SIAC Week 9: Edward Waters and Central State Headline Conference Showdowns

Conference title hopes and NCAA playoff positioning add weight to a weekend featuring Edward Waters at Central State, Savannah State at Benedict, and Tuskegee at Lane.

ATLANTA. The SIAC football race enters another important weekend as teams look to protect their championship hopes, improve their postseason standing, and build momentum heading into November.

Edward Waters and Central State headline Saturday’s schedule with matching conference records of five wins and one loss. Benedict also enters with one SIAC defeat, setting up a weekend that could shift the race near the top of the standings.

According to the conference’s October 29 preview, Edward Waters, Benedict, and Central State entered the week ranked second, third, and fifth, respectively, in the October 25 NCAA Power Index for Super Region Two.

Edward Waters and Central State Bring Offensive Firepower

Edward Waters travels to McPherson Stadium in Wilberforce, Ohio, for a 2 p.m. ET matchup Saturday against Central State. The game will stream on the SIAC Network.

The Tigers enter with six wins and two losses after overwhelming Clark Atlanta 62 to 14. Quarterback Tavion Faulk accounted for seven touchdowns, throwing five and rushing for two, as Edward Waters piled up 600 yards of offense.

Running back Johntarrious Thomas added 132 rushing yards, giving the Tigers another threat alongside their productive passing attack.

Central State arrives with five wins and three losses following a 48 to 20 victory over Miles. Quarterback Jackson Wasik threw four touchdown passes and added another score on the ground.

The Marauders also made their presence felt defensively, recording six sacks and forcing three turnovers. That pressure could be a deciding factor against an Edward Waters offense coming off one of its strongest performances of the season.

Central State won last year’s meeting 21 to 17, leaving the series tied at two victories apiece.

Benedict Looks to Hold Its Position Against Savannah State

Benedict hosts Savannah State at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET, with coverage on ESPN+.

Benedict enters with seven wins and one loss after defeating Albany State 29 to 8. Its defense held the Golden Rams to 152 total yards, recorded four sacks, and forced three turnovers.

Running back David Smith supplied 113 rushing yards and a touchdown. Kicker Zane Spires added field goals from 53, 54, and 48 yards.

Savannah State has one win and seven losses, but its latest performance gives Benedict reason to pay attention. The Tigers generated 481 yards against Kentucky State and held a 24 to 20 lead with just over a minute remaining before falling 27 to 24.

That effort included 221 rushing yards and 260 passing yards. Repeating that balance against Benedict’s defense will be a major test.

The teams needed double overtime to settle last season’s meeting, with Benedict winning 16 to 13.

Albany State and Clark Atlanta Seek a Response

Albany State visits Clark Atlanta at Panther Stadium on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET. The game will air on ESPN+.

Both teams are looking to recover from difficult losses. Albany State fell 29 to 8 against Benedict, while Clark Atlanta surrendered 600 yards in its 62 to 14 defeat at Edward Waters.

The Golden Rams enter with three wins and five losses overall and an even conference record through six games. Their offense will need a stronger showing after producing only seven first downs and converting two of 18 third down attempts against Benedict.

Clark Atlanta enters with two wins and six losses, including two conference victories. Limiting big plays and sustaining possessions will be priorities as the Panthers return home.

Morehouse Returns From Break to Face Allen

Morehouse heads to Charles F. Bolden Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina, for a Saturday matchup with Allen. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET on the SIAC Network.

The Maroon Tigers enter with three wins and five losses after an open weekend. In their previous outing, Morehouse tied Howard at 17 in the third quarter before the Bison pulled away for a 31 to 17 victory.

Quarterback Miles Scott accounted for both Morehouse touchdowns, while Steven Copeland II led the defense with 11 tackles and a sack.

Allen enters with two wins and six losses after falling 26 to 23 against Tuskegee. Quarterback Brent Upshaw Jr. produced 260 yards of total offense and a rushing touchdown, helping the Yellow Jackets stay within reach.

Allen won last season’s meeting 28 to 17.

Tuskegee Visits Lane for Homecoming

Tuskegee will try to earn its third straight conference victory when it visits Lane Field in Jackson, Tennessee, on Saturday. Lane’s Homecoming game begins at 3 p.m. ET, or 2 p.m. CT, on the SIAC Network.

The Golden Tigers enter with four wins and four losses overall and four victories in six conference games. Their rushing attack produced 287 yards in last week’s 26 to 23 win over Allen.

Ja’Khael Rowser led the way with 131 rushing yards and a touchdown. Preston Parker delivered a major special teams play, returning a punt 50 yards for a fourth quarter score.

Lane earned its first victory of the season by defeating Fort Valley State 16 to 6. The Dragons forced four turnovers and finished a lengthy fourth quarter drive with a touchdown pass from Tametrius Pogue to Landon Wilson.

Lane will look to carry that defensive effort into its Homecoming matchup against a Tuskegee team that won last year’s meeting 18 to 13.

Thursday Matchup Opened the Week 9 Schedule

The conference’s Week 9 schedule also included Fort Valley State at Miles on Thursday, October 29.

