BALTIMORE, Md. (Oct. 26, 2026) -- Welcome to By the Numbers, a weekly look at Morgan State football as the Bears navigate their Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) schedule to close out the season.
Morgan State suffered a heartbreaking 26-20 overtime loss to Howard in the conference opener for both teams Saturday at Hughes Stadium. The defeat marked the Bears' second consecutive loss, dropping them to 5-3 overall and 0-1 in MEAC play.
Despite the setback, Morgan State remains in pursuit of its first winning season since 2014 and its first conference title since that same year. A MEAC championship would send the Bears to the 2027 Celebration Bowl in Atlanta.
Four games remain on the schedule as Morgan State looks to regroup and get back on track, beginning with a pivotal matchup against South Carolina State at Hughes Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 29.
Each week, By the Numbers breaks down the game's defining statistics, highlighting the drives that shifted momentum, the individual performances that stood out, and the defensive stops that shaped the outcome.
Howard 26, Morgan State 20 (OT) | Saturday, Oct. 24 | Hughes Stadium
26-20 | Howard wins in overtime, dropping the Bears to 5-3.
294 to 246 | Morgan State outgained Howard in total yards, but it wasn't enough.
195 to 80 | The Bears dominated through the air. Morgan State went 23-of-33 (69.7%) with 2 TDs and a 133.3 passer rating, while Howard completed 12 of 23 for 3.2 yards per attempt.
36 | The longest completion of the day came in the third quarter, when Morgan State quarterback Cameron Edge connected with Joseph Towler for a 36-yard touchdown to give the Bears a 13-6 lead.
166 to 99 | Howard won the ground game, averaging 4.5 yards on 37 carries. Morgan State managed 3.4 on 29.
34:50 to 25:10 | Morgan State held the ball nearly 10 minutes longer.
14 for 110 | Morgan State's penalties, more than double Howard's 7 for 47.
82 | Rushing yards for Keith "Dooda" Jenkins Jr., who led the Bears on the ground with 17 carries against Howard. Jenkins currently ranks No. 4 in the MEAC in rushing with 399 yards, averaging 5.9 yards per carry.
1 and 87 | Howard's lone interception was returned 87 yards, a huge field-position swing.
2-of-3 | Morgan State's field goals (long of 42). Howard was 2-of-2 (long of 38).
61 | Howard's longest kick return. The Bison averaged 30.8 yards on 5 returns, while the Bears averaged 25.2.
6 and 6 | Punts for each team. Howard averaged 35.3 yards and Morgan State 34.7.
13 to 14 | First downs, Morgan State to Howard.
14 | Edge threw two touchdown passes against Howard, bringing his season total to 14 passing touchdowns through eight games.
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering more than 150 baccalaureate, master's degree, doctorate, and certificate programs. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.
