CHARLOTTE, NC — The HBCU Division II Football Coaches Poll powered by BOXTOROW released its weekly rankings Tuesday with five Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) schools included in the top 10 with Virginia Union sitting atop the listing.
The Panthers were the number one ranked team for the second consecutive week and received 19 first-place markers in the poll, which is voted on by the HBCU NCAA Division II Head Coaches. Virginia Union has an overall record of 3-0 and is coming off a 42-6 conference win over Livingstone Saturday. The week prior, the Panthers defeated Valdosta State, the then-ranked number two team in the nation, 45-40.
Fayetteville State is the next CIAA team ranked in the HBCU poll at fifth. The Broncos (2-1) just defeated Lincoln (PA) 19-7 in conference action on Saturday. Fayetteville State is the three-time defending CIAA South Division champions and were predicted to finish first in the division in this year's CIAA Predicted Order of Finish, as voted on by the league's coaches.
This Saturday, September 24, CIAA and HBCU fans will be treated to an instant classic of a game as Fayetteville State hosts Virginia Union in Luther "Nick" Jeralds Stadium. The conference bout, slated for 4 p.m., will be televised and will also be available on the
CIAA Sports Network.
Trailing the Broncos in the HBCU poll are Virginia State at sixth and Bowie State at seventh. The Trojans are 2-1 after convincing wins over Bluefield State and Saint Augustine's in consecutive weekends. The three-time defending conference champions Bulldogs (1-2) has one first-place vote and holds a win over a nationally ranked New Haven in the opening weekend of the season but dropped its first conference game of the season to Shaw University last Saturday. Bowie State will go on the road for its first league win when it plays St. Augustine's on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Meanwhile for the Bears of Shaw University (1-2), the 17-14 win over visiting Bowie State has moved them inside the top 10 of the HBCU Poll, sitting at nine. Shaw hosts Elizabeth City State in conference play this Saturday at 2 p.m.
The regular season leads to the 2022 CIAA Football Championship on November 12th at Salem Stadium in Salem, VA, where the Northern and Southern Division champions meet for the crown.
2022 HBCU Division II Coaches Poll powered by BOXTOROW
Week 3
(Records through September 17, 2022)
| No. |
Team |
W-L |
Pts |
Last Week |
| 1 |
Virginia Union (19) |
3-0 |
215 |
1 |
| 2 |
Albany State (2) |
2-1 |
193 |
2 |
| 3 |
Benedict |
3-0 |
174 |
4 |
| 4 |
Fort Valley State |
3-0 |
125 |
6 |
| 5 |
Fayetteville State |
2-1 |
123 |
5 |
| 6 |
Virginia State |
2-1 |
83 |
9 |
| 7 |
Bowie State (1) |
1-2 |
82 |
3 |
| 8 |
West Virginia State |
2-1 |
80 |
7 |
| 9 |
Shaw |
1-2 |
50 |
NR |
| 10 |
Lane |
1-2 |
24 |
10 |