Norfolk State University · Next-Season Outcome Band
Fanbase Health Index · Norfolk State University · low confidence
FCS Program Prestige · Norfolk State University1959
The Battle of the Bay (Rivalry Inception)
Norfolk State vs. Hampton University begins a 67-year rivalry rooted in Hampton Roads pride
Norfolk State University1-11Hope-Doping·Offseason
Norfolk State is the HBCU fortress hosting the Battle of the Bay—a program betting its future on Michael Vick's star power and coaching acumen to rebuild from a 1–11 disaster into Black college football relevance.
Title DroughtSince 2019 · 6 yrs
The fanbase knows the Battle of the Bay crowd is real—21,000+ fans showing up every year despite losing seasons. Norfolk State punches above its weight in fan loyalty, and the institution is banking o…
low signal
Approaching
23 days
until kickoff · vs Winston-Salem State · Sat Aug 29 · 22:00 UTC
The experience
Norfolk State is the HBCU fortress hosting the Battle of the Bay—a program betting its future on Michael Vick's star power and coaching acumen to rebuild from a 1–11 disaster into Black college football relevance.
The Spartans drill.
Norfolk State University · Next-Season Outcome Band
Floor / Base / Ceiling
Floor 0-12
Base 1-11
Ceiling 4-8
floor0-12Sub-.500 season. Playoff bid out of reach.
base1-11Mid-table finish. Conference title a stretch.
ceiling4-8Conference title race. Playoff bid in play.
Variance assumed at ±2 wins from last-season record. Replace with the season-path projection once preview data is built.
Recent Form · last 10 games
Hibernating
Zero of five. Reset territory.
Streak L10Last 5 · 0-5Last 10 · 0-10
The forecast
Opens Aug 29
vs Winston-Salem State · at home
Community pulse
No high-engagement r/cfb discussions tracked for this program in the last year.
The Pulse on Norfolk State University
—
The Spartans drill.
What moved it — fall camp · last 14 days
Camp
Fall camp open — install + scrimmage cycle
ongoing
Kickoff
Season opener in 16 days
kickoff
"Go Norfolk State"
— Norfolk State University fanbase · recurring line
0 mentions · awaiting signal
Fanbase Health Index · Norfolk State University · low confidence
Stable (35)
DecliningStableGrowingSurging
On-Field — 1-11 (8% win rate)35
Player stats — 2025 season
No player stats logged for this program yet — stats appear once the season is underway.
Norfolk State University · 2025 schedule & results1-11Balanced slateAverage opponent win rate 50% · 0 AP top-25 opponents on the schedule.
| Wk | Date | Us | Opp | Line | Opponent | Result | Record | Conf |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 28 | #227 | #142 | +8.5 | Towson | L 7–27 | 0-1 | 0-0 |
| 2 | Sep 6 | #224 | #294 | — | Virginia St | W 34–31 | 1-1 | 0-0 |
| 3 | Sep 13 | #246 | #58 | +45.5 | @Rutgers | L 10–60 130 | 1-2 | 0-0 |
| 4 | Sep 20 | #244 | #231 | -1 | Sacred Heart | L 28–31 | 1-3 | 0-0 |
| 5 | Sep 27 | #251 | #260 | -2.5 | @Wagner | L 13–18 | 1-4 | 0-0 |
| 6 | Oct 4 | #254 | #246 | +4.5 | @Hampton | L 34–41 | 1-5 | 0-0 |
| 7 | Oct 11 | #251 | #194 | +7.5 | @Wofford | L 14–31 | 1-6 | 0-0 |
| 9 | Oct 25 | #253 | #159 | +14.5 | South Carolina State | L 20–51 | 1-7 | 0-1 |
