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FAMU Football 2024 Predictions, Rattlers Best and Worst Case Scenarios

The 2024 Florida A&M football season is upon us. The Rattlers will play 12 games under new head coach James Colzie III. Here are FAMU's 2024 season predictions and possible scenarios.

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Florida A&M’s 2024 football season is within reach.

On August 24, the Rattlers begin the new year with the MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Week 0 against Norfolk State at Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta.

The Rattlers will play 12 regular season games in 2024.

Last season, FAMU won the Southwestern Athletic Conference and Celebration Bowl titles, earning the football program's 16th Black College National Championship.

The Rattlers hope for similar success under their new head coach James Colzie III.

Here you will find game predictions as well as best and worst case scenarios for the Rattlers.

FAMU football win and loss predictions for the 2024 season

August 24: vs. Norfolk State (MEAC/SWAC Challenge) in Atlanta: FAMU 23 (F)Norfolk7

August 31: vs. South Carolina State: FAMU 28 (F)SCSU13

September 7: at Miami: Miami 40, FAMU 17 (Center)

September 21: at Troy: Troy 31, FAMU 14 (Center)

September 28: vs. Alabama A&M (SWAC opener): FAMU 34 (F)AAM 13

October 5: at Alabama State: FAMU 21 (F)ASU10

Oct. 19 at Jackson State: JSU 17, FAMU 13 (Center)

October 26: vs. Southern: FAMU 24 (F)South 9

November 2: vs. Texas Southern: FAMU 31 (F)Texas South 10

Nov. 9 at Prairie View A&M: FAMU 24 (F)PVAM 12

November 16 vs. Mississippi Valley: FAMU 28 (F)MVSU7

November 23 vs. Bethune-Cookman (Florida Classic): FAMU 23 (F)B-CU 12

Overall record prediction: 9-3 (7-1 SWAC)

What is the reason behind FAMU football’s record prediction?

FAMU will be coming off its fourth consecutive nine-win season since 2019.

The Rattlers will be off to a perfect start in their first two games against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opponents Norfolk State and South Carolina State.

FAMU will lose its next two road games to Football Bowl Subdivision opponents Miami and Troy before posting a pair of comeback wins in its first two SWAC games at home against Alabama A&M and then at Alabama State.

After a week off, FAMU travels to Jackson State's Veteran Memorial Stadium, a venue the Rattlers have not visited since 2014. This game will be the Rattlers' worst loss of 2024 and their only SWAC loss.

However, the outcome can go either way, as Jackson State is also coming off a week off for this game.

FAMU will respond to Jackson State's result by ending its season on a convincing five-game winning streak that culminated in its fourth straight victory over Bethune-Cookman in the Florida Classic.

The Rattlers will also maintain their second-longest home winning streak in the country by winning all five games at Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium, making it 24 straight wins.

With a 9-3 overall record and a 7-1 SWAC record, the Rattlers are still good enough to host the SWAC championship and have a chance at reaching the Celebration Bowl.

What is FAMU football’s best-case scenario for the 2024 season?

FAMU's record is 10-2 overall, with a perfect SWAC record of 8-0.

To finish 10-2 (8-0 SWAC), the Rattlers must complete their October challenge by defeating SWAC opponents Alabama State, Jackson State and Southern. Those games could have postseason implications.

A 10-2 season will undoubtedly earn the Rattlers a spot in the SWAC championship game on December 7. And if the SWAC East continues to dominate the SWAC West, the Rattlers will face the MEAC's best in the Celebration Bowl on December 14.

What is the worst-case scenario for the 2024 FAMU football season?

The Rattlers team has an overall record of 8-4 and a finish of 6-2 in the SWAC.

However, FAMU can only finish that low if it loses two of three of its crucial October games against Alabama State, Jackson State and Southern. FAMU would be more likely to lose on the road at Alabama State and Jackson State than to fall to Southern in Bragg.

With an overall record of 8-4 and 6-2 in the SWAC, the Rattlers could find themselves in a tiebreaker situation in the SWAC East, where they will have to fight and hope for a spot in the HBCU football postseason.

If FAMU finishes the regular season with a SWAC record of 6-2 but qualifies for the SWAC title game, there is a chance the Rattlers will have to travel to their SWAC West opponent to do so.

But at least the Celebration Bowl would still be a possibility for the reigning Black College Football National Champions.

Florida A&M Rattlers 2024 Football Schedule

  • August 24 against Norfolk State in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge, Atlanta*, 7:30 p.m., ABC
  • August 31 vs. South Carolina State, 6 p.m., ESPN+
  • September 7 in Miami, 6 p.m., ACC Network
  • September 21 in Troy, 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN+
  • September 28 against Alabama A&M, 6 p.m., ESPN+
  • Oct. 5 at Alabama State, 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN+
  • Oct. 19 at Jackson State, 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN Network
  • Oct. 26 vs. Southern, 7 p.m., ESPN Network
  • Nov. 2 vs. Texas Southern (HOMECOMING), 4:00 p.m., ESPN+
  • November 9 at Prairie View A&M, 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN+
  • November 16 vs. Mississippi Valley State, 1 p.m., HBCU GO
  • November 23 against Bethune-Cookman in the Florida Classic, Orlando*, 3:30 p.m., ESPN Network
  • November 30: FCS playoffs begin
  • Dec. 7: SWAC Championship, LOCATION/TEAMS to be announced, ESPN2
  • December 14: Celebration Bowl, Atlanta*, TEAMS TBA, 12pm, ABC

BOLD = SWAC

* = Neutral location

Gerald Thomas III covers Florida A&M University athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Reach him via email at [email protected] or through the app formerly known as Twitter. @3peatgee.

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