Honestly, looking at the Norfolk State football schedule 2024 feels like watching a high-stakes drama where the ending keeps changing. If you're a Spartans fan, you know it wasn't exactly a smooth ride. We saw everything from heart-stopping wins to games that just sort of slipped away in the fourth quarter. It’s one of those seasons that makes you appreciate the grind of HBCU football, especially in the MEAC.
The Spartans ended their 2024 campaign with a 4-8 overall record, going 2-3 in conference play. On paper, that might not look like a championship run, but the scoreboards rarely tell the whole story of what happened on the turf at William "Dick" Price Stadium.
Breaking Down the Norfolk State Football Schedule 2024
The season kicked off with a massive spotlight. Norfolk State traveled to Atlanta for the MEAC/SWAC Challenge against Florida A&M on August 24. It was a heartbreaker. They lost by a single point, 23-24. You could feel the collective sigh from the fan base; starting the year with a one-point loss to a powerhouse like FAMU is brutal.
Then came the "guarantee game" against East Carolina on August 31. That one went about as expected for an FCS vs. FBS matchup—a 42-3 loss in Greenville. But the team bounced back. They finally got into the win column on September 7, beating Virginia State 28-23 in a game that reminded everyone why local rivalries are the soul of Virginia football.
The Mid-Season Rollercoaster
September and October were... complicated.
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After a rough loss to Hampton (7-37) in the Battle of the Bay, the Spartans looked like a different team against VMI on September 21. They went into Lexington and handled business, winning 32-10. It felt like they found their rhythm. Then, things got shaky again.
- NC Central: A tough 10-37 loss in Indianapolis for the Circle City Classic.
- Sacred Heart: A defensive slog in Connecticut that ended in a 3-10 defeat.
- Towson: A 23-28 loss at home that felt much closer than the final score suggests.
But then, the Howard game happened on October 26. 21-20. A one-point win against the Bison. If the FAMU game was the heartbreak, the Howard game was the redemption. Winning that game on homecoming is the kind of stuff that keeps a program's energy alive when the win-loss column looks a bit lean.
The Michael Vick Factor
If you haven't heard the news that dropped right as the 2024 season was winding down, you might want to sit down. On December 20, 2024, Norfolk State made a move that basically broke the internet in the 757 area code. They named Michael Vick as their 19th head football coach.
Yeah, that Michael Vick. The Newport News native, Virginia Tech legend, and NFL icon.
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While Vick wasn't the coach during the 2024 games, his hiring is the direct result of the school wanting to turn the page on this era. Athletic Director Melody Webb basically signaled that "status quo" wasn't enough. Hiring Vick is a massive gamble, but it's also a genius marketing move. Recruiting in Virginia is about to get very, very interesting.
Standout Players and Statistics
You can't talk about the Norfolk State football schedule 2024 without mentioning Kevon King. The guy was a workhorse. He finished the season with 944 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Watching him hit the gap was often the highlight of the afternoon. He averaged nearly 6 yards per carry, which is elite when you consider how much defenses were stacking the box against the Spartans.
Quarterback Jalen Daniels handled the bulk of the snaps under center. He threw for 1,333 yards and 11 touchdowns over 11 games. He also added 5 rushing touchdowns. While the passing game struggled at times to find consistency—averaging only about 132 yards per game—Daniels showed a lot of grit playing behind a line that was frequently shuffled.
On the defensive side, Devon Allen was a standout. He was rated as one of the top FCS cornerbacks by Pro Football Focus (PFF). He finished the year with two interceptions and five pass breakups, often erasing the opponent's best receiver.
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2024 Final Results at a Glance
- Aug 24: vs. Florida A&M (L, 23-24)
- Aug 31: at East Carolina (L, 3-42)
- Sept 7: vs. Virginia State (W, 28-23)
- Sept 14: vs. Hampton (L, 7-37)
- Sept 21: at VMI (W, 32-10)
- Sept 28: vs. NC Central (L, 10-37)
- Oct 5: at Sacred Heart (L, 3-10)
- Oct 12: vs. Towson (L, 23-28)
- Oct 26: vs. Howard (W, 21-20)
- Nov 2: at Morgan State (L, 37-38)
- Nov 16: vs. Delaware State (W, 38-19)
- Nov 23: at South Carolina State (L, 21-53)
Why 2024 Was a "Near Miss" Year
Looking at the Norfolk State football schedule 2024, you see two games decided by exactly one point. If those go the other way, this is a 6-6 team with a winning conference record. The loss to Morgan State (37-38) was particularly painful. The Spartans put up their second-highest point total of the season and still came home with an "L."
The defense struggled with the big play, allowing 28.4 points per game while the offense only put up 20.5. They were actually pretty decent at moving the chains on the ground, but 3rd-down conversions were a nightmare, sitting at just 32.7%. You just can't win consistently in the MEAC if you're punting that often.
What's Next for the Spartans?
The 2024 season is in the books, and honestly, the "Vick Era" has already begun. With the schedule for 2025 already looming, the focus has shifted entirely to how the 7-on-7 legend will translate his "Madden" style of play into a functional college offense.
If you're looking to follow the team moving forward, keep an eye on the transfer portal. With a name like Vick at the helm, expect some high-profile bounces from FBS programs looking to play for a legend.
Actionable Steps for Fans:
- Check the 2025 Prospectus: The school has already released early details on the 2025 season tickets.
- Watch the Spring Game: This will be the first chance to see how the roster looks under the new coaching staff.
- Review the MEAC Standings: South Carolina State dominated in 2024; they are the benchmark the Spartans need to hit.
The 2024 Norfolk State football schedule was a ride of "what ifs," but it laid the groundwork for one of the most talked-about coaching hires in the history of the sport.