| 10 | Oct 30 | #259 | #163 | +17.5 | Delaware State (N) | L 20–27 | 1-8 | 0-2 |
| 11 | Nov 8 | #256 | #122 | +25.5 | @North Carolina Central | L 28–31 | 1-9 | 0-3 |
| 12 | Nov 15 | #243 | #209 | +5.5 | Morgan State | L 28–35 | 1-10 | 0-4 |
| 13 | Nov 22 | #242 | #244 | +3.5 | Howard (N) | L 15–44 | 1-11 | 0-5 |
Advanced box score (EPA, success rate, explosiveness)▼
| Date | Opp | Result | Yds | TO | TOP | EPA/play | Success% | Explosive% | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 22 | Howard | L 15–44 | — | — | — | -0.132 | 33.9% | 146.1% | Blowout loss |
| Nov 15 | Morgan State | L 28–35 | — | — | — | +0.165 | 49.3% | 136.5% | One-score loss |
| Nov 8 | @North Carolina Central | L 28–31 | — | — | — | +0.313 | 43.8% | 150.9% | One-score loss |
| Oct 30 | Delaware State | L 20–27 | — | — | — | -0.198 | 43.1% | 119.7% | One-score loss |
| Oct 25 | South Carolina State | L 20–51 | — | — | — | +0.260 | 25.5% | 243.1% | Most explosive |
| Oct 11 | @Wofford | L 14–31 | — | — | — | +0.109 | 33.3% | 113.4% | |
| Oct 4 | @Hampton | L 34–41 | — | — | — | +0.476 | 56.5% | 137.2% | Season-high EPA/play |
| Sep 27 | @Wagner | L 13–18 | — | — | — | +0.036 | 44.9% | 104.6% | One-score loss |
| Sep 20 | Sacred Heart | L 28–31 | — | — | — | +0.370 | 50.0% | 151.9% | One-score loss |
| Sep 13 | @Rutgers | L 10–60 | 220 | 2 | 23:55 | -0.407 | 30.0% | 133.8% | Season-low EPA/play |
| Sep 6 | Virginia St | W 34–31 | — | — | — | +0.209 | 43.5% | 121.9% | Best defensive stand |
| Aug 28 | Towson | L 7–27 | — | — | — | +0.011 | 29.4% | 135.3% | |
| Season average (12 games) | 220 | 2.0 | +0.101 | 40.3% | 141.2% | ||||
Schedule mirage
How much of Norfolk State University's number is the schedule?
Raw EPA/play through week 21 is 0.10; 43rd percentile once opponent strength is stripped out, it's 0.02. The widest gap came in week 2: 0.11 raw vs. 0.00 adjusted.
Home-Field Advantage · Norfolk State University · 2018-present
Above-Average
35% home win rate vs 30% on the road. margin runs +6.9 better at home. William Dick"" Price Stadium"" seats 30,000, averaging 41% full (12,440 attendance, 10 games reported).
Home12-22Away13-29
Venue texture
72°F average kickoff temp; 0% of games had measurable precipitation; 10 mph average wind.
Based on 23 home games with weather data.
FCS Program Prestige · Norfolk State University
Mid-Major Contender
All-Time Record
93-153-1
since 1946 · 24 seasons · .376 win rate
HOME
50-67
AWAY
42-74-1
NEUTRAL
1-12
1940s
1970s
2000s
2010s
2020s
MEAC Standing · 2025
6th in the MEAC
Norfolk State University sits 6th of 6 in the MEAC at 0-5. Mid-conference — moves up or down depend on rivalry results and the late-season closing run.
| # | Program | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Carolina State | 5-0 |
| 2 | Delaware State | 4-1 |
| 3 | North Carolina Central | 3-2 |
| 4 | Howard | 2-3 |
| 5 | Morgan State | 1-4 |
| 6 | Norfolk State | 0-5 |
Program memory
What this program never forgets
Most weeks vanish. These didn’t.
2026
Michael Vick Era Begins
NFL legend and two-time Pro Bowler Michael Vick takes over as head coach, signaling institutional commitment to rapid turnaround
Miracle
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