Saturday was just a dark day in college football.
 
Yes, my Alma matter (UCF) won, but my favorite team since childhood (Florida State) lost, as did the team that I cover for a few media outlets – the Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats.
 
"Wildcat Nation", it is what it is, right now. The 31-14 loss to North Carolina Central hurts. No doubt about that.
 
The Wildcats are 0-4 on the season for the first time since 2009, and 0-2 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).
 
MEAC title and Celebration Bowl chances are just about slim to none at this point. And FCS Playoffs? You can go ahead and cancel those plans now.
 
B-CU will need a lot to happen in order to reach those goals. Not that it hasn't happened with help from other teams in the past. But this time is completely different.
 
However, it's not impossible!
 
Remember in 2014, five MEAC teams finished 6-2 in conference play and shared the crown? Well, Bethune-Cookman was one of those title-holding teams standing at the end of the season.
 
NCCU outplayed B-CU on Saturday afternoon/evening, and they did enough to win the game.
 
The Eagles controlled the time of possession – 33:22 to 26:38.
 
They also converted 9-of-16 third downs, while B-CU only converted 4-of-12.
 
B-CU's defense is playing well on the year, but they are spending too much time on the field.
 
The Wildcats have a talented receiving corps, but just can't get a passing game going.
 
The starting quarterback has been injured lately, as well as the backup who is a JUCO transfer.
 
A redshirt freshman has ran the offense the last two games. None of this helps the situation.
 
Additionally, last year's leading rusher Michael Jones has been out with injury. And barring a complete turnaround within the next five days, will likely request a medical hardship waiver for the remainder of the season.
 
Things actually looked good for the Wildcats early in the game.
 
B-CU dominated the first 29 minutes of the game.
 
The defense was stout and the offense had the running game going.
 
Jamaruz Thompkins' 17-yard touchdown gave the Wildcats a 7-0 lead with 3:07 to play in the first quarter.
 
But, something changed in the last few minutes of the first half.
 
The Wildcats had the ball near midfield, but the ensuing play's snap went over quarterback Akevious Williams' head. B-CU was eventually forced to punt.
 
The Eagles got the ball back and tied the game seconds before halftime when Malcolm Bell hit Khalil Stinson from 25 yards out.
 
North Carolina Central took advantage of opportunities, while B-CU was less fortunate in that aspect.
 
Then there was the lightning delay in the third quarter.
 
Memories of the MEAC/SWAC Challenge against Alcorn State, which was suspended due to lighting, immediately came to mind.
 
Strikes occurred at 5:54 p.m., with NCCU leading 17-7, with 6:35 showing remaining on the clock in the third quarter.
 
Play didn't resume until two hours and forty-six minutes later (8:38 p.m.).
 
It seemed that things were about to start going the Wildcats way when Trenton Bridges intercepted a pass at the North Carolina Central 29-yard line.
 
All hope vanished when Williams was sacked on a fourth down and three yards to go at the NCCU 23-yard line.
 
The Eagles went on to score and took a commanding 24-7 lead late in the
third quarter.
 
So, what can Bethune-Cookman do in these final six games of the season?
 
Simple…play spoiler!
 
That's right, spoil the season of its MEAC competition. And maybe, just maybe, enough teams at the top of this week's league standings will have two (or more) losses at the close of business in late November.
 
First up: two of the better teams in the MEAC in the form of South Carolina State and preseason favorite North Carolina A&T (last year's co-champion and Celebration Bowl winner).
 
Beating those two teams would rejuvenate the Maroon and Gold.
 
Bethune-Cookman still has a good football team, regardless of the record. I know a lot of teams can say that around the nation as cliché, but it's completely true in the case of the Wildcats.
 
The defense is still stingy, and receiver Frank Brown (Brown had a 41-yard punt return and caught a 15-yard touchdown pass) is a weapon in the return game.
 
Jonathan Cagle is also one of the better punters in the MEAC.
 
It also looks as if redshirt sophomore quarterback Larry Brihm, Jr. is healthy enough to return to full action soon. He entered the game late in the fourth quarter and threw a touchdown pass to Brown.
 
If the Wildcats fix their offensive woes, and possibly some in the kicking game, there is no reason why the season can't be different.
 
It's not all spoiled yet. But if B-CU can come away with some wins down the stretch, then it certainly could be for some title hopefuls.