CHARLOTTE, N.C. (September 26, 2025) - As the calendar turns to late September, the CIAA gridiron is only getting hotter. Week 4 kicks off with teams hungry to make their mark and inch closer to the top spot in the conference.
Make sure to tune into the CIAA Network to catch all of Saturday’s action: https://theciaasn.com/
Shaw (1-2) vs. Virginia Union (2-1) - 1:00 P.M.
Shaw broke through in Week 3, lighting up the scoreboard for 36 points behind Trey Thorpe’s 113 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Now the Bears welcome the reigning champion Virginia Union Panthers, who climbed to No. 21 in the national rankings after handing Johnson C. Smith its first loss of the season with a balanced 300+ yard offensive attack, including 200 on the ground. VUU owns a slim 4-3 series edge and has taken four of the last five meetings since 2014. Shaw is locked in a three-way battle for the top spot at 1-0 and is charging into this week hungry to secure their place at the front of the conference race, while the Panthers are set to unleash their first conference clash of the season, hungry to kick off their campaign with a statement win as they chase a second straight run at the championship crown.
Bowie State (1-2) vs. Winston-Salem State (2-2) - 1:00 P.M.
Winston-Salem State’s offense was electric last week, boasting over 400 total yards, 267 on the ground, and four touchdown passes from quarterback Daylin Lee, however, the Rams fell just short in a 34-33 thriller against Virginia State. They now head north to meet Bowie State who showed plenty of fight in a narrow one-point loss to Livingstone, highlighted by Maximus Jones’ two touchdown passes and 122 rushing yards. WSSU topped the Bulldogs 28-14 last year, but both squads are hungry for their first conference win in 2025. Winston-Salem State may be sitting at the bottom of the standings at 0-1, but the Rams are fired up to flip the script and battle their way back to .500 with a much-needed win while Bowie State is ready to make a statement, eyeing their first conference win to set the tone and climb the standings with momentum on their side.
Fayetteville State (1-3) vs. Virginia State (2-1) - 1:00 P.M.
The Broncos found their rhythm in Week 3, racking up over 450 yards of offense with quarterback Demari Daniels throwing for 260 yards and three touchdowns. Virginia State answered with an offensive showcase of its own, as Rahsaan Matthews Jr. delivered a career-high four touchdown passes and the Trojans piled up 267 rushing yards at 6.8 yards per carry to surge into the national rankings, coming in at No. 25. These two programs have a lengthy matchup history, having battled 28 times since 1976, with VSU holding the upper hand at 18-9-1. Despite their 1-3 record, FSU enters the week at 1-0 in league play and are tied for first, while the Trojans aim to kick off the conference portion of their schedule ona high note and jump to 1-0 while also climbing the national ladder.
Johnson C. Smith (3-1) vs. Bluefield State (1-2) - 2:00 P.M.
Johnson C. Smith’s hot start cooled in a 28-10 setback to Virginia Union, though quarterback Kelvin Durham still produced 200 yards of offense and the team’s lone touchdown. The Golden Bulls now turn their focus to Bluefield State who are coming off an early bye week and are eager to notch their second win of the year. The two teams have split their four meetings since 2021, but JCSU dominated last season’s matchup with a 42-3 victory. Johnson C. Smith may have stumbled to an 0-1 start in conference play, but their strong 3-1 overall record shows the Golden Bulls are built to bounce back and charge toward .500 with a statement win while Bluefield State is fired up to chase their first conference victory of the season, looking to climb the rankings and make their mark in the standings.
Livingstone (2-1) vs. Lincoln (PA) (0-4) - 4:00 P.M.
Livingstone grinded out a 17-16 victory over Bowie State thanks to a relentless defense led by Kenyon Garner, the CIAA Defensive Lineman of the Week, who racked up four sacks and a forced fumble. Lincoln (PA) showed progress offensively with a season-high 21 points and 270 yards from quarterback Hamas Duren, but turnovers proved costly as his three interceptions stalled drives. The Lions will try to clean things up and capture their first win of 2025, but history isn’t on their side as Livingstone holds a 5-0 record in the series. The Blue Bears will aim to extend that streak and stay perfect in CIAA play. Livingstone’s 1-0 start has rocketed them to the top of the standings, and now they’re aiming to keep the momentum rolling with a statement win in front of their home crowd while Lincoln (PA) looks to turn the tide in their favor and improve to 1-1 in the league.
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.
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