South Carolina State under Chennis Berry has become the standard in HBCU football. The program has enjoyed immense success for decades under Willie Jeffries and Buddy Pough, but in Chennis Berry's first three seasons, he has reestablished the Bulldogs as a contender after a couple of down years in Pough's final seasons. HBCU football fans know Chennis Berry's resume. After leaving Benedict College to take over South Carolina State, he's yet to lose a game in the MEAC and has only lost to two HBCUs: Jackson State in the 2024 Celebration Bowl and Florida A&M under James Colzie III in his first game with the Bulldogs.

But for some reason, doubts remain about his viability against non-HBCU teams and whether he and the Bulldogs can show the same level of dominance against them. Many have wondered how South Carolina State would fare in the FCS playoffs if they lose a conference game. I believe the game will answer several questions. Many have wondered how South Carolina State would fare in the FCS playoffs if they lose a conference game. South Carolina State will answer some of those questions when it heads to Greenville, South Carolina, to play Furman University.

Both Furman and South Carolina State are ranked in the latest FCS Top 25 poll. South Carolina State is ranked 16th, while Furman is ranked 24th. This top-24 clash is set to be the game of the week and could have stakes bigger than the field if South Carolina State wins. This top-24 clash could be the game of the week and carry stakes bigger than the field if South Carolina State wins.

South Carolina State's dominance extends beyond “1-0”

South Carolina State has outscored their three opponents, Savannah State, Florida A&M and Virginia State, 184-13. All 13 points came from Florida A&M in the Orange Blossom Classic, as neither Savannah State nor Virginia State scored. They've held their opponents to 130.7 yards of total offense per game and 43 yards of rushing. They forced nine turnovers and 10 sacks, while opponents haven't been able to touch quarterbacks Keeley Watson or Ronnie Robinson.

The Florida A&M game proved how South Carolina State will compete with fellow FCS programs. The Florida A&M game proved how South Carolina State will compete with fellow FCS programs. Mason Pickett Hicks has emerged as the star of South Carolina State's renewed offensive attack. He rushed for 210 yards and two touchdowns against Florida A&M, benefiting from an offensive line that expertly created holes for Hicks to gain massive yards on the ground. Now, against a team that's established and expected to be a true contender, can he still find success?

South Carolina State's quarterback situation can also be put into perspective, as Keele Watson and Ronnie Robinson are still fighting for their place on the roster. Watson has received most of the snaps for the Bulldogs heading into this game and has shown great arm talent, but still has room for improvement after succeeding players like Eric Phoenix and William Atkins IV as QB1. Robinson has shown himself to be more of a dual-threat athlete and specifically has succeeded in the run game. Will a two-quarterback approach work for South Carolina State in this high-stakes matchup?

But the most important question is: what would a win look like for South Carolina State in terms of its positioning in the FCS?

The Domino Effect of a South Carolina State victory

A win over No. 24-ranked Furman could certainly make FCS poll voters take South Carolina State more seriously in future rankings. While 16 in the FCS Top 25 is relatively high, they could certainly go higher. A high ranking in the FCS Top 25 could also lead to a pretty surefire bid to the FCS playoffs if South Carolina State loses a game in the MEAC and can't make the Cricket Celebration Bowl.

Because the MEAC and SWAC gave up their automatic bids for the Celebration Bowl, South Carolina State would be an at-large team if they were included in the FCS playoff field. A win over Furman could give them a compelling resume for the committee to ultimately choose them for the playoffs. It would also open the door to conversations about where they could rank in the FCS playoff field and what matchup they could get.

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A win over Furman opens up South Carolina State's future, and Berry and his team likely won't squander it.

Furman is a formidable contender

Furman's early season resume is the opposite of the domination you saw from South Carolina State. They started beating Anderson 20-3 before losing a money game to Tennessee 56-9, they then faced off against Mercer University, who was ranked 14 in the FCS Top 25. Furman was previously unranked. Their 20-13 win over Mercer in Macon, Georgia, on Saturday helped them leap into the top 25. Ironically enough, Mercer is led by former South Carolina State Bulldog Joel Taylor.

Furman has several players who will be key to a victory over higher-seeded South Carolina State on Saturday. Ben Croasdale scored a 47-yard touchdown with 47 seconds remaining to secure the upset over Mercer. The team averages 201.3 rushing yards per game, but only 128 passing yards. Furman's strength is their running back room, with Croasdale being joined by CJ Nettles (131 rushing yards, 6.6 yards per carry) and Isaiah Davis (122 rushing yards, 12.2 yards per carry). Could South Carolina State make their offense one-dimensional by stuffing the run?

But other metrics prove Furman's viability. The Paladins convert 21.4% of third downs, holding opponents to 22.5% on third down. They have a plus-four turnover margin and have sacked the opposing team's quarterback seven times while allowing 10 sacks. While the Tennessee game accounted for most of the sacks, Mercer also got to Garcia on Saturday, sacking him four times. Could that also be a sign of a weakness that an aggressive South Carolina State defensive front could exploit?

Despite the opposing defensive pressure, Garcia still boasts impressive numbers. So far this season, he has thrown for 384 passing yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions through three games. Two of the interceptions came against Mercer. Which team has the better quarterback remains unanswered.

My Prediction: South Carolina State wins

It might not be the dominant, demonstrative victory that we're used to from South Carolina State, but they are the better team heading into this matchup. While Furman is battle-tested after their win over Mercer and has several standout players on offense and defense, South Carolina State will prove that they're not just HBCU good; they're one of the best teams in college football.