September 9th, 2025 12:00pm
Before we look at the week two slate, here are the final scores and stat totals from week one. (SIAC Teams in bold)
Albany State 49 Kentucky State 21
Game Totals
Albany State—475 yards 26 first downs/Passing 304 yds 6 td 1 int/Rushing 171 yds 1 td
Kentucky State—308 yards 15 first downs/Passing 224 yds 0 td 2 int/Rushing 84 yds 3 td
Clark Atlanta 17 Florida Memorial 12
Game Totals
Clark Atlanta—256 yards 8 first downs/Passing 148 yds 1 td 0 int/Rushing 108 yds 1 td
Florida memorial—141 yards 11 first downs/Passing yds 39 0 td 1 int/Rushing 102 yds 2 td
Lincoln (Mo.) 27 Lane 15
Game Totals
Lincoln —225 yards 15 first downs/Passing 164 yds 2 td 1 int/Rushing 61 yds 1 td
Lane—276 yards 17 first downs/Passing 108 yds 0 td 1 int/Rushing 168 yds 2 td
Edward Waters 46 Miles 14
Game totals
Edward Waters—357 yards 19 first downs/Passing 232 yds 4 td 0 int/Rushing 125 yds 2 td
Miles—158 yards 15 first downs/Passing 125 yds 1 td 0 int/Rushing yds
Savannah State 13 Shorter 0
Game Totals
Savannah State—323 yards 18 first downs/Passing 188 yds 1 td 0 int/135 yds
Shorter—138 yards 10 first downs/Passing 137 yds 0 td 0 int/Rushing 1 yd
Livingstone 28 Allen 17
Livingstone—283 yards 11 first downs/Passing 166 yds 2 td 0 int/Rushing 117 yds 1 td
Allen—392 yds 27 first downs/Passing 178 yds 0 td 1 int/Rushing 214 yds 2 td
Tuskegee 34 Central State 0
Tuskegee—295 yards 14 first downs/Passing 226 yds 2 td 1 int/Rushing 69 yds 1 td
Central State—224 yards 15 first downs/Passing 184 yds 0 td o int/Rushing 40 yds
Week 2 Matchups
Fort Valley State (0-1, 0-0) at Clark Atlanta (1-1, 0-0)
The SIAC slate will kick off week 2 with a nationally televised matchup on Thursday night. FVSU and Clark Atlanta will both open conference play on ESPNU.
Fort Valley is coming off of a bye after a tough loss against West Alabama. The Wildcats led going into the fourth quarter against nationally ranked West AL before falling 27-17. But the Wildcats did struggle offensively and outside of a 58-yard scamper by backup quarterback Saadiq Teel, they managed only 159 total yards. Offensively, FVSU will need to be much better against Clark Atlanta. Against the pass, the Wildcats were outstanding in their opener, allowing UWA only 132 yards on less than a 50 percent completion rate as well as picking off one pass. They did allow 201 yards on the ground.
Clark Atlanta never trailed against Florida Memorial as their defense proved to be stout all day. Allowing only 141 yards of total offense and giving up just 12 points. But offensively they managed only eight first downs. Considering that Florida Memorial allowed 49 points in their season opener, I thought the Panthers would light the scoreboard up more than they did.
This is a huge game for both teams who finished tied for second in the SIAC a year ago. Both squads will be looking to enter the conference win column in this one.
PREDICTION
Clark Atlanta 17 Fort Valley State 15
Benedict (1-0, 0-0) at Central State (0-2, 0-2)
Central State enters this matchup looking to get off the schneid. The Marauders struggled to get anything going against a feisty Tuskegee defense. While there is no doubt Tuskegee was the better team, CSU only trailed by single digits, 9-0, midway through the third quarter. The running game was non-existent for the Marauders but they were decent in the passing game. Combined, Qeanu Campbell-Caldwell and Tison Hill were able to complete 19 of 31 passes for 184 yards with no interceptions. Defensively, CSU, was bend but don’t break until the fourth quarter where fatigue got the better of them.
Benedict was off last week after winning a grueling defensive battle in their opener. They’ll look to repeat that defensive performance against the Marauders. Offensively, Jackson Jensen will lead the charge against CSU who has given up exactly 34 points in both of their contests. Jensen was rock solid against Fayetteville State, but I’ll be expecting Benedict and Jensen to open the offense up a little bit more on Saturday.
PREDICTION
Benedict 27 Central State 16
Morehouse (0-1, 0-0) vs Howard (1-1, 0-0)
The Maroon Tigers are traveling north again as they will get the opportunity to play in MetLife Stadium Saturday in the HBCU NY Football Classic. Morehouse opened their campaign at Harvard Stadium in Boston, Massachusetts against Johnson C. Smith. The good news is the young men from Morehouse are getting opportunities of a lifetime. The flip side is they are playing high level competition. After falling to Johnson C. Smith 45-9 in the opener, they will now face an FCS school.
Miles Scott threw the ball around the yard in the opener for the Tigers. He passed for 262 yards and a touchdown. He did have three picks to go along with his success. Morehouse will need to clean that up if their hoping to see the endzone a little more against Howard. Defensively, the Maroon Tigers yielded more than 500 yards in their opener, they’ll have to minimize that number if they hope to stay competitive in this one.
Howard had a hard-fought win over FAMU in their opening contest before being on the wrong end of a 55-7 blowout to Temple.
PREDICTION
Howard 38 Morehouse 7
#15 Virginia Union (1-0, 0-0) at Edward Waters (2-0, 2-0)
This is quite the Week 2 mouthwatering matchup. Virginia Union is ranked #15 in this weeks Top 25 poll. Edward Waters is coming off of two very impressive victories.
