August 27th, 2026 12:00pm
Welcome to the 2026 CIAA season. Week 0 features games on Thursday evening (VSU, Bluefield), Friday (VUU), and Saturday. It should be an exciting season, one that I am very optimistic about. We will see if such optimism is misplaced. There is quite a bit of content on the internet about the big news of the CIAA hosting a 3rd vs 4th place matchup the Friday before Championship Saturday, so I will not bore you with the details. The biggest surprise for me coming out of media day was VUU getting the nod over JCSU as the preseason #1, along with the dearth of preseason selections from VUU and VSU. It was as if someone looked at the schools in alphabetical order and selected from the rosters available or something. Anyway, below is my thoughts on how the season will shake out, along with some notes on each team and predictions for week 0.
#11 - Lincoln
Lincoln is Idle this week, so I will preview them next week when the roster is uploaded.
#10 Shaw
Key Returners: QB Alexander Marsh, RB Trey Thorpe, RB Fabian Diggs, WR Cobie Bates, WR Antrel Gibson, LB Michael Job, LB Quadir McEachin
Key Losses: RB Christian Rutledge (JCSU), Darry Felix, DB Jaden Perkins
Key Transfers: WR Trey Lyles (Bluefield State), DB Rodney Williams (Florida A&M), LB Jaymon Caldwell (Tiffin), P/K Benjamin Turner (ECSU)
Shaw was a young team that was gutsy if nothing else. Life in the CIAA can be tough when you are trying to build a program, and that is really where the Bears find themselves in HC Lamar Manago’s second year. Still, key pieces return to both sides of the ball, and there seems to be depth added on both sides too. QB Marsh is a dual threat, but will need to push the ball downfield to keep defenses honest. Speaking of, the rushing defense will improve to keep the Bears in contention, especially considering that they gave up nearly six yards a rush. To me, progress be keeping games close, and that is where the Bears could find trouble this year. There is only one true kicker on roster, and the Bears did not make a field goal last year. Will we see the Bears gamble as much on fourth down this year as they did last year (14/40 on conversions)? Time will tell.
Week 0: vs Fayetteville State – See Fayetteville State
#9 Bowie State
Key Losses: DB Elijah Mckenzie (G5 Liberty), LB Kamari Loving – (FCS Georgetown), P Davion Moore (FCS Tennessee State), WR Joseph Towler (FCS Morgan State), RB Micah Robinson, DB Moses Sarweh, DB Samuel Graham, DL Jamal Jones
Key Returners: QB Kevin Taylor, RB Maximus Jones, WR Antwain Banks, K Chris Coleman, DL Deshawn Willoughby, DL Alijah Miller
Key Transfers: QB Kyle Hawkins (New Haven), DL Vincent Okorie, DE Santino Howard (Seton Hill), K/P Peter Lipscomb (Presbyterian)
Bowie State lost 2 OL, P Moore, and WR Towler to the transfer portal really hurt a team that had some good pieces in place. Still, new HC Dawson Odums went to work after being hired in the spring to infuse the roster with some talent from the transfer portal that could plug some holes that was created in the offseason. Bowie was particularly hit hard by graduation and transfer in the secondary, so that’s an area of focus to see how they are able to slow some of the conference’s good passing attacks. K Lipscomb is a big pickup, as he set Presby’s record for most points scored by a kicker in a game. Even with a robust running game, the biggest question that the Bulldogs need to answer is if they can stabilize a passing game that has been a nonstop cycle of musical chairs over the last couple of seasons. Will the starting quarterback be one of the returning guys (Kevin Taylor, Savion Witherspoon), or a newcomer?
