COLUMBIA -- South Carolina State coach Buddy Pough has plenty of reasons to be optimistic.
His Bulldogs have to win just one of their next two games to go to the playoffs for the first time in 26 years. Under Pough, South Carolina State has beaten its next two opponents -- Morgan State and North Carolina A&T -- in 11 of 12 tries.
But Pough points out both games are on the road, and this week's game at Morgan State is at one of the toughest places to play in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
"We need to try to figure out how to get a win here because the very last thing we need to be doing is trying to figure out how to get a win down the road," Pough said.
In other games Saturday involving South Carolina's Football Championship Subdivision teams, Wofford is at Samford; Furman hosts Georgia Southern; The Citadel hosts Chattanooga; Coastal Carolina travels to Presbyterian; and Charleston Southern hosts Edward Waters.
In Baltimore, South Carolina State (8-2, 6-0 MEAC) can end some frustrating droughts with a win over Morgan State (6-4, 4-2). The Bulldogs are only a victory away from their first outright MEAC title since 1994 and trip to the FCS playoffs since 1982.
South Carolina State has beaten the Bears five times in a row and 28 of the 34 times they have played.
This game could be decided along the line when the Bulldogs have the ball. South Carolina State is averaging 200 yards rushing a game, while Morgan State is allowing just 80 yards a game on the ground.
The offensive line has been critical to the Bulldogs success this season, Pough said.
"We don't turn very many people loose," Pough said. "We don't give up many sacks. I think we've given up seven sacks for the season, and that's because our guys and our running backs do a nice job of protecting."
Two other FCS teams in South Carolina have playoff hopes, and the coaches for Wofford and Furman agree they will have to win their final two games to make it to the postseason. To make things even more intriguing, the Paladins and Terriers finish their seasons against each other next week.
In Birmingham, Ala., Wofford (7-2, 5-1 Southern Conference) needs to beat Samford (5-4, 3-3) on Saturday to keep its FCS playoff hopes alive, Terriers coach Mike Ayers said.
Most seasons, Wofford would seem like a playoff lock with losses only to South Carolina and Appalachian State.
But Ayers said he knows better. He remembers 2002, when Wofford went 9-3 and was left out, even with road wins over playoff teams Georgia Southern and Appalachian State. In fact, the only two times the Terriers have made the playoffs are when they have won the SoCon's automatic bid.
"If you don't get that automatic bid then it is up to different folks around the country making the decision," Ayers said. "And most of the time, quite frankly, they're going to try to do what is best for their league and for their image and for the perception of their conference. That's just the way this business is."
In Greenville, Furman (7-3, 4-2 SoCon) renews its classic rivalry with Georgia Southern (5-5, 3-4).
The first two games between the teams were for national championships in 1985 and 1988. The Paladins won just four of the first 15 games against the Eagles. But Furman has won three of the last four as Georgia Southern missed field goals in the closing moments of their last two games.
This year, the Eagles get to play spoiler. Furman coach Bobby Lamb figures his team has to win its final two to make the playoffs, while Georgia Southern coach Chris Hatcher is left to say "6-5 sure beats 5-6."
"Big game -- last game for our seniors, last game of the season for our football team," Hatcher said. "It sure would be nice to go up there and knock those guys off."
In Charleston, The Citadel (3-7, 1-6) wraps up its SoCon season with Chattanooga (1-9, 0-6).
It has been a disappointing season for the Bulldogs, who many expected to be in the mix for the SoCon title. Instead they have lost six in a row and have a season-ending game at Florida looming.
But Mocs coach Rodney Allison, who will step down at the end of the season, said The Citadel is much better than it might first appear.
"They're 1-6 in the conference, but they're not a 1-6 team on film," Allison said. "That 1-6 may be the most deceiving record in the conference right now."
In Clinton, Coastal Carolina (5-5) will try to keep its momentum going against Presbyterian (4-6).
The Chanticleers beat Gardner-Webb last week in what coach David Bennett said was one of their best games of the season.
"I was glad to get that victory. Even our garbage man smiled at me and waved the other day, so I didn't feel pitiful like we've been feeling here the last few weeks," said Bennett, whose only losing season at Coastal Carolina was last year.
It's a homecoming for Bennett, who lettered in golf and football at Presbyterian in the early 1980s but hasn't been back since he coached Catawba in the South Atlantic Conference.
In North Charleston, Charleston Southern (5-5) will try to continue a later season rally against NAIA member Edward Waters (3-7).
The Buccaneers beat the Tigers 47-0 in their only other meeting in 2006.
Charleston Southern started 0-3 this year, but have won five of its last seven in a season full of adversity.
It started during preseason practice when the Buccaneers couldn't use their practice field and had to drill on a field in front of the school. Then their home opener was moved to Wofford because of a threat from Tropical Storm Hanna, and their flight home the next week after playing Miami of Ohio was canceled. It was Monday night before everyone made it home.
"I'm so thankful they have been able to come back and rally these last two weeks and pull out some big wins for us," Charleston Southern coach Jay Mills said.