct. 5 at Alabama State, 3 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN+

• Oct. 19 at Jackson State, 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN Network

• Oct. 26 vs. Southern, 7 p.m., ESPN Network

• Nov. 2 vs. Texas Southern (HOMECOMING), 4 p.m., ESPN+

• Nov. 9 at Prairie View A&M, 3 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN+

• Nov. 16 vs. Mississippi Valley State, 1 p.m., HBCU GO

• Nov. 23 vs. Bethune-Cookman in Florida Classic, Orlando*, 3:30 p.m., ESPN Network

• Nov. 30: FCS Playoffs Begin

• Dec. 7: SWAC Championship, LOCATION/TEAMS TBA, ESPN2

• Dec. 14: Celebration Bowl, Atlanta*, TEAMS TBA, 12 p.m., ABC

BOLD = SWAC

* = Neutral Site

Gerald Thomas, III covers Florida A&M University Athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU football 2024 predictions, Rattlers best and worst-case scenarios