Entering that matchup, Fort Valley State was coming off its loss to Lane, while Miles was looking to respond after falling to Central State. Ball security was a concern for both programs after they combined for seven turnovers in their previous games.

Saturday’s slate now puts the focus on the conference contenders, with Edward Waters, Central State, and Benedict each looking to strengthen their position as the regular season winds down.

Tags: SIAC Football, SIAC Week 9, HBCU Football, HBCU Sports, HBCU Original, NCAA Division II Football, Edward Waters, Central State, Benedict College, Savannah State, Albany State, Clark Atlanta, Morehouse College, Allen University, Tuskegee University, Lane College, Fort Valley State, Miles College, Tavion Faulk, Jackson Wasik, College Football

NCCU Returns Home to Face Howard as Both Teams Seek 2 and 0 MEAC Start

The Eagles look to build on their win over Delaware State as the Bison arrive in Durham with two straight victories.

DURHAM, N.C. North Carolina Central and Howard will meet Saturday with both teams looking to stay unbeaten in conference play. Kickoff at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium is scheduled for 2 p.m., with live coverage on ESPN+.

The Eagles enter at 3 and 5 overall and 1 and 0 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference after defeating Delaware State 31 to 12. Howard comes in at 4 and 4 overall and 1 and 0 in the MEAC following a 26 to 20 overtime victory over Morgan State.

Saturday marks the 30th meeting between the programs. NCCU holds an 18 to 10 series advantage with one tie and has won 12 of the last 13 matchups. Eagles head coach Trei Oliver is 5 and 1 against the Bison.

Freshman running back Gino Addison gives NCCU plenty of momentum heading into the matchup. He rushed for a career best 214 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries against Delaware State, helping the Eagles end a four game losing streak.

That performance followed a 169 yard outing against William & Mary, giving Addison consecutive games above 100 rushing yards. He has totaled 456 yards and three touchdowns on 66 carries this season.

Quarterback Cobey Thompkins added 155 passing yards and a touchdown against the Hornets. NCCU finished with 427 total yards, marking its second consecutive game with at least 400 yards of offense.

The Eagles have also made takeaways a major part of their defense. According to NCCU’s game notes, the team leads the Football Championship Subdivision with 18 turnovers gained through eight games, including eight fumble recoveries and 10 interceptions.

Freshman defensive back Amari Sifford intercepted two passes against Delaware State, bringing his season total to three. Junior defensive lineman Zarion Walters has added two fumble recoveries.

Howard arrives with momentum of its own under first year head coach Ted White, a former Bison quarterback. The team has won two straight games after being picked to finish sixth in the MEAC preseason poll.

Quarterback Ja’Shawn Scroggins averages 136.5 passing yards per game and has thrown six touchdown passes. Running back Eden James, a preseason First Team All-MEAC selection, averages just under 40 rushing yards per game. Kaleb Gallop leads Howard’s defense with 44 tackles.

For NCCU, Saturday offers a chance to respond at home after a narrow 17 to 14 Homecoming loss to William & Mary on October 10. The Eagles are 22 and 11 at home under Oliver and have posted winning home records in four of the last five seasons.

Picked to finish second behind defending champion South Carolina State, NCCU is looking to remain near the front of the conference race. The Eagles are 23 and 11 in MEAC play under Oliver, whose tenure includes the 2022 conference championship and a Celebration Bowl victory over Jackson State.

The matchup also features the MEAC’s two head coaches leading their alma maters. Oliver returned to NCCU as head coach in December 2018, while White took over at Howard in January 2026.

With both programs coming off conference wins, Saturday gives each an opportunity to strengthen its position early in the MEAC schedule.

Tags: North Carolina Central University, NCCU Eagles, Howard University, Howard Bison, MEAC Football, HBCU Football, HBCU Sports, HBCU Original, Gino Addison, Trei Oliver, Ted White, Cobey Thompkins, Amari Sifford, College Football, Durham North Carolina

Faulk’s Seven Touchdowns Lead SIAC Football Weekly Honors

ATLANTA — A seven-touchdown outing by Edward Waters quarterback Tavion Faulk and two school-record field goals by Benedict’s Zane Spires highlighted the SIAC football awards announced Oct. 27.

Faulk earned Offensive Player of the Week after powering Edward Waters past Clark Atlanta, 62-14. The senior completed 19 of 22 passes for 367 yards and five touchdowns without an interception, adding 33 rushing yards and two scores.

Kentucky State defensive back Lawrence McConnell claimed Defensive Player of the Week following a 27-24 win over Savannah State. He collected nine tackles, seven solo, and two interceptions, returning one 84 yards for a touchdown. McConnell also recorded a sack.

Spires secured Special Teams Player of the Week in Benedict’s 29-8 victory over Albany State. His 53-yard field goal established a school record that he broke with a 54-yarder before halftime. He later connected from 48 yards.

Edward Waters receiver Tylon Williams received Newcomer of the Week after catching six passes for 171 yards against Clark Atlanta, including a 78-yard touchdown.

