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

Lawrence Earns HBCUAC Defensive Honor; SUNO Defense Gains National Recognition

Lawrence grabs 15 rebounds as Knights hold Xavier to 20 second-half points in season-opening win

NEW ORLEANS — Southern University at New Orleans turned a strong defensive performance in its season opener into conference and national recognition Monday.

Junior forward Jermaine Lawrence was named the HBCU Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Week, while NAIA Hoops Report selected SUNO as its Defense of the Week following the Knights’ 69-56 victory over Xavier (La.) on Saturday, Oct. 24.

The win ended SUNO’s two-game losing streak against its crosstown rival and marked its first victory over the Gold Rush since the 2024–25 season.

Lawrence led the effort with 12 points and a game-high 15 rebounds in his first career appearance against Xavier. Thirteen of his rebounds came on the defensive end. He also recorded three assists, two steals and one blocked shot in 37 minutes.

His work on the glass helped SUNO finish with a 43-24 rebounding advantage and limit Xavier to just two second-chance points. Senior forward Dorian Booker added 11 rebounds.

The Knights took control defensively after halftime, holding the Gold Rush to 20 points on 7-of-26 shooting (26.9%). Xavier shot 37.9% from the field for the game.

That second-half performance earned SUNO recognition in NAIA Hoops Report’s Week 1 recap, as the Knights turned a close contest into a double-digit victory.

The result also marked a defensive turnaround in the rivalry. Xavier scored 82 and 78 points in its two wins over SUNO last season. This time, Lawrence and the Knights held the Gold Rush to 56, opening the 2026–27 season with a win built on defense and rebounding.

SUNO Leads HBCUAC Preseason Poll as Hicks Takes Player of the Year Honors

Jaylon Hicks and Dorian Booker earn First Team recognition as the defending tournament champions prepare for another title chase.

NEW ORLEANS — Southern University at New Orleans will enter the 2026–27 men’s basketball season with a championship to defend and the conference’s top preseason billing.

The Knights received 200 points and 11 first-place votes in the HBCU Athletic Conference coaches’ poll, securing the No. 1 spot ahead of Tougaloo, Stillman and Dillard. Sophomore Jaylon Hicks was named Preseason Player of the Year, while teammate Dorian Booker joined him on the Preseason All-HBCUAC First Team.

For a program coming off a breakthrough postseason, the recognition brings higher expectations. Head coach James A. Matthews, III said those honors reflect his players’ work, but the Knights still have to prove themselves on the court.

“Being picked first is an honor, but it doesn’t win us a single game,” Matthews said. “Every team on our schedule is going to give us their best shot, and we have to show up ready every night.”

Hicks earned the league’s top individual preseason honor with 170 points from conference head coaches, the highest total among all players. The sophomore wing returns after averaging 15.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.1 steals per game as a freshman.

His first season included 13 HBCUAC Player of the Week awards, Freshman of the Year recognition and selections to the All-HBCUAC First Team, All-Defensive Team and All-Tournament Team.

Booker gave SUNO a strong presence inside during his debut season, averaging 14.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. The center earned Newcomer of the Year honors, a Second Team All-HBCUAC selection and a spot on the All-Tournament Team.

Together, they helped fuel a championship run that required SUNO to beat three of the conference’s top teams.

After finishing fourth in the HBCUAC West Division, the Knights defeated East Division champion Stillman on its home floor in the quarterfinals of the Hope Credit Union HBCUAC Basketball Championship. SUNO then knocked off West Division No. 2 seed Philander Smith in the semifinals before beating top-seeded Tougaloo for the title.

The championship sent the Knights to the opening round of the NAIA National Championship for the first time since 2012.

Nearly all of SUNO’s contributing players return for a season the program has named The Run Back. That continuity gives the Knights an experienced group, though the preseason poll suggests plenty of competition awaits.

Tougaloo finished second with 188 points. Stillman placed third with 163 points and one first-place vote, followed by Dillard with 156. Talladega received the remaining first-place vote and finished fifth with 150 points, just ahead of Philander Smith’s 148.

Fans can follow the 2026–27 season on the Urban Edge Network. The 2027 Hope Credit Union HBCUAC Basketball Championship is scheduled for February 24–28 at Ellis Davis Fieldhouse in Dallas.

2026–27 Preseason All-HBCUAC First Team

Preseason Player of the Year: Jaylon Hicks, SUNO

2026–27 HBCUAC Men’s Basketball Predicted Order of Finish