Morgan State Football Opens 2025 Season with Matchup Against South Alabama

Morgan State's football team is set to kick off its 2025 season on Saturday night with a demanding away game against the University of South Alabama. The Bears aim to build on their recent performances and attempt to extend their season-opening winning streak to three games.

Coming off a 6-6 record in 2024, Morgan State is striving for its first winning season since 2009. Under the leadership of fourth-year head coach Damon Wilson, the team has a strong roster returning with 20 starters — nine on offense, six on defense, and five on special teams. This marks a significant opportunity for the Bears to demonstrate growth and resilience early in the season.

The Saturday game will be the first-ever matchup between Morgan State and South Alabama. While the Bears have secured wins in their last two season openers, they face an uphill battle against an FBS opponent, holding an all-time winless record of zero victories in nine attempts against such teams.

Coach Damon Wilson expressed optimism about the team's prospects. He highlighted the challenges posed by roster changes due to the transfer portal but emphasized the importance of physical play and well-executed strategies across all game phases. Wilson stated, "We're excited about it. There's a lot of unknowns with the transfer portal and that sort of deal. So it's a lot of players that they had on their roster that's no longer on their roster. However, it's a really, really good football team we're playing against. We have to be physical all four quarters and play very well in all three phases to have an opportunity to win the ball game."

The Bears will be led by team captains, notably Erick Hunter, named the preseason Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Coach Wilson praised Hunter's leadership and the team's defensive energy, saying, "Playing with speed, you know, it's 11 hats to the ball. These guys are flying around, which is great. A lot of times if you make a mistake, you can make up for it when you're playing fast. These guys are playing fast and they're playing physical with the ball."

The season's early schedule presents additional challenges, as four of Morgan State's first seven non-conference games are on the road. The opener is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday in Mobile, Alabama, where the Bears will look to start the season on a high note against a formidable opponent.

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