LUT WILLIAMS BCSP Editor
The so-called ‘stretch run’ of the 2022 black college football season begins over the next three weeks (depending on the conference).
For the CIAA, intra-divisional games between teams in the same division begins this week as the regular season enters its final month of four games. The CIAA title game in Salem, Va. is set for Nov. 12.
There is an almost similar schedule for the SIAC which will also stage its championship game on Nov. 12. Their true intra-divisional play will start up next week.
Conference play between teams in the MEAC begins in earnest in two weeks (Oct. 22) but gets started with the Norfolk State / Morgan State game this Saturday. Delaware State and Norfolk State will play only the second MEAC game next week (Oct. 15).
The SWAC is a little different. Teams in the SWAC will play inter-divisional games right through the Nov. 26 end of the regular season.
CIAA
Determining North and South Division winners in the CIAA officially begins this week. In the North, it usually comes down to three teams – three-time champion Bowie State, Virginia Union and Virginia State. It looks to be trending that way again this season.
VUU (5-0, 3-0 CIAA) has had the best start. Dr. Alvin Parker’s Rams are the conference’s only undefeated team. Virginia State (4-1, 3-0) and Bowie State (3-2, 2-1) are just behind. VUU is currently ranked 12th in the AFCA NCAA Div. II Coaches Poll and 17th in the D2football.com poll.
BSU heads to Ettrick, Va. Saturday for Virginia State’s homecoming (4 p.m.) VUU is at home in Richmond, Va. (12 noon) for its homecoming vs. Elizabeth City State (1-4, 1-2). Next week, VUU plays at Bowie State. VSU will host VUU on Nov. 5, the last week of the regular season.
In the South, Shaw (2-3) and four-time division champion Fayetteville State (3-2) both have 2-1 records in CIAA games. They appear on a collision course for division supremacy.
They have a date in Fayetteville for Oct. 29. This week, FSU has its homecoming (2 p.m.) vs. winless Saint Augustine’s (0-5, 0-3) and Shaw visits (1 p.m.) J. C. Smith (1-3, 1-2) in Charlotte (N.C.).
SIAC
Chennis Berry’s Tigers of Benedict are the only undefeated team (5-0) in the SIAC but it is defending champion Albany State that continues as the league’s highest nationally- ranked team. At 4-1, Gabe Gardina’s ASU Golden Rams are tied for 22nd in the AFCA poll. They are 13th in the D2 poll. Benedict is not in the AFCA poll but is 24th in the D2 poll. Both Benedict and Albany State are in the SIAC East and will face off next week (Oct. 15) at Albany State’s homecoming.
This week, Benedict puts its undefeated record on the line hosting (2 p.m.) Miles (1-3, 1-0). Albany State is at Edward Waters.
Lane and Tuskegee are both 3-2 overall and 2-0 in SIAC games to lead the West Division. Lane, coming off a big win over Tennessee State hosts (2 p.m.) Kentucky State while Tuskegee, who needed two overtimes to defeat Clark Atlanta Saturday, plays Morehouse in Birmingham for their Classic (7 p.m.) that is usually held in Columbus, Ga.
SWAC
After a bye week, undefeated and nationally-ranked Jackson State (4-0, 2-0 SWAC E) gets back into action at homecoming (2 p.m.) at Alabama State (3-2, 1-1 E). JSU is ranked eighth in both the AFCA and STATS Perform FCS Top 25.
Prairie View A&M (3-2, 3-0 W) is the early leader in the West Division. The Panthers have a key division game (4 p.m.) hosting Southern (2-2, 1-1 W). Alcorn State (2-2, 1-1 W) plays (6 p.m.) at Miss. Valley State,
Grambling (1-4, 0-2 W) is at Alabama A&M (1-4, 1-1 E) and Texas Southern (1-4, 1-2 W) is at Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s homecoming (2 p.m.). Florida A&M (at S. C. State, 2 p.m,) and Bethune-Cookman (at Tennessee State, 5 p.m.) have out-of-conference games.
MEAC
Norfolk State (0-5) plays at Morgan State (2-2) in the first homecoming game (1 p.m.) for new MSU coach Damon Wilson. The winner will have the early lead in the MEAC race.