EWU is 2-0 for the first time in 21 years! That’s due in large part to interim head coach Brian Jenkins Jr, as well as the newcomer at quarterback, Noah Bodden. Bodden had another stellar performance in week 2 as he carved up the Miles defense with 201 yards passing, 3 touchdowns and no turnovers. Defensively, the Tigers held their opponent to 14 points for the second straight week as defending SIAC champs Miles just could not get anything going against EWU’s stingy D.
VUU is coming off of a bye week after throttling Miles 45-3 in their opener. VUU was a quarterfinalist in the DII playoffs last season and they’ll be looking for another non-conference win to keep their season moving along nicely.
I feel as though the interim tag should already be dropped off from Brian Jenkins title. If he pulls this big victory off Saturday, the interim should be gone before he makes it back to the locker room.
PREDICTION
Virginia Union 31 Edward Waters 21
Tuskegee (2-0, 0-0) at Jackson State (1-1, 0-0)
Tuskegee enters this contest after starting the season 2-0 behind a stingy defense. Tuskegee held Central State, their most recent opponent to 224 total yards and more importantly, 0 points. The Golden Tigers defense sacked Marauders quarterbacks four times and also had 15 tackles-for-loss. That is total domination at the line of scrimmage. Tuskegee quarterback Raequan Beal had a solid outing while completing 60 percent of his passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns. However, the offense only managed 14 first downs and just under 300 yards of total offense.
Jackson State has become one of, if not the premier HBCU school in the nation. Their loss last week to FBS school Southern Miss ended the longest active winning streak in all of Division I football. They bring a balanced attack offensively as well as a solid defense.
PREDICTION
Jackson State 35 Tuskegee 7
Miles (0-2, 0-1) at Alabama State (1-1, 1-0)
Miles knew they would have to replace some key players as well as their head coach from last years SIAC Championship team. But I don’t think anyone thought through two games they would have been outscored 91-17. With a road trip to Montgomery to play Alabama State this Saturday, Miles first year head coach Chris Goode is going to have to rally the troops.
Things begin for the Golden Bears with veteran quarterback Kam Ivory. He has thrown for 270 yards with a touchdown and two picks on the season. He needs to be solid Saturday and help keep the emotions in check of the younger guys. Defensively, Miles must improve on giving up 45 plus points per contest.
Alabama State enters this game with a victory over SWAC foe Southern, 30-7. The Hornets fell to FBS school UAB in the opener, but led by double digits in the third quarter before succumbing to the Blazers.
Alabama State should roll here, but I’m hoping Miles can dig deep and keep it competitive.
PREDICTION
Alabama State 49 Miles 10
Lane (0-1, 0-0) at Allen (0-2, 0-0)
Here we have two teams that have yet to record a win. But by looking at the numbers both teams could, and maybe should, be undefeated.
Lane opened their 2025 campaign at home with a 27-15 loss to Lincoln (Mo.). The Dragons were down 14-0 after the first quarter, but came back and took a 15-14 lead in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately for Lane, that lead didn’t last but 11 seconds because as soon as they found themselves ahead, they gave up an 83-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Lane quarterback Nick Billoups had over 100 yards passing and a 100 yards rushing. Defensively, Lane was outstanding only allowing 225 yards of total offense.
For the second week in a row, the box score favored Allen, but the scoreboard did not. Allen outgained their opponent by 109 yards, had 16 more first downs and ran 34 more offensive plays. The key for Allen this week and moving forward is to be more opportunistic. They’ve got to take advantage of their solid play and limit the big plays.
This is the conference opener for both squads and a win here could erase some of the burn from last week.
PREDICTION
Allen 28 Lane 20
Albany State (2-0, 1-0) at Florida A&M (0-2, 0-0)
Albany State has a huge opportunity in front of them Saturday as they travel an hour or so southeast to Tallahassee.
The Golden Rams opened conference play with a big victory over Kentucky State. The game was competitive for three quarters, but a dominant fourth quarter elevated ASU to a 28-point victory. Rams quarterback Isaiah Knowles was otherworldly against the Thorobreds as he passed for over 300 yards and six touchdowns. He also led the team in rushing with 89 yards and a touch. The receivers all chipped in as six different receivers had at east two catches and 20 yards or more. ASU’s defense was relentless in half number two as they didn’t give up a single point after letting the Thorobreds have their way in the first half.
FAMU comes into this contest looking for their first win of the season after losing a tight one to Howard 10-9 before falling in a not so tight one to FBS school FAU.
It’s very challenging for DII school to beat an FCS opponent but I believe Albany State can be quite competitive in this one.
PREDICTION
Florida A&M 23 Albany State 21
Kentucky State (1-1, 1-1) at Grambling
In our final matchup of the week, we have another SIAC school playing an HBCU FCS team.
The Thorobreds have been consistent in their first two outings. Beating a team, they should beat by double digits and being competitive with a team a little stouter than they are. The Thorobreds had solid production in the running game a week ago as tail back Chad Elzy rushed for 65 yards on 12 carries and touched paydirt once. The passing game had some big plays, but lacked consistency as KSU quarterbacks only completed 13 of 33 pass attempts. Receiver Darius Cyprian topped the 100-yard mark as he caught three passes for 106 yards. Defensively, it was a struggle for KSU as they allowed 475 total yards with 304 coming through the air and 171 on the ground.
Grambling comes into this game with a dominant win and a blowout loss. You can’t point much blame at Grambling in getting throttled 70-0 to FBS number one Ohio State. They’ll be at home looking for some payback this week when the Thorobreds come calling.
PREDICTION
Grambling 56 Kentucky State 20
Season Predictions
Last Week 5-2
Overall, 12-5