Dr. Kenyatta Cavil contributed to this report.
Week 13 of Dr. Cavil’s Inside the HBCU Sports Lab Mid-Major polls saw new entrants to the top seven rankings, however, there was movement at the top of the polls.
7. Livingstone College (6-4, 4-3)
The Blue Bears of Livingstone Colleg remain at no.7 in the week 13 rankings. Livingstone finished the season at 6-4 overall and 4-3 in the CIAA, their first winning season since a 5-4 overall and 4-3 conference mark in 2015. Four Blue Bears garnered All-Conference honors- defensive lineman Davion Watkins made the CIAA First Team, while placekicker Jason Zapata, defensive lineman Osmansis Aguilera, and defensive back Kevin Larkins Jr earned Second Team honors.
6. Winston-Salem State (7-3, 5-2)
As they were in the previous week, Winston-Salem State checks in at no.6. The Rams concluded the 2024 season with a 37-31 over Fayetteville State finished with a 7-3 overall record, which was their highest win tally since a 5-4 mark in 2018. Defensive back Justin Fleming and punt returner JahTawn Stafford earned All-CIAA First Team honors, while offensive lineman Keith Quick, and running back Trevon Hester, garnered second-team honors. Fleming was also nominated for the Harlan Hill Award, the most prestigious honor in FCS Football.
5. Clark Atlanta (7-3-1, 6-2 )
The Panthers remain at the fifth spot in this week’s rankings. Teddy Keaton’s first season at Clark was a resounding success as he transformed the Panthers from a team that was winless just the season before the SIAC Championship. The 7 wins CAU enjoyed this season were just one less than the 8 victories the 5 previous seasons the team took the field ( the 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic).
4. Virginia State ( 7-4, 6-1)
The Trojans of Virginia State hold down the fourth spot in the Lab’s rankings. Virginia State turned in a 7-4 in which they split the CIAA regular season crown with Virginia Union and ended in a close loss, 17-13, to Union in the CiAA Championship game. VSU featured several conference standouts. SAM (strongside) linebacker Marquis Edmond was named Defensive Rookie of the Year, redshirt junior Bruno Onwuazor earned Lineman of the Year honors. Onwuazor, linebacker Carl Poole Jr, and defensive back Donovan Howard earned quickly named First Team All-CIAA; quarterback Romero Williams, wide receiver Kevin Gayles, defensive lineman n Jayshaun Alston and Mustapha Coly and linebacker KJ McNeil all made the Second Team.
3. Johnson C. Smith ( 8-2, 5-2)
Johnson C. Smith finished the 2024 campaign with an 8-2 record overall record, continuing a trend of four consecutive seasons with escalating win totals, while over the last two seasons posting an 11-4 record within the CIAA. The Golden Bulls stampeded out of the gates, winning their first 8 games. Back-to-back losses took the Golden Bulls from the driver’s seat in the CIAA title picture, to on the outside looking in.
2. Miles College ( 10-3, 8-0)
The Golden Bears fall to number two in this week’s rankings. Miles romped through the SIAC without losing a single game and handily defeated Clark Atlanta 53-25 in the SIAC Championship Game to claim their fifth conference crown since 1987 and their first since 2019. The Golden Bears made more history when they notched their first playoff win with a 14-13 win over Carson-Newman. Miles was defeated in the next round by no.1 Valdosta State, 33-17.
1. Virginia Union (10-3, 6-1)
Virginia Union climbs one spot to the zenith of the Inside the HBCU Sports Lab poll rankings. The Panthers are the regular co-CIAA champions, splitting the crown with Virginia State. In a rematch with their instate rival in the CIAA Championship game, the Panthers defeated the Trojans 17-13 to hoist the conference hardware and claim the FCS Playoff berth that accompanied it. In their opening-round matchup, which the Panthers hosted, Virginia Union was able to defeat Wingate 34-31 in an overtime thriller. VUU, powered by 345 rushing yards, including 185 yards and 2 touchdowns from Jada Byers and 132 yards and another 2 scores from Curtis Allen, Union handily defeated Lenoir-Rhyne 44-12. Virginia Union will face Valdosta State, who just dispatched Miles College, in the quarterfinals.
Dropped Out: N/A
Receiving Votes: Shaw Bears-(6-4, 4-3)-112, Albany State Golden Rams-(6-4, 6-2)-111, Fort Valley State Wildcats-(6-4, 6-2)-110
