The South Carolina State Bulldogs football team represents South Carolina State University in college football. The Bulldogs play in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).
A historically dominant football program, the Bulldogs lead the MEAC in conference championships. The school has produced four players enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame including Harry Carson, Deacon Jones, Marion Motley, and Donnie Shell. Other legendary Bulldog players include Robert Porcher, Shaquille Leonard, Barney Chavous, Charlie Brown and Orlando Brown Sr., Javon Hargrave, Decobie Durant, among others.
Former SC State Coach Willie Jeffries became the first African American Head Coach of a predominantly white Division I-A football program, when he was hired to coach the Wichita State football program in 1979. Jeffries is enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.
List of South Carolina State Bulldogs football seasons
The Bulldogs have been awarded a NCAA-recognized black college football national championship seven times in program history.
South Carolina State has won twenty Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference titles, twelve outright and eight shared. Asterisk denotes shared title.
The Bulldogs have appeared in the I-AA/FCS playoffs six times with a record of 2âÂÂ6.
The Bulldogs have appeared in 16 bowl games, with a record of 8âÂÂ8.
Over 40 South Carolina State alumni have played in the NFL, including:
SC State has maintained heated rivalries with the North Carolina A&T Aggies, Florida A&M Rattlers, and Bethune-Cookman Wildcats.
On November 19, 2016, Joe Thomas Sr., father of Green Bay Packers linebacker Joe Thomas, became the oldest player to play in an NCAA Division I game. At 55 years of age, Thomas Sr. had one carry for three yards as a running back in a contest versus Savannah State.
Announced schedules as of February 3, 2026