CIAA Football: Contenders, Pretenders and more

We are halfway into the CIAA football season. So we think we have a good idea on who is looking just to get a win, who is looking to build momentum for future seasons, and who is aiming for a conference championship or higher.  This outlook gauges the state of CIAA conference championship’s aspiration.

Playing For Pride

Lincoln (0-2 in conference, 0-5 overall): Chances of winning = in the basement.  The Lions haven’t gotten remotely close to winning a championship since they joined Division II.  The Lions need cub steps, like win more than one game in a season before we can meaningfully put “Lincoln” and “championship” in the same sentence.  I think we all have a better chance of winning the lottery than Lincoln winning a championship this year.

St. Augustine’s (0-2, 0-3): They were closer to a championship in 2019 than they are today.  This flock is struggling to fly, much less go high.  Their championship would be beating Shaw on the field the two teams share, and that’s a tall order on its own.

JC Smith (0-2, 0-4): Their championship drought is a long one, and just add another year for the Golden Bulls.  But, winning against Winston-Salem and Livingstone in the same year would give the same high as a championship, and that outcome is a possibility for the first time in forever. 

Livingstone (0-2, 0-5): LC’s championship chances haven’t been alive for two decades, and this season isn’t any different. Don’t let the record fool you though, as the Blue Bears are proving to be a tough out. Livingstone as a spoiler would give the the program a big boost.

Winston-Salem State (0-2, 0-4): No team that loses 73-7 to a conference opponent should even be in the championship conversation.  End of story.

SIAC Sit Down | Edward Waters Head Coach Brian Jenkins | The Journey to EWU & Building a Winner – HBCU Gameday

This week on SIAC Sit Down, Sly and Jamie welcome one of the most respected coaches in HBCU football, Edward Waters University Head Coach Brian Jenkins, for an in-depth conversation about his life, career, and vision for the Tigers.Coach Jenkins takes us back to his roots in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, sharing how his passion for football led him into coaching and the mentors who helped shape his journey.The conversation dives into his incredible run at Bethune-Cookman, where he built a championship culture and led the Wildcats to multiple conference titles while becoming one of the winningest coaches in HBCU football.Coach Jenkins also discusses accepting the Edward Waters job just two weeks before fall camp, the challenges of stepping into a new program on short notice, and the opportunity to build something special in Jacksonville.He shares his thoughts on working alongside Athletic Director Ashley Conner and President A. Zachary Faison, explaining why he believes the university is positioned for success both on and off the field.Finally, Coach Jenkins lays out his vision for the upcoming season, the culture he's creating, and what Tiger fans can expect as Edward Waters continues to rise.🔥 If you love HBCU football, SIAC news, and exclusive interviews with the biggest names in the game, this is an episode you don't want to miss!Be sure to:👍 Like the video💬 Leave a comment and tell us your predictions for Edward Waters this season🔔 Subscribe to SIAC Sit Down for weekly interviews, analysis, and everything happening around the SIAC and HBCU football.#SIAC #SIACSitDown #EdwardWaters #EWU #BrianJenkins #HBCUFootball #HBCU #CollegeFootball #BlackCollegeFootball #Jacksonville #TigerFootball #Duval

1. SIAC Sit Down | Edward Waters Head Coach Brian Jenkins | The Journey to EWU & Building a Winner 01:01:26
2. Clark Atlanta University, Coach Terry Sims "mentors and role models" | SIAC Sit Down | HBCUGameDay.com 01:04:07
3. Fort Valley State Coach Marlon Watson: “No More Milk” | SIAC Sit Down | HBCUGameDay.com 50:41
4. The SIAC Sit Down: Thomas Howard’s Savannah State Blueprint: 57:30
5. 2026 HBCU All-Star Game Roster Reveal 54:45

CIAA Pretenders 

Virginia State (1-1, 1-3): The Trojans are an army that has some ammunition shortages to go to war with the top schools in the conference.  We saw South leader Fayetteville State plunder them, and two other schools with better records at this point loom to raid their end zones for points. 

Virginia Union (1-1, 2-3): The black cats from the capital city do not have the claws from prior years, and they could not get over the hump then.  Expect more noise than scratches on the scoreboard in divisional play.

CIAA Contenders

Elizabeth City State (2-0, 2-3): The Vikings played well in the kiddie pool, but now are sailing into deeper waters in the North.  Expect the ship to take on too much water to make it to championship island. 

Fayetteville State (2-0, 3-1): The Broncos are bear hunting this week, and we have seen how this plays out.  A successful outing against Shaw puts FSU in the driver seat with potentially not much resistance by the other four South teams.  Saddle up, as things look promising to reach the championship for the four consecutive time.

Shaw (2-0, 3-2): The Bears are out to corral Fayetteville State for the first time in a long time.  This game has likely been circled on Shaw’s calendar for some time.  A Bears win means wrestling long time control of the South from the Broncos, as two rivalry games to finish the season just don’t have the same panache from prior seasons.  This season represents their best odds to reach the championship game since 2010. 

Chowan (2-0, 5-0): Things look good for the Hawks to get to the championship game provided that they can get past the conference’s current kings in Bowie State this weekend.  This group has been like FedEx in that they have been serving overnight deliveries to the endzone all season.  Odds look good.

Bowie State (2-0, 4-1): The reigning conference champion remains in control so far, but challengers are all preparing their best shot.  The first one comes at them this Saturday, and it looks like a full strength effort too.  Hold here, and the odds look very good.