Week 0: Idle
#8 Bluefield State
Key Returners – WR Julian Crawley, WR Brandon Wiley, QB Wesley Thompson, DB Kamaree Wells, K/P Danny Dales,
Key Losses – QB Bryce Koontz, OL Mason Purcell, OL Ronny Astudillo, OL Mateo Revert DB Samuel Olokeogun
Bluefield State made their name last year on offense. In a 10-game schedule, Big Blue was explosive, scoring more than 30 points in 60 percent of their games. A CIAA school scoring that many points in that many games typically does well in any given season. The offense didn’t skip a beat when Wesley Thompson went down with a season ending injury. Bryce Koontz stepped in and kept the pass happy attack moving. That pass throwing duo allowed WRs Wiley and Crawley to showcase the ability to stretch the field at times.
Week 0 at Tusculum (Thursday, 8/27): The problem with Bluefield State circa 2025 is that they must have gotten an allergy test and got a confirmed reading for allergies to anything resembling the run. The run defense was the worst in Division II last year 294 yards and teams really exposed that weakness. The rushing offense was also near the bottom of Division II at 70 yards a game.
In order to beat Tusculum, they cannot be 1 dimensional. TU was a 1 win team last year, and that one win is where they blew the doors off of Big Blue. The Pioneers want to run the ball (3rd in the South Atlantic last year), and BSU will need to slow or stop that attack to even have a chance in this game. Advantage: Tusculum
#7 - Elizabeth City State
Key losses: QB Chris Perkins, DE Drewvon Oxendine (East Texas A&M), DB Dyllon Houghton (Catawba), LB Aaron McDaniel, DL Henry Hicks (G5 Liberty)
Key Returners: QB Navian Hilliard, RB Traquan Johnson, DB Jaevon Branch, DL Sir’Sean Ingram, OL Toriono Combs
Key Transfers: DE Ajani Farmer (Harding), OL Jeremiah Jennings (JCSU), DB Jamil Anderson (Sacred Heart), DB Jalen Levine
Ah yes, ECSU – winners of three straight and losers of 3 games by a touchdown or less. Nonetheless, ECSU had its best season since 2017 by reaching the 4-win mark. Can they build on this season depends on if they can close out close games. Their wins last year against the bottom half of the conference means that they should be formidable to get to middle of the conference pack if they can get early leads.
Week 1 vs Fort Valley State – FVSU presents about as equal of a matchup as you can get for ECSU. The Wildcats bring back more experience at QB, especially with Don Hudson Jr. returning from injury. The Wildcats also relied on slugging out games with low scoring affairs with stout defense. Neither team ran the ball consistently well last year, which may yet again prove problematic in the redzone. FVSU in particularly bad with only 10/26 in red zone touchdowns. Pack your patience. Advantage: ECSU by 1.
#6 - Livingstone
Key Losses: DL Kenyon Garner (Florida Atlantic), DL Jordan-Lebron Downey (New Mexico State), DL David Jones (Mississippi Valley State), DB Dallas Johnson (North Alabama)
Key Returners: DB Manny Moss, RB Javen Parker, DL Davion Watkins, K Jason Zapata, LB Eysaw Parrish, WR RJ Lindsey III
Key Transfers: QB Brandon Edinburgh Jr (Langston), QB Andrew Attmore (JCSU), RB Phoenix Moss (Georgia State), WR Ca'Lique Cunningham (Western Carolina)
Week 0 vs Allen: In a game of attrition, both schools lost a lot of good talent. Livingstone lost their talent on defense, and Allen lost their talent on offense. Still, I put more faith in Livingstone to retool their defense quickly. Allen wants to run the ball, but can they replace their departed star quarterback with someone who can keep pressure off what is likely to be an aggressive defensive front four? Advantage: Livingstone. I expect Livingstone to extend their win streak to 3 games over Allen, though I suspect it will be a low scoring affair.
