Norfolk State football schedule

Aug. 30 vs. Virginia State, 6 p.m.

The skinny NSU has won the past two against the Division II Trojans, including a 33-7 romp a year ago. Expect another rout .

Ticket info www.ticketmaster.com

Sept. 6 at Kentucky, TBA

The skinny The Spartans are still looking for their first score against a Division I-A opponent, having fallen to Rutgers 59-0 last year. The Wildcats don’t have Andre Woodson calling signals anymore and projected starter Curtis Pulley was kicked off the team earlier this month. But NSU fans shouldn’t get too excited .

Ticket info www.ukathletics.com

Sept. 13 vs. North Carolina A&T, 4 p.m.

The skinny You couldn’t gift-wrap a better opponent to open the MEAC with than the Aggies, who come into this fall having lost their past 27. That’s the longest losing streak in Division I-AA. That said, A&T has to win sometime … but this shouldn’t be it.

Ticket info www.ticketmaster.com

Sept. 20 at William and Mary, 7 p.m.

The skinny The teams haven’t played for 23 years. Adrian’s first taste of the Colonial Athletic Association will have his Spartans trying to keep stride with all-conference quarterback Jake Phillips and an attack that averaged nearly 400 yards of total offense last fall.

Ticket info www.tribeathletics.com

Sept. 27 at Bethune-Cookman, 4 p.m.

The skinny The past three have been nail-biters, with NSU finally on the winning side last year. The Spartans have never won in Daytona Beach but should have a leg up .

Ticket info www.bccathletics.com

Oct. 11 at South Carolina State, 1:30 p.m.

The skinny The Bulldogs have the preseason MEAC Offensive Player of the Year in Will Ford and return nine from a defense that gave up the second-fewest yards in the conference. NSU won in double overtime a year ago, but that was in Norfolk .

Ticket info www.scsuathletics.com

Oct. 18 at Hampton, 1 p.m.

The skinny The Pirates dominated the Battle of the Bay, winning nine of 10 until NSU stopped that streak last season . The Pirates can’t wait to avenge the loss; NSU wants to prove it wasn’t a fluke.

Ticket info www.hamptonpirates.com

Oct. 25 vs. Florida A&M, 1 p.m.

The skinny Longtime Hampton coach Joe Taylor returns to Hampton Roads with a team that promises to contend for the title within a year or two. For now, stopping FAMU means limiting the damage done by tailback Philip Sylvester, last year’s conference leader in all-purpose yardage.

Ticket info www.ticketmaster.com

Nov. 1 at Howard, 1 p.m.

The skinny The Bison spoiled NSU’s chances of going into the Delaware State game undefeated last year; Howard is primed to play spoiler again . The Bison boast preseason MEAC Defensive Player of the Year Endor Cooper and an offense that loves to dominate time of possession.

Ticket info  www.howard-bison.com

Nov. 8 vs. Morgan State, 1 p.m.

The skinny The Bears come into the season with little depth and experience, but this late in the fall, it’s about who’s playing better ball. The Spartans should be in peak form by this point .

Ticket info www.ticketmaster.com

Nov. 15 vs. Delaware State, 1 p.m.

The skinny A year ago, this was for the MEAC championship, a game the Spartans dominated until they were stunned in the fourth quarter . No Spartan has forgotten what it felt like to be on the field in Dover that day .

Ticket info www.ticketmaster.com

Nov. 22 vs. Winston-Salem State, 1:30 p.m.

The skinny The young Rams, still making the transition to the MEAC, averaged just 20 points a game last year .

Ticket info www.wssurams.com