Saturday is the season-opening clash of Florida A&M and Norfolk State in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge.

The FAMU Rattlers represent the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The Norfolk State Spartans are members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

The Week 0 game is at Atlanta’s Center Parc Stadium, with a kickoff time of 7:30 p.m. Fans who can’t attend the game in person can watch on ABC or listen to FAMU’s audio broadcast on the Rattlers mobile app.

Let’s meet the Rattlers and the Spartans and predict the winner for Saturday’s showdown between the two NCAA Division I HBCU conferences.

Florida A&M vs. Norfolk State MEAC/SWAC Challenge: Tale of the Tape

Records (2023)

• FAMU: 12-1 (SWAC, Celebration Bowl, Black College champions)

• Norfolk State: 3-8

Coaches

• FAMU: James Colzie III (23-19 all-time, 0-0 at FAMU)

• Norfolk State: Dawson Odums (75-64 all-time, 11-23 at Norfolk State)

Players to Watch

• FAMU: Daniel Richardson, Quarterback; Kendall Bohler, Defensive Back

• Norfolk State: Jalen Daniels, Quarterback; AJ Richardson, Linebacker

Team Historical Accolades

• FAMU: 17-time national champions (16 Black College, one NCAA Division I-AA)

• Norfolk State: Six-time conference champions

All-Time Series

FAMU leads Norfolk State 13-3

Last Matchup

• FAMU 30, Norfolk State 28 (2019)

Meet the teams: Florida A&M vs. Norfolk State MEAC/SWAC Challenge

FAMU and Norfolk State both enter the season with something to prove.

The Rattlers plan to show they’re still on a championship track under first-year head coach James Colzie III. Colzie, formerly a FAMU assistant, was promoted in January to replace Willie Simmons, who left after six years to be Duke’s running backs coach following coaching the Rattlers to their first SWAC and Celebration Bowl titles.

Norfolk State hasn’t had a winning season since 2021, when they went 6-5.

Both the Rattlers and Spartans will have new quarterbacks under center.

Daniel Richardson will start for FAMU after winning the Rattlers’ training camp quarterback battle. Richardson, a graduate transfer from Florida Atlantic, is part of one of the top recruiting classes in the Football Championship Subdivision, where FAMU landed 28 FBS transfers.

Jalen Daniels, a Garden City Community College transfer, will start for the Spartans. Norfolk’s incumbent starting quarterback, Otto Kuhns is suspended for four games due to an NCAA ruling.

Who will win? Florida A&M vs. Norfolk State MEAC/SWAC Challenge

FAMU handily beats Norfolk State.

The Rattlers 'Dark Cloud Defense’ will beleaguer Spartans quarterback Daniels in his first Division I start. The FAMU defense ranked second in the nation last season.

FAMU quarterback Richardson will also have a fair game as he adjusts to being the Rattlers’ starter. Look for FAMU running backs Kelvin Dean Jr. and Bo Summersett to establish the rushing game.

Score Prediction: FAMU 23, Norfolk State 7

BOLD Prediction: FAMU defense forces three turnovers

Florida A&M vs. Norfolk State ― Week 0, MEAC/SWAC Challenge

When: Saturday, Aug. 24 at 7:30 p.m.

Where: Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia

Broadcast: ABC/WTXL (Television), Rattlers Mobile App (Audio)

Tickets: Purchase Here

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 vs. Norfolk State football: Predicting MEAC/SWAC Challenge winner