#5 - Winston-Salem State
Key Losses: OL Zaire Falls (Anderson), QB Daylin Lee (Tennessee State), RB Noah Marshall (Fayetteville State), WR Christian McDonald – (Mercyhurst), WR Kaleb Washington (UT-Martin)
Key Returners: RB Tre'von Hester,, WR Jayden Grimes, DB Chancellor Smith, DB Zy Brown, DL CJ Brown, DL David Eldridge IV
Key Transfers: WR Taron Biles-Walker ( Norfolk State), LB Avir Johnson (Norfolk State), DB Shawn Seagraves (Fayetteville State), TE Kavase Towns (Fayetteville State), WR Delwan Waller - Ferrum
Teams in the 5-8 range feel interchangeable, as they have glaring weaknesses. With WSSU, last year was just sheer inconsistency, and it lead to underperformance. Now, the Rams will start this year with question marks at QB, though RB Hester’s return should ease some of the offensive anxiety. WR Grimes is particularly explosive. The defense should be better, particularly in the front seven. The Rams’ defensive strength lies in its secondary. Still, the question is – who will pilot the offense, because how far the Rams get this year will be based on their QB’s performance.
Week 0 vs FCS Norfolk State: Meh to FCS games. NSU isn’t particularly great, but they do have the scholarship advantage. WSSU cannot exclusively rely on its rushing attack in this game because the Spartans will wear them down, just like they did to Virginia State in last season’s opener. Advantage: Little State (NSU)
#4 Fayetteville State
Key Losses: QB/TE Caden Davis, QB Demari Daniel, DL Kaydin Thomas - Committed to FCS Central Arkansas, OL Benjamin Hicks - Committed to FCS Austin Peay State
Key Transfers: OL Mason Purcell - Bluefield State, QB Jamir Dismukes – Allen, RB Noah Marshall – WSSU, DE Osirus Rhodes – Allen, DE Rafael Brown – Benedict, WR Marcus Fleming - Allen
Key Returners: WR Kristian Golden, K John Hernandez-Vargas
FSU made a splash in the offseason, upgrading their quarterback from last year’s carousel to former Allen QB Jamir Dismukes and former Bluefield State QB Isiah Teal. Dismukes was one the country’s most productive quarterbacks at Allen, and one of his big targets, WR Fleming, follows him. Teal played well in his freshman season at Bluefield and never really recovered his swagger after the coaching change, so a fresh start plus the lack of pressure to put him into service is a plus.
Do you know who else also came from Allen? Kienus Boulware, the defense minister himself. Oh boy. FSU has sported a disruptive defensive line every year this decade, and expect no different this year. Theres a bit of strength in the secondary too. In short, this team is your sleeper, if the schedule doesn’t break them first.
Week 0 vs Shaw: FSU cannot be caught looking ahead to the Rival UNC-Pembroke, HBCU bugaboo Valdosta State, Johnson C. Smith, and Virginia Union in successive order. Shaw has always served as a potential spoiler for FSU, or at least capable enough to give the Broncos fits. This game can provide two views; either show that Shaw is taking a big step forward in their rebuild by even sustainably challenging the Broncos, or show that the Broncos’ Frankenstein project is going to take more time to get the kinks worked out. Advantage: Broncos
#3 Virginia State
Key Losses: DB Marquis Edmond II - Committed to FCS North Dakota, DB Mark Burns - Comitted to FCS Delaware State, DB Quedrion Miles - Committed to FCS Robert Morris,
DL Matthew Scarlett - Committed to G5 Northern Illinois, LB Jason Cole Jr - Committed to FCS Delaware State, RB Ri'Jon Hammond - Committed to FCS Texas Southern, OL Bruno
Key Returners: - QB RJ Matthews, QB Baron Davis, RB Brandon Rose, OL Tyleek McCoy, LB KJ McNeil, WR Kevin Gayles, WR Ajenavi Byrd, DE Jayshaun Alston, DR Mustapha Coly,
Key Transfers: DR Amir Mateo (Norfolk State), DB Ian Wynn (Fayetteville State), DB Bruce Jones (Livingstone), RB Melvin Brown (WV Wesleyan), DB Jamil Anderson (Sacred Heart), K Jonathan Gates (Christopher Newport), DT Dejhun McDougal (UNC-Pembroke), DL Chea Scott
Week 0 vs Barton
Barton will put up a fight, but they do not have the talent on paper to run with the Trojans. It shouldn’t be close. Advantage: VSU.
