The transformation of Delaware State football under DeSean Jackson continued on Saturday afternoon in Dover, as the Hornets held off Howard University 26–13 to remain perfect in MEAC play and move one step closer to their first conference title since 2007. The victory not only pushed DSU to 8–3 overall and 4–0 in the MEAC, but it also cemented next week’s matchup with South Carolina State as a de facto championship game for the league’s Celebration Bowl bid. For an HBCUprogram that won just 14 total games in the decade before Jackson’s arrival, the turnaround is nothing short of remarkable. Now, Delaware State stands on the doorstep of the Celebration Bowl, the premier stage in HBCU football. It’s opponent—South Carolina State, the reigning MEAC champion—represents exactly the type of heavyweight challenge Jackson has been building toward. Regardless of the outcome, the fact that DSU controls its fate in mid-November is evidence of how far the program has come in such a short time. For Jackson, a former NFL Pro Bowler and national figure whose arrival brought instant attention to Dover, the turnaround is rooted in belief, energy, and accountability. His players have bought in. And the MEAC, suddenly deeper and more competitive than it has been in years, is taking notice.
