CIAA® TO OPEN MEDIA CREDENTIAL REQUESTS FOR 2026 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (October 13, 2026) — The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA®) announces that media credential requests for the 2026 CIAA Football Championship Weekend will officially open on Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
Media outlets interested in covering the championship weekend are encouraged to submit credential requests through the CIAA's official credential application process.
The 2026 CIAA Football Championship Weekend will feature an exciting new four-team format, beginning with the Friday Night Blitz at 6 p.m., featuring the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds, followed by the CIAA Football Championship Game on Saturday at 3 p.m., featuring the conference's top two teams.
Media Credential Application: 2026 CIAA Football Championship Credential Request Form
All credential requests are subject to review and approval by the CIAA Communications and Marketing Department. Additional information regarding media access, game day procedures, and credential distribution will be provided to approved media representatives.
Media Contact
Matisse S. Lee
Senior Associate Commissioner, Communications & Marketing, External Partnerships & Special Projects / SWA
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)
mlee@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 on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.