#2 14th ranked Virginia Union
Key Losses: RB Curtis Allen, DB Jayden Earley - Committed to FCS Chicago State, DL Kamari Federick - Committed to FCS Lamar, DL Keydel Painter - Committed to G5 Marshall, , OL Mathias Nielsen - Committed to G5 UNC-Charlotte, OL Adrian Crespin - Committed to G5 Middle Tennessee, OL Joseph Rounds - Committed to G5 Southern Miss, WR Keon Davis
Key Transfers: WR Latrell Sutton (Slippery Rock/Virginia Tech) – 28/493, DL Xavier Belton – Bryant, QB Jaden Stewart – Del State, KJ McCou – TN State
Key Returners: QB RJ Rosales, DB Quincy Jefferson, DB Jymere Melendez, WR/KR Zyaire Tart, LB Brandon Cammarasana LB Christian Aiken, OL Christian Solomon, OL Savion Moore, RB Travon Tensley
Simply put, QB Rosales is a known commodity. He’s shifty, and he can extend plays. But teams dared VUU to throw, and the passing offense got rocky at times against good teams. WR Sutton, Slippery Rock’s leading receiver a year ago, is built like a prototypical VUU WR, so he should be an upgrade to the receiving corps. VUU needs to restock the defensive line, but their secondary should remain stout to slow teams down in the passing game.
Week 0 vs Lenoir-Rhyne: VUU enters this contest needing to plug a big hole at RB and on its offensive line. Losing three OL to the portal means that they will have to restock what has arguably been one of the best run blocking crews on the east coast. Plus, who exactly will run the ball? Nonetheless, L-R is vulnerable but dangerous after losing their QB to the portal, and they had limited success running the ball. It will be a hostile affair in the 828 on 8/28. Advantage: VUU
#1 Johnson C. Smith
Key Returners: RB Bobby T. Smith, WR Reggie Brigman, WR Brian Lane, OL Jamari Mason, DB Tynan Tucker,
Key Losses: QB Kelvin Durham, DB T.J. Taybron WR Brevin Caldwell (Norfolk State), WR Biggie Proctor, DL Cadricus Stanley (NC A&T). K Lukasz Smolen (Houston Christian), WR/KR Isaiah Perry –(Lenoir Rhyne)
Key Transfers: K/P Christopher Mejia (UNC-Pembroke), QB Parker McQuarrie (New Haven), QB Damien Mizell (Wagner), DB Jaylen Ferbee-Gullate (FCS Wagner - previously at WSSU)
DE Jason Romero (East Carolina), RB Fabian Duncan (Allen), DL Anthony Binyard (Fayetteville State), WR Jaquan Albright (UNC-Pembroke)
JCSU got a taste of the national spotlight last year, and they are looking to not just repeat but to get to the next level. Game breaking WRs Proctor and Caldwell are gone, but they bring back a lot on offense with RB Smith, last year’s starter Kamarro Edmonds, and WRs Brigman and Lane. The OL is also stout, and the hopes are that they added depth there. The kicking game is now unproven with Smolen gone. The defense should be as good as last year, especially with LB Vincent Hill returning and a host of high production transfers.
Week 0 vs Benedict
This game feels like the Spiderman meme of these two teams pointing at each other. JCSU must face a really tough defense that has been the identity of Benedict for some years. I suspect the running yards may be at a premium, but if there is a club with the right set of tools to make it work, then it should the Golden Bulls. Benedict is also introducing a transfer QB to the mix as well, and sports a really good RB. Will it be enough? I do not think so. Advantage: JCSU.