Dr. Kenyatta Cavil contributed to this report
The Dr. Cavil’s Inside the HBCU Sports Lab Mid Major Division Poll rankings featured a great deal of movement, with teams ranked 3-6 occupying a different position than in the previous week and there is also a new addition to the rankings. With multiple top-seven games this weekend there will be another shakeup in the polls heading into next week.
7. Florida Memorial University ( 1-0-1, 0-0)
Florida Memorial is a new addition to the polls, coming in at no.7. The Lions played the no.2 Clark Atlanta Panthers to a 28-28 lightning-shortened stalemate Saturday in the 2024 Sunshine Showdown. In just one-half of work, before the game was called, FMU quarterback Cedquan Smith completed 19 of 21 passes for 284 yards and 1 touchdown. Reigning Sun Conference Offensive Player of the Week, running back Walter Wilbon ran for 59 yards and a touchdown on just 8 carries. Florida Memorial defeated Edward Waters 31-21 in their season-opening Big Cat Classic matchup.
6. Shaw University ( 2-1, 0-0)
After their exciting come-from-behind win over Albany State, in which they scored 27 points in the 4th quarter to claim the victory, the Bears were defeated by Catawba 37-28. The loss ended the two-game winning streak with which the Bears had kicked off the season. With the 2 wins already banked, Shaw is already 66% of the way to equaling the 3 wins they recorded all last season. The Bears will seek to match the 2023 victory mark in just 4 games when take on Lincoln (PA) on Saturday. Shaw thrashed the Lions 41-6 in their last meeting on September 25, 2021.
5. Virginia State ( 1-1, 0-0)
The Trojans are coming off a bye week and maintained their ranking from the previous week. In their last game on September 7, they lost a hard-fought matchup to an old CIAA rival, Norfolk State, 28-23. In their season opener, Virginia State defeated SIAC defending champions Benedict in the Black College Hall of Fame Game. The Trojans play host to the Rams of Winston Salem State this Saturday.
4. Virginia Union (1-1, 0-0)
Virginia Union falls two spots to no. 4 after tasting a 33-21 defeat at the hands of Hampton. Jada Byers’ 105 rushing yards and pair of touchdowns were not enough to hold off the Pirates. Up next is a top 7 matchup with Johnson C. Smith on Saturday. Union has won 9 of the previous 10 matchups with JCSU, including 43-7 shellacking in their last meeting, September 25, 2021.
3. Winston Salem State ( 2-1, 0-0)
Winston Salem State moves up 3 spots after a 19-13 defeat over winless Ohio Dominican. WSSU defeated Bluefield State 34-3 in their season opener but fell to in-state for North Carolina A&T 27-20 in their next game. The Rams feature the third most stringent defense in the CIAA, allowing just 14.3 points through their first three contests. Up next for Winston-Salem State is a trip to Petersburg, Virginia to face the no.5 Trojans of Virginia State.
2. Clark Atlanta University ( 2-0-1, 2-0)
Clark Atlanta has been not only one of the surprises in the SIAC but all of black college football. After going 0-10 last season, the Panthers are 2-0-1 on the young season, with wins over Fort Valley State 45-42 in the season opener and 26-22 over Allen in Week 2, and find themselves sitting atop the SIAC. New head coach Teddy Keaton is already the front-runner for conference coach of the year, and likely numerous other coaching accolades. Former Allen quarterback David Wright is at the controls of the Panther offense and the junior transfer currently leads the SIAC in passing yards (691), passing touchdowns (9), yards per game (330.5), and efficiency ( 212.5). Up next for Clark Atlanta is another step outside of the SIAC to take on Bethune-Cookman this Saturday.
1. Johnson C. Smith (3-0, 0-0)
Johnson C. Smith retails the top spot in the poll rankings. The Golden Bulls have yet to know defeat in the young season. The Golden Bulls completed an undefeated tour of the SIAC, having defeated Tuskegee 21-13 in the Red Tails Classic and the subsequent 37-13 besting of Morehouse the next week. Last week JCSU stomped Lincoln (PA) 52-6, which was their second defeat of the Lions. Quarterback Darius Ocean has put together three solid performances this season, including completing 20 of 29 passes for 296 yards and 1 touchdown in the win against Lincoln. The junior signal caller out of Raleigh, NC paces the CIAA in completions (57), yards (982), yards per game ( 245.5), and efficiency ( 162.8) and was named the Week 2 quarterback of the week. Wideout Brevin Caldwell is the most proficient receiver in the CIAA, averaging 133.5 yards per game. The Golden Bulls face no.4 Virginia Union this Saturday.