Edward Waters Claims Three SIAC Volleyball Awards; Albany State’s Anderson Also Honored

ATLANTA — Edward Waters turned an unbeaten week into three SIAC volleyball honors, with Jewel Helmuth, Dimaliz Figueroa and Naraiya Thompson joining Albany State’s Amiria Anderson among the Oct. 27 award winners.

Helmuth received Offensive Player of the Week after producing 26 kills, six digs, six service aces and four blocks in wins over Savannah State and Clark Atlanta. Against Clark Atlanta, she delivered 14 kills and all six of her weekly aces.

Figueroa earned Defensive Player of the Week with 44 digs across the two victories. The senior libero recorded a season-best 24 digs against Savannah State and added two aces for the week.

Thompson’s 93 assists earned the freshman Setter of the Week. She averaged 11.63 assists per set, contributing 15 digs and six aces. Her week included 43 assists against Savannah State and 50 against Clark Atlanta.

Anderson took Newcomer of the Week after helping Albany State defeat Benedict and Allen. The freshman totaled 28 kills, eight digs and two block assists, hitting .324 against Benedict and .429 against Allen.

South Carolina State, Alabama A&M Lead Updated Celebration Bowl Projections

South Carolina State and Alabama A&M have the strongest projected paths to Atlanta, while key victories by Howard and Bethune-Cookman have reshaped the chase for a Celebration Bowl berth.

The latest Toyota Championship Projection, released Oct. 28 and incorporating games through Oct. 24, gives South Carolina State a 40.63% chance of representing the MEAC in the Cricket Celebration Bowl presented by Toyota. Alabama A&M leads the SWAC with a 49.10% chance of winning its conference championship and advancing to Atlanta.

The projections reflect 10,000 simulated finishes to the season, using team strength, FCS scoring efficiency, conference standings, remaining schedules, game locations and applicable tiebreakers.

“Last weekend demonstrated why we introduced this projection,” said John T. Grant, executive director of the Cricket Celebration Bowl presented by Toyota.

Howard’s overtime victory against Morgan State and Bethune-Cookman’s narrow win over Jackson State were among the results that changed the outlook.

South Carolina State Takes the Lead in the MEAC

South Carolina State’s 22-7 victory over Norfolk State helped put the Bulldogs atop the MEAC projections. Howard moved into second after defeating Morgan State 26-20 in overtime, leaving the Bears close behind in third.

Together, those three programs account for nearly 94% of the model’s projected MEAC representatives.

The next round of conference games could shift those numbers again. South Carolina State visits Morgan State on Thursday, Oct. 29, giving the Bulldogs an opportunity to secure a valuable head-to-head victory against a leading contender.

Howard travels to North Carolina Central on Saturday. NCCU enters after defeating Delaware State 31-12, and both teams will be looking to build on wins in their MEAC openers.

Alabama A&M Leads as Bethune-Cookman Gains Ground

Alabama A&M holds a 60.42% chance of winning the SWAC East and reaching the conference championship game. Its 49.10% chance of completing the journey to the Celebration Bowl is the highest of any SWAC program.

Bethune-Cookman made a significant move with its 24-21 victory over Jackson State. The Wildcats now have a 27.16% chance of winning the East and a 17.86% chance of reaching Atlanta.

Jackson State remains in contention, but its 3-2 conference record leaves the Tigers needing help. The model gives Jackson State a 10.53% chance of winning the division and an 8.07% chance of winning the SWAC championship.

Alabama A&M’s next test comes Saturday against Alabama State in the Magic City Classic. A Bulldogs victory would strengthen their position, while a Hornets win would create an opening for other East contenders.

Grambling Holds a Narrow Edge in the West

The SWAC West remains tightly contested, with Grambling State leading the division projections at 36.69%. Prairie View A&M follows at 32.90% after strengthening its profile with a 30-19 nonconference road victory over East Texas A&M.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s 31-28 win over Florida A&M helped keep the Golden Lions in the race. UAPB has a 14.92% chance of winning the West, followed by Alcorn State at 12.61%.

Southern sits at 2.71%, while Texas Southern has a 0.17% chance despite its 24-21 victory over the Jaguars.

The overall SWAC projections account for both winning a division and winning the conference championship game:

Florida A&M is listed as ineligible in the projection.

Games to Watch

Six matchups carry particular importance for the conference races this week. All times are Eastern.

297 p.m.

312 p.m.

313 p.m.

313 p.m.

313:30 p.m.

318:30 p.m.

Bethune-Cookman’s trip to Arkansas-Pine Bluff will affect both SWAC divisions, while Grambling State and Alcorn State face road tests as they pursue the West title.

The projections measure possible outcomes based on current information. They do not guarantee results or fully account for injuries, turnovers, weather and other factors that can change a game.

The 2026 Cricket Celebration Bowl presented by Toyota is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 12, at noon ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. ABC will televise the matchup between the MEAC and SWAC champions.

Tags: HBCU football, Celebration Bowl, Toyota Championship Projection, MEAC football, SWAC football, South Carolina State, Alabama A&M, Howard University, Bethune-Cookman, Morgan State, Jackson State, Grambling State, Prairie View A&M, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, North Carolina Central, Magic City Classic, college football