November 6th, 2026 10:00am
It is Rivalry Week…or as I have heard rephrased by one listener: Intense Dislike Week. It is a week where hopes and dreams have perished, and some teams somehow find the energy and resolve to spoil the success of their bitter rival. Shaw is sitting out this week given its rival – Saint Augustine’s – no longer sponsors football. Nonetheless, the Bears’ season finished just as it started – on a streak. Shaw started with a four-game winning streak and was riding high, only to lose five straight, including a surprising loss to previously winless Bluefield State. Ouch. While four games is nothing to sneeze at given that it is an improvement from last season, there’s a lot to dwell on in the offseason for the Downtown Raleigh Boys.
The calamity continues, as we largely know who will be playing next weekend. We just do not know who will play on Friday and Saturday just yet. Let’s at least talk about how this weekend could shake out, in order of interest:
#22 Virginia Union (7-0, 8-1) at Virginia State (6-1, 7-2)
Last Week: VUU overpowered Lincoln, while VSU tied or trailed before succumbing to Johnson C. Smith in overtime.
This week: This game is a tale of opposing philosophies. VUU is a hard nosed rushing offense, using the pass to keep defenses off balance. VSU is pass first. Each team is seeking to take away the others’ strength. Last year’s game was a 14-3 nightmare for VSU, mainly because VUU took away the passing game and left QB RJ Matthews with having to run for more than what he would like to do. I expect more points this year.
Advantage: VUU, because they possess the better defense and special teams.
#24 Johnson C. Smith (6-1, 7-2) at Livingstone (2-5, 3-6)
Last week: Livingstone yet again took down VUL in predictable fashion behind QB Andrew McClain’s 167(!) rushing yards and Davion Watkins’ 6 (!!) sacks. JCSU pulled out a nailbiter in overtime against VSU with a balanced passing and rushing attack.
This week: JCSU is the clear favorite here, but strange things happen on Monroe Street. Wild things happen in this game, and it is probably more than what JCSU would care to remember. Livingstone cannot afford a slow start here. Prior to the VUL game, the Blue Bears had only scored 10 points in the first half of their last three games combined. They also need to shore up the pass defense, as they are last in the conference in this area. Even VUL was able to eclipse 200 yards passing. JCSU needs to avoid penalties and turnovers, and finish drives. It is like they have had lapses in games, and that’s not what a championship contender should be doing at this point in the season.
Advantage: JCSU, but it is still must see TV.
Fayetteville State (5-2, 6-3) at Winston-Salem State (2-5, 2-7)
Last week: WSSU gave as many points as FSU has wins (5) and still lost to Elizabeth City State because they couldn’t find the endzone. FSU struggled with Bowie State in the first half, only to come out in the second half and unload 21 points on the visiting Bulldogs to secure their place in Championship Weekend’s third place game.
This week: It is homecoming at WSSU, and a familiar face returns to the sideline – former head coach Kienus Boulware, who will be wearing blue and white. FSU’s offense is like a Corvette with the fuel warning light on. Its potent when the offense is running, and then the length of time it falls flat is akin to the coaches walking to the gas station with a jerrycan because the tank went empty. The defense though, is like a brick wall in the rushing game – they only allow 116 yards a game in rushing, which is more than what WSSU has mustered in five of their games.
Advantage: FSU. The party crashers’ defense might shift along the line of scrimmage for more yards than WSSU gets in passing yards. This game might feel like that Corvette is going downhill, can be in neutral, and coast to the finish line.
Lincoln (1-6, 1-8) at Bowie State (4-3, 4-5)
Last week: Bowie’s offense went stagnant against FSU, mainly because of its suspect passing (defense and offense). Lincoln was under duress against a hostile VUU squad.
This week: Bowie’s defense will need to step up against Lincoln’s passing offense, regardless of whether Jayden Triplett or Mikal Davis starts. Lincoln will want to run to balance out the pass, but Bowie’s front seven is more than capable of shutting that down. Expect the Bulldogs to run, run, and run some more. Their last nine games feature BSU attempting more than 40 rushes a game.
Advantage: Bowie State gets to .500 to end the season.
Elizabeth City State (3-4, 3-6) at Bluefield State (1-6, 1-8)
Last week: Big Blue celebrated their first win by putting up 45 points against Shaw. QB Rishon Holmes’ six touchdowns was incredible (and 158 rushing yards!). At one point, Big Blue was up by double digits well into the second half. ECSU won 5-0 against WSSU behind a strong defensive effort from the likes of LB Jack Earley’s 8 tackles and DL Ajani Farmer’s 5.5 tackles for loss and 2 sacks.
This week: Bluefield State showed us what they were truly capable of if injuries did not kneecap them early in the season. Replicating that offensive effort could make for an entertaining game. B-State’s rushing defense would make for good pallbearers for how much they have let the team down. Yet again, they are the worst in the conference in stopping the run. ECSU’s best rushing outings this season have come against two of the worst rushing defenses in the conference, and they have six players with over 120 yards of rushing this season.
Advantage: ECSU. Bluefield State on full strength has a higher upside, but I am going with ECSU’s defense to drag Big Blue into a rock fight of a game.
As always, you can find me on Sunday nights on Inside D2Football at 8pm Eastern, and CIAA vs. Everybody on Wednesdays at 7pm Eastern during the season via your favorite streaming platform.