CHARLOTTE, NC (October 24, 2025) - Week Eight of the CIAA football season has arrived, and the top teams will look to create some separation as they continue to push for a championship berth.
Fans can catch Saturday’s games live on the CIAA Sports Network. You can also find the latest updated CIAA football standings here.
No. 24 Johnson C. Smith (6-1) vs. Winston-Salem State (4-4) - 1:00 P.M.
Two of the CIAA’s premier quarterbacks are set to square off this weekend, as Johnson C. Smith and standout signal-caller Kelvin Durham welcome Winston-Salem State and quarterback Daylin Lee to Charlotte. Both teams enter the matchup riding high after week seven victories, as the Golden Bulls blanked Shaw in a commanding 52-0 win, while the Rams handled Livingstone with ease, earning a 42-10 triumph. With two of the conference’s most efficient offenses taking the field, this matchup has all the makings of a high-scoring showdown.
Johnson C. Smith continues to cement its place among the conference’s elite, holding sole possession of third place at 3-1, with an impressive 6-1 overall record. The Golden Bulls’ success has also earned them national attention, as they re-entered the Division II rankings at No. 24 this week. Durham has been exceptional all season, completing passes with poise and precision en route to 1,723 yards and 16 touchdowns, ranking second in the CIAA in passing yards. On the ground, freshman running back Bobby Smith has provided balance to the offense, rushing for 532 yards and five scores to keep defenses honest, also earning Rookie of the Week honors last week.
Winston-Salem State has been equally potent through the air, led by Lee, who paces the conference with 19 touchdown passes. His chemistry with wideouts Davontay Deloatch and Kaleb Washington has been key, as the duo has combined for over 700 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. The Rams’ defense has also made its mark, forcing eight fumbles and seven interceptions to keep opponents off balance. A victory for Johnson C. Smith would help them stay firmly in the mix near the top of the CIAA standings, while Winston-Salem State, sitting at 2-3 in conference play, looks to even its record and build late-season momentum. Though the Rams have historically dominated the all-time series, the Golden Bulls have claimed victory in each of the last two meetings and aim to make it three straight this weekend.
Lincoln (PA) (0-7) vs. Elizabeth City State (1-6) - 1:00 P.M.
Lincoln (PA) returns home for the first time in over a month as the Lions prepare to host Elizabeth City State for their Homecoming matchup. Lincoln (PA) has shown flashes of competitiveness throughout the season, putting together several gritty efforts, but has yet to find consistency across four quarters and remains in search of its first win. The Lions will look to use the energy of their home crowd to turn things around against a Vikings team that’s coming off a narrow loss, nearly rallying from a 24-7 deficit before falling just short to Virginia State, 24-20.
For Elizabeth City State, recent weeks have shown promise on the offensive side of the ball, largely thanks to the play of quarterback Christopher Perkins. Over his last three outings, Perkins has emerged as one of the CIAA’s most dynamic dual-threat signal-callers, tossing two or more touchdown passes in each game while also surpassing 80 rushing yards twice during that stretch. His ability to extend plays and create opportunities has given the Vikings’ offense a much-needed spark as they continue to build momentum late in the season.
Both teams will look to build some momentum as the season enters its final stretch. A win for Lincoln (PA) would give the Lions their first victory of the year, while Elizabeth City State can move to 2-3 in conference play with a win. With both sides eager to finish the season strong, this weekend’s matchup offers another chance to gain ground in the CIAA standings.
Shaw (2-5) vs Fayetteville State (4-3) - 1:00 P.M.
Fayetteville State returns to action this weekend fresh off a bye and looking to maintain its perfect record in CIAA play. The Broncos head into the matchup tied for first in the conference at 4-0, having scored 34 or more points in every matchup this season against CIAA opponents. Quarterback Demari Daniels has been the driving force behind the offense, throwing for 939 yards and six touchdowns, while also contributing 293 rushing yards and four scores with his legs. Defensively, the Broncos have been a problem up front, as linemen Kaydin Thomas and Shawn Robinson both rank among the conference’s top four in sacks, combining for 10 on the season.
