Savannah State witnessed a brutal start to the season, suffering an 87-0 road defeat against South Carolina State in its season opener. The margin was far from an ordinary loss and raised serious concerns about Savannah State’s ability to bounce back, catching the attention of the program’s alum and Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe.
Shannon Sharpe Left Speechless After Savannah State Suffers Embarrassing 87-0 Blowout
Savannah State’s 87-0 loss to South Carolina State marked the second-worst defeat in program history by point margin, according to WSAV Savannah.
The lopsided result also put South Carolina State in some notable FCS history, as its 87-point shutout win over Savannah State ranks as the fifth-largest FCS shutout since 1996. The biggest during that span came in 2022, when Stephen F. Austin defeated Warner 98-0.
The largest shutout in FCS history remains Portland State’s 105-0 win over Delaware State in 1980.
Meanwhile, Savannah State’s blowout loss on Saturday became a hot topic of discussion in the latest episode of the “Nightcap” podcast as former Cincinnati Bengals star Chad Johnson brought up the topic, even as Sharpe was left speechless at his alma mater’s performance.
“Hold on. We lost 87-0?” Sharpe exclaimed. “When somebody said that Savannah State got beat 87-0, I’m thinking they played Georgia… I’m not thinking they played South Carolina State.
“That must be a misprint.”
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Shannon sharpe can’t believe it after ocho asks him about his former college Savannah State losing 87-0 against South Carolina pic.twitter.com/rV1NWgkzjZ
— NBA Hoops (@Thechat101) August 30, 2026
Sharpe’s reaction proves just how unexpected the final score was, even though South Carolina State entered the game as an established program.
The Bulldogs were coming off a 10-3 season and an HBCU national championship, so Savannah State was always facing a difficult challenge. However, few could have anticipated the game turning into such a one-sided affair.
From the opening quarter, Savannah State struggled to generate any offensive momentum against South Carolina State’s defense. The Bulldogs quickly established control and continued to pile on points, while the Tigers were unable to find an answer on either side of the ball.
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South Carolina State went into halftime with a 52-0 advantage. Rather than taking their foot off the gas after the break, the Bulldogs continued extending their lead throughout the second half, ultimately completing the massive shutout.
The game was also the first contest for Savannah State under new head coach Thomas Howard. He was named the 28th head coach in Savannah State history in 2025 and arrived with a considerable coaching background that includes eight different coaching positions across seven states.
Before taking over at Savannah State, Howard served as the defensive coordinator at Fayetteville State University. During his time there, he helped the Broncos post a 6-1 record in CIAA play, while his defense ranked among the best units in the country in several categories.
However, Howard’s Savannah State tenure got off to a nightmare start. The Tigers now have plenty to correct before their next opportunity to take the field.
