irginia Union enters the 2026 football season as the team to beat after being voted the preseason favorite in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Predicted Order of Finish, announced during CIAA Football Media Day.
The Panthers edged defending CIAA champion Johnson C. Smith for the top spot in voting conducted by the CIAA Sports Information Directors Association. Fayetteville State was picked to finish third, followed by Virginia State and Winston-Salem State to round out the top five.
2026 CIAA Predicted Order of Finish
- Virginia Union
- Johnson C. Smith
- Fayetteville State
- Virginia State
- Winston-Salem State
- Livingstone
- Elizabeth City State
- Bowie State
- Bluefield State
- Shaw
- Lincoln (Pa.)
Johnson C. Smith led all programs with six selections on the 2026 Preseason All-CIAA Team, while Fayetteville State placed seven players on the preseason squad. Virginia Union, Bowie State, Elizabeth City State, Virginia State, Livingstone, and Bluefield State also had multiple honorees recognized heading into the new campaign.
The preseason rankings set the stage for what is expected to be another competitive season in the CIAA, with perennial contenders Virginia Union, Johnson C. Smith, and Fayetteville State once again projected to battle for conference supremacy.
With the preseason accolades now in place, attention turns to kickoff as teams begin preparations to prove—or disprove—the expectations established during CIAA Football Media Day.
2026 Preseason All-CIAA Team Announced
Along with unveiling the preseason poll, the CIAA recognized the conference’s top returning players with the release of the 2026 Preseason All-CIAA Team.
Virginia State quarterback Rahsaan Matthews Jr. headlines the offense after earning preseason recognition at quarterback, while Bobby Smith of Johnson C. Smith and Micah Robinson of Bowie State were selected at running back.
Johnson C. Smith led the way with five offensive selections, including All-CIAA First Team returnees Bobby Smith and Jamari Mason, along with Brian Lane, Robert Early, and Marcus Andrews.
Fayetteville State also featured prominently on the preseason squad with wide receiver Marcus Fleming, offensive lineman Malachi Jones, defensive linemen Joseph Woodard and Christopher Gordon, linebacker Jatavien Taylor, defensive back Amari Best, and punter Abdoulazim Bayor.
Elizabeth City State was well represented by tight end Joe Griffin, offensive lineman Toriono Combs, defensive lineman Sir’Sean Ingram, linebacker Jaevon Branch, and kick return specialist Shamar Sutton.
Bowie State placed three players on the preseason team with running back Micah Robinson and defensive linemen Dalan Johnson and Deshawn Willoughby, while Virginia Union’s Zyaire Tart earned preseason honors as the conference’s punt return specialist. Livingstone’s Jason Zapata was selected as the preseason placekicker.
2026 Preseason All-CIAA Team
Quarterback
- Rahsaan Matthews Jr. – Virginia State
Running Backs
- Micah Robinson – Bowie State
- Bobby Smith – Johnson C. Smith*
Wide Receivers
- Brandon Wiley – Bluefield State*
- Brian Lane – Johnson C. Smith*
- Marcus Fleming – Fayetteville State
Tight End
- Joe Griffin – Elizabeth City State
Offensive Line
- Jamari Mason – Johnson C. Smith*
- Robert Early – Johnson C. Smith
- Malachi Jones – Fayetteville State
- Toriono Combs – Elizabeth City State*
- Marcus Andrews – Johnson C. Smith
Defensive Line
- Dalan Johnson – Bowie State
- Joseph Woodard – Fayetteville State
- Christopher Gordon – Fayetteville State
- Sir’Sean Ingram – Elizabeth City State
- Deshawn Willoughby – Bowie State
Linebackers
- Jaevon Branch – Elizabeth City State
- Vincent Hill – Johnson C. Smith*
- Jatavien Taylor – Fayetteville State
Defensive Back
- Amari Best – Fayetteville State
Placekicker
- Jason Zapata – Livingstone
Punter
- Abdoulazim Bayor – Fayetteville State
Kick Return Specialist
- Shamar Sutton – Elizabeth City State
Punt Return Specialist
- Zyaire Tart – Virginia Union*
An asterisk () denotes a returning 2025 All-CIAA First Team selection.*
