North Carolina Central Eagles

N.C. Central, Eastman eyeing 2018 schedule

Published Mar. 23, 2018 5:52 p.m. ET

(STATS) - North Carolina Central and interim coach Granville Eastman have their sights focused on the MEAC title again after their program's three-year run as conference champion ended last season.

The Eagles announced an 11-game 2018 schedule on Tuesday, including five games at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium in Durham.

NCCU will open the season on Sept. 2 against Prairie View A&M in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge at Georgia State Stadium in Atlanta.

The Eagles' other big non-conference matchup is only three miles away as they will go across town to face Duke in the Bull City Gridiron Classic on Sept. 22.

The Eagles have home games against Division II opponents Saint Augustine's (Sept. 8) and Edward Waters (Nov. 3) as well as MEAC rivals Florida A&M (Sept. 29), Howard (Oct. 6) and North Carolina A&T (Nov. 17), the defending champion.

Eastman, NCCU's defensive coordinator, was promoted to interim coach after Jerry Mack departed in December to become Rice's offensive coordinator. The Eagles finished 7-4 overall and 5-3 in the MEAC last season.

2018 North Carolina Central Schedule

Sept. 2, Prairie View A&M (MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Atlanta)

Sept. 8, Saint Augustine's

Sept. 15, at South Carolina State*

Sept. 22, at Duke

Sept. 29, Florida A&M*

Oct. 6, Howard*

Oct. 20, at Norfolk State*

Oct. 27, at Delaware State*

Nov. 3, Edward Waters* (Homecoming)

Nov. 10, at Bethune-Cookman*

Nov. 17, North Carolina A&T*