CHARLOTTE, NC (October 17, 2025) - Week Seven of CIAA football has arrived, and the stakes are higher than ever. With championship dreams on the line and the final weeks of the season ahead, every game this weekend could be the difference between a spot in the championship game and an early start to the offseason.
Fans can catch Saturday’s games live on the CIAA Sports Network. You can also find the latest updated CIAA football standings here.
Bluefield State (3-3) vs. Bowie State (1-5) - 1:00 P.M.
Bluefield State heads into this week’s matchup with plenty of momentum after a statement win over Lincoln (PA). The Big Blue offense was firing on all cylinders, led by the most recent Quarterback of the Week Brice Koontz, who threw for four touchdowns, all caught by Brandon Wiley, the conference’s top receiver in both yards (425) and touchdowns (7). The Big Blue are 3-0 when they score 30 points and will look to accomplish that feat once again in hopes of a conference victory.
Bowie State, meanwhile, is looking to snap a tough five-game skid after falling by just seven points to Virginia State last week. Despite the losses, the Bulldogs have shown flashes of promise on the defensive side of the ball. Samuel Graham has been a consistent playmaker in the secondary, earning Defensive Back of the Week honors twice already this season, while Jamal Jones continues to be a disruptive force up front, ranking third in the CIAA with 5.5 sacks and second in tackles for loss with 11.5. The defense will need to step up again as they face one of the hottest passing attacks in the conference.
This matchup carries added weight in the CIAA standings. Bluefield State is enjoying its best season since joining the league, sitting at 2-1 in conference play and sitting in the top four. Bowie State, still seeking its first conference win at 0-3, will look to play spoiler on the road and get back on track. The Bulldogs have dominated this series historically, winning the previous two meetings by a combined score of 94-11, but this year’s Bluefield State team looks ready to rewrite the narrative.
Shaw (2-4) vs. No. 24 Johnson C. Smith (5-1) - 1:00 P.M.
Shaw University enters this week’s matchup riding high after a big win over Winston-Salem State. The Bears were led by quarterback Alexander Marsh, who accounted for all three of the team’s touchdowns, throwing for two and running in another. His dual-threat performance provided a spark for Shaw’s offense, which showed balance thanks to rookie running back Fabian Diggs, who earned CIAA Rookie of the Week honors after helping control the ground game. On the defensive side, Jaden Perkins continues to make his presence felt in the secondary, sitting tied for second in the conference with multiple interceptions.
Johnson C. Smith, meanwhile, comes into the contest well-rested and confident following a bye week and an impressive stretch of dominant performances. The Golden Bulls, who boast a 2-1 record in the CIAA, have been one of the hottest teams in the conference, putting up a combined 100 points in back-to-back wins over Bluefield State and Virginia State. Quarterback Kelvin Durham has been the engine of their high-powered offense, leading the conference in passing yards per game while ranking second overall in both total yards and touchdowns. On the ground, Bobby Smith has been equally effective, sitting second in the conference in rushing yards and third in rushing touchdowns. Defensively, Elijah Wilson has anchored the secondary, leading the CIAA with three interceptions on the year. The Golden Bulls re-entered the national rankings, coming in at 24th.
As conference play heats up, Shaw sits in the middle of the CIAA standings at 2-2 and will look to defend home turf in a pivotal matchup against a surging JCSU squad. The Bears have historically held the upper hand in this rivalry, but recent meetings have been tightly contested as three of the last four matchups have been decided by one score. With Shaw’s balanced attack facing one of the conference’s more efficient offenses, this matchup has all the makings of a classic CIAA battle that could have major implications for both teams’ postseason hopes.
No. 17 Virginia Union (5-1) vs. Lincoln (PA) (0-6) - 1:00 P.M.
Virginia Union continues to look every bit like a championship contender as they roll into another week of CIAA play following a victory over Elizabeth City State. The Panthers have been nearly unstoppable on offense, led by the nation’s top rusher, Curtis Allen, who leads all of Division II in both rushing yards (1,110) and touchdowns (16). His dominance on the ground has set the tone for a VUU attack that has scored 28 or more points in every game this season, including three outings of 44 or more. Complementing Allen’s ground game is wide receiver Keon Davis, who ranks second in the CIAA with 420 receiving yards and has added three touchdowns, giving the Panthers one of the most balanced and successful offenses in the conference.
For Lincoln (PA), the search for their first win continues, though last week’s effort showed real signs of progress. Despite a 30-27 loss to Bluefield State, the Lions put together their best performance of the season, outgaining the Big Blue with 375 total yards. Their rushing attack was particularly impressive, piling up 255 yards and four touchdowns from four different players. Zaheer Seabrooks led the charge with 151 yards and a touchdown, while Charles Thompson anchored the defense with nine tackles and an interception, showcasing the fight and potential this young Lincoln squad possesses.
As the two teams prepare to square off, Virginia Union, who are undefeated in conference play, aims to extend its unbeaten conference streak and continue its march toward another title, while Lincoln looks to pull off a major upset on the road. History is on the Panthers’ side as they’ve won 15 of the 16 all-time meetings between the programs, but the Lions showed last week that they’re capable of hanging tough against quality competition. With VUU’s high-powered offense meeting a Lincoln team hungry for its first victory, this matchup could test the mettle of both sides as the CIAA season heads into its decisive stretch.
