COLUMBIA, S.C. – For the first time since 2013, the Benedict Tigers are 2-0, and are looking to move to 3-0 for the first time ever since the school resumed the football program in 1995.

But the Tigers have a big task ahead of them to reach that goal, playing their first road game of the season at Savannah State. SSU  went undefeated in their first year back in the SIAC in 2019, although they were not eligible for the conference championship, and were the pick this year to win the East Division in the preseason poll by the league's coaches and sports information directors.

Benedict and Savannah State kickoff Saturday at 6 p.m. from Theodore A. Wright Stadium. Savannah State will provide a live video stream here (FloSports, subscription required), and live stats here. Tickets are available.

Benedict is coming off back-to-back big wins over Allen and Edward Waters, but the Tigers will have their toughest test against the SSU Tigers. After a season-opening 53-7 loss to fourth-ranked Valdosta State, Savannah State rebounded by crushing Livingstone 50-6 last week. The SSU Tigers racked up 495 yards of total offense, including 318 yards rushing, and held Livingstone to just 94 yards of total offense.

The Benedict offense has been productive through the first two games, averaging 458 yards of total offense. That ranks the Tigers first in the SIAC and 27^th in Division II. The Tigers have completed 30 of 42 pass attempts with seven touchdowns and just one interception and lead the nation in team pass efficiency (230.67).

Defense will be a factor. The Benedict defense is holding opponents to 94.5 yards rushing per game, but have not faced the caliber of runners of Savannah State. The SSU Tigers average 222.5 yards rushing per game, led by quarterbacks D'Vonn Gibbons and JT Hartage and running back D'Angelo Durham.

Benedict has been able to capitalize on big pass plays in the first two games, but the Savannah State defense ranks 25^th in total defense and 20^th in the country in passing yards allowed. Benedict quarterback Eric Phoenix, a native of Savannah, leads the country in pass efficiency, is third in passing yards per completion (19.4) and fourth in passing touchdowns (7).

It will also be a homecoming for Benedict head coach Chennis Berry, who played at Savannah State, where he was named a first-team All-SIAC offensive lineman and honorable mention Black College All-American.