Dr. Kenyatta Cavil contributed to this report
It is Week 10 of Dr. Cavil’s Inside the HBCU Sports Lab Mid Major Top 7 poll rankings and it comes at the point of the season in which the stage is being set to determine conference supremacy. The combatants that will lock horns for the crowns in the SIAC and CIAA, respectively have been set and the ascension of these teams to the championship round led to a shake-up in the rankings with positions 1-7 occupied by a different team from the week before.
7. Livingstone College (6-4, 4-3)
After being unranked the previous week the Blue Bears of Livingstone College enter the rankings at no. 7. Livingstone is coming off a surprising 15-10! Defeat of Johnson C. Smith in the 132nd Commemorative Classic, a matchup that dates back to December 27, 1892. The Blue Bears’ overall and conference records of 6-4 and 4-3 are the best such marks since posting 5- 4 overall and 4-3 conference marks in 2015.
6. Winston Salem State (7-3, 5-2)
WSSU enters this week’s ranking at no.6, down one spot from the previous week. The Rams defeated Fayetteville State 37-31 to not only cap off Homecoming but the season on a high note. The win breaks a four-game losing streak against the Broncos, with the last win taking place on November 9, 2019. The 7-3 schedule is the Rams’ first time finishing with a winning record since a 5-4 overall record in the 2017 season and their best record since the 9-3 and 7-0 mark posted in 2016.
5. Johnson C. Smith (8-2, 5-2)
After being atop the CIAA, and our polls, for most of the season, the Golden Bulls of Johnson C. Smith picked the least opportune time to go on a losing streak. In their latest outing, JCSU was defeated 15-10 by Livingstone. The loss, combined with Virginia State defeating the Virginia Union, eliminated the Golden Bulls from the CIAA Championship equation. Despite ending the season on a two-game losing streak, JCSU ended the season 8-2 overall and 5-2 in CIAA play, which was an improvement of the 7-4 overall record of last season; the team was 6-2 in conference play in that same season.
4. Clark-Atlanta University (7-2-1, 6-2)
The Panthers of Clark-Atlanta University moved up two spots from their previous week’s rankings. In their most recent outing, CAU defeated Morehouse 28-17 in the Battle of the AUC. After going winless last season, the Panthers will face Miles in the SIAC championship game. The Panthers have lost their last 8 meetings against the Golden Bears.
3. Virginia Union ( 7-3, 6-1)
The Panthers fell out of the number 1 spot in this week’s rankings. VUU was defeated 35-28 in the season finale by in-state rival, then no.4Virginia State in a top 7 matchup, which gave the Panthers their first CIAA loss of the season. Despite the loss to VSU, Virginia Union still has a place in the CIAA Championship game, which will take place November 16 and will be a rematch of the previous week’s matchup between the Trojans and Panthers.
2. Virginia State ( 7-3, 6-1)
Virginia State rose two spots in this week’s poll. The Trojans defeated rival then no.1 Virginia Union 35-28 to stamp their ticket ro the CIAA Championship game. The victory over Union breaks a three-game losing streak to the Panthers with their last win before last week coming in a 27-24 win on November 9, 2019.
1.Miles College (8-2, 8-0)
The Golden Bears jumped two spots to no.1 in this week’s rankings. In their most recent outing, Miles trounced Tuskegee 37-7, for their eighth consecutive win and completes the Golden Bears unblemished regular season romp through the SIAC a feat not accomplished by the program in over 40 years. Up next for Miles is a meeting with No. 4 Clark Atlanta in the SIAC Championship game.
Dropped Out: Fort Valley State Wildcats-(6-4, 6-2)
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