Winston-Salem State (3-4) vs. Livingstone (3-3) - 1:30 P.M.
Winston-Salem State returns home this weekend for a pivotal rivalry matchup against Livingstone, looking to get back on track after dropping two straight. Despite the recent skid, the Rams have displayed plenty of offensive firepower, led by quarterback Daylin Lee, who has been outstanding all season. Lee sits atop the CIAA leaderboard in both passing yards (1,475) and touchdowns (17), commanding one of the league’s most dangerous passing attacks. JaQuan Kelly continues to provide balance in the backfield, ranking third in the conference with 451 rushing yards, while receivers Kaleb Washington and Davontay Deloatch have formed a lethal tandem, combining for 10 touchdown receptions. On defense, linebacker Jamieson Alston earned CIAA Linebacker of the Week honors after a dominant performance against Shaw, posting a career-high 16 tackles, including three for loss, and forcing a fumble that led to a scoop-and-score touchdown.
Livingstone, meanwhile, started the season strong with three wins in its first four games but has since stumbled with back-to-back losses. The Blue Bears faced a tough test last week against conference leader Fayetteville State, falling 38-14. Offensively, they struggled to find rhythm, though Javen Parker provided a spark on the ground with 91 rushing yards. On defense, the standout continues to be Kenyon Garner, the conference’s sack leader with 9.5. Garner wreaked havoc in the trenches once again, recording 2.5 sacks versus Fayetteville State to earn CIAA Defensive Lineman of the Week honors. His ability to pressure the quarterback could play a crucial role in containing Lee and the Rams’ potent offense.
Saturday’s showdown carries major implications for both programs. Livingstone is 2-2 in the conference standings and will look to climb back above .500 and stay in the championship hunt, while Winston-Salem State sits at 1-3 and aims to keep its championship aspirations alive with a bounce-back win, which would see them leap the Blue Bears in the standings. While Winston-Salem State holds the upper hand in the all-time series, Livingstone has won two of the last three, setting the stage for another tight clash.
Virginia State (3-3) vs. Elizabeth City State (1-5) - 2:00 P.M.
Virginia State returns home this weekend to host Elizabeth City State in Ettrick, Virginia. The Trojans are coming off a much-needed win over Bowie State after dropping two straight, with quarterback Rahsaan Matthews Jr. leading the way. Matthews accounted for three of Virginia State’s touchdowns, showcasing his dual-threat ability. His connection with wide receiver Malik Hunter continues to be a strength for the Trojans’ offense as Hunter ranks fifth in the CIAA in receiving yards (349) and has hauled in three touchdowns on the season. With their offense back in rhythm, Virginia State looks to build momentum and climb the CIAA standings.
Elizabeth City State faced one of its toughest tests last week against defending CIAA champion Virginia Union, falling to 1-2 in conference play. Despite the setback, quarterback Christopher Perkins continued to impress. After earning CIAA Quarterback of the Week honors two weeks ago, Perkins threw two touchdowns against a strong Virginia Union defense and has shown steady leadership for the Vikings. His poise and accuracy will once again be key as ECSU looks to bounce back and play spoiler during Virginia State’s homecoming weekend.
This matchup carries importance for both teams as they look to strengthen their conference positioning and finish the season strong. Virginia State has won 11 of the last 12 meetings between the programs, but with both squads aiming to gain late-season momentum, Saturday’s game is set to be another competitive CIAA showdown.
Week Seven Storylines
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Johnson C. Smith looks to climb the national rankings but will have to head to the location of this year’s championship, Durham, North Carolina, to take on Shaw who can surpass them in the conference standings with a win.
Conference Standings
Conference standings are determined by the results of each team’s final seven conference games. For institutions that play eight CIAA opponents during the regular season, only the last seven of those contests are included in their official conference record.
In some cases, a single game may be applied differently between two teams. For example, if Team A faces eight CIAA opponents, its first conference matchup will not count toward its record. However, if that same game falls within Team B’s final seven CIAA contests, the result will count toward Team B’s record in the standings.
This rule ensures competitive balance across the conference and consistency in determining championship eligibility. The implications are already evident midway through the season.
Week seven kicks off, and every matchup carries added weight, not just for win-loss records, but for determining which teams can strengthen their position in the conference standings heading into the final month of the season.
CIAA Football Championship
The journey to the title will conclude at the 2025 CIAA Football Championship on Saturday, November 15 at Durham County Memorial Stadium in Durham, North Carolina. Fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets early and experience the excitement in person as the conference’s top two teams compete for the CIAA title. Tickets are now available and can be purchased here.
Media Contact:
Anna M. Butzlaff
Associate Commissioner, Strategic Communications
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)
abutzlaff@theciaa.com
About the CIAA
Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first, and longest running, African American athletic conference in the U.S. and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 14 championships attended by more than 150,000 fans from around the country. The Basketball Tournament has been honored as a 2019 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management, the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market, for both 2018 and 2019.
Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 12 member institutions: Bowie State University, Bluefield State University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University.
For more information, visit theciaa.com and follow the CIAA on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.