Week 0 has UIW vs Nicholls and NCCU vs Southern taking the national stage as college football returns. Nicholls will play host to the #4 Team in the FCS Ranking UIW while the Word has had the better of the Colonels of late 1st year Head Coach Tommy Rybacki hopes to show that his defenses which won Nicholls 3 SLC Titles are as strong as ever. Southern enters the MEAC/SWAC challenge hoping to improve on a great 2024 season which saw the Jags make it to the SWAC Championship. While Head coach Terrence Graves has chosen to play both his returning and transfer QB the offence is in position to improve an their slow starting ways in 2024. The Jags show to still be a championship contender and a win against NCCU would have them potentially as Celebration Bowl favorite in the early season.