JC Smith fills football schedule hole with Lincoln

TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Johnson C. Smith defensive back Xavier Hill returns a blocked kick 56 yards for a touchdown against Winston-Salem State on Oct. 28, 2023. The Golden Bulls added Lincoln (Pa.) to their 2024 schedule after CIAA rival St. Augustine’s suspended football for the season.

Johnson C. Smith filled an opening in its football schedule while adding another home date.

The Golden Bulls, who went 7-4 last year with a berth in the Florida Beach Bowl, will play Lincoln (Pa.)  at McGirt Field on Sept. 14 in a designated nonconference game. The Lions replace St. Augustine’s, which cancelled its 2024 schedule as the school wrestles with financial difficulties and suspension of its accreditation.

JCSU beat Lincoln 27-20 last year in Pennsylvania. The Lions went 4-6, 3-5 in CIAA play in 2023 after losing their final three games while the Golden Bulls went 6-2 in conference games.

JCSU opens the season with a pair of games against SIAC teams. The Golden Bulls play Tuskegee (Ala.) Sept. 1 at the Red Tails Classic in Montgomery, Ala. Followed by a trip to Morehouse. The CIAA schedule gets underway on Sept. 21 in Charlotte against Virginia Union, which won the 2023 conference title and a berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs and close the month at Bluefield State.

The Golden Bulls open October against Virginia State Oct. 5 in Charlotte, followed by Shaw two weeks later for homecoming. They’ll go to Winston-Salem State Oct. 26 in a rematch of JCSU’s 35-31 win last season that broke a 21-game skid against the Rams.

Fayetteville State, which has won the last six CIAA Southern Division titles, comes to Charlotte on Nov. 2, followed by the regular season finale at Livingstone.
Johnson C. Smith 2024 football schedule:

September

1 vs. Tuskegee (Red Tails Classic at Birmingham, Ala.)

7 at Morehouse

14 vs. Lincoln (Pa.)

21 vs. Virginia Union

28 at Bluefield State

October

5 vs. Virginia State

Open

19 vs. Shaw (homecoming)

26 at Winston-Salem State

November

2 vs. Fayetteville State

9 at Livingstone (Commemorative Classic)

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