Shaw will look to bounce back after a tough stretch that’s seen the Bears drop three of their last four games, including a 52-0 loss to Johnson C. Smith last week. While the offense has struggled to find consistency, the ground game remains a bright spot. Running backs Fabian Diggs and Trey Thorpe have been productive all season, combining for over 500 rushing yards and six total touchdowns, giving Shaw a reliable one-two punch out of the backfield.
A win for Fayetteville State would keep its unbeaten conference record intact and preserve its spot atop the CIAA standings, while Shaw looks to regroup and earn a statement victory on its home field. Historically, Fayetteville State has had the upper hand, claiming victory in 9 of the last 10 meetings against Shaw
No. 14 Virginia Union (6-1) vs. Bowie State (2-5) - 1:00 P.M.
Virginia Union has relied heavily on one of the nation’s top rushing attacks to power its way to a 4-0 record in conference play. The Panthers have set the tone on the ground all season, led by standout running back Curtis Allen, who ranks first in Division II with 1,318 yards and 19 touchdowns. Allen’s dominance has helped propel Virginia Union into the national rankings, climbing three spots to No. 14 last week. The team will look to continue its ground game success against a Bowie State defense that has several standout performers capable of slowing the run.
Bowie State boasts defensive playmakers who can make life difficult for any offense. Defensive back Samuel Grahamranks fifth in the conference in tackles with 53, averaging 7.5 per game, while lineman Jamal Jones has disrupted opposing offenses with 6.5 sacks, good for second in the conference. On the offensive side, the Bulldogs have leaned on their rushing attack as well, highlighted by last week’s 270-yard team rushing performance, with Micah Robinson and Maximus Jones combining for all the yards and each crossing the end zone three times. Robinson’s effort earned him Running Back of the Week honors.
Saturday’s matchup gives both teams an important opportunity to build momentum in the CIAA. A win would keep Virginia Union’s unbeaten conference run going, while Bowie State is looking for its second conference victory of the season. Historically, the series has been competitive, with the Bulldogs holding a narrow 8-7 edge all-time.
Virginia State (4-3) vs. Bluefield State (3-4) - 2:00 P.M.
Virginia State will host Bluefield State this weekend in a matchup that could have a big impact on the CIAA standings. The Trojans are coming off a hard-fought victory over Elizabeth City State, paced by quarterback Rahsaan Matthews Jr., the conference leader in passing yards. Matthews threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns, while also contributing 65 rushing yards to the offense. Virginia State’s defense has also been a strength, anchored by ball-hawking defensive backs Mark Burns, last week’s Defensive Back of the Week, and Donavan Howard, each with two interceptions on the season. Their ability to create turnovers could be key against a potent Bluefield State offense.
Bluefield State enters this matchup with one of the conference’s highest-scoring offenses, putting up 30 or more points in four games, including each of their last three. They narrowly fell to Bowie State last week in a 5-point loss after nearly overcoming a 25-point deficit, thanks in large part to quarterback Brice Koontz who threw four touchdown passes. Koontz will look to get the conference’s leading receiver, Brandon Wiley, involved early and often as the Big Blue aim to pull off a road victory.
The two teams have only met three times previously, with Virginia State winning all three. Both teams enter this contest 2-2 in conference play, meaning a win would move the victor to 3-2, while the loser would fall below .500, making this an important game for both squads as they try to climb the CIAA standings.
Livingstone (3-4) vs Virginia-Lynchburg (3-5) – 2:00 P.M.
Livingstone returns to action this week for a non-conference matchup against Virginia-Lynchburg. The Blue Bears are cominf off a 42-10 loss at Winston-Salem State, where the offense struggled to find consistency, though young running back Javen Parker gained 77 yards on the ground. Livingstone will look to rebound and get back in the win column against a team they’ve faced only twice, winning both previous meetings, including a 37-9 victory last season.
The Blue Bears’ strength this season has been their defense. Defensive end Kenyon Garner leads the conference with 9.5 sacks while ranking second in tackles for loss with 19. He and Joshua Jackson have also each forced two fumbles, making Livingstone’s defense a disruptive force for opponents. A victory against Virginia-Lynchburg would bring the Blue Bears’ overall record back to .500 at 4-4.
Week Eight Storylines
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.
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.