Dr. Kenyatta Cavil contributed to this reoprt
The operative word for Week 7 of Dr. Cavil’s Inside the HBCU Sports Lab Top 7 Poll Rankings is movement, with positions 2-6 each home to a new team than the prior week.
7. Clark-Atlanta (5-2, 4-2)
For the second time in the past three weeks, Clark Atlanta has fallen to number 7 in the rankings. The Panthers are coming off a 49-28 defeat at the hands of Miles College, who also played the role of Homecoming spoiler. CAU limps into its bye week, losers of two of their last three games, before returning to action on November 2 against Tuskegee.
6. Langston University (4-2, 3-1)
Winners of four consecutive games, Langston enters the polls at number 6, after being unranked the previous week. In their most recent outing, the Lions romped North American University 48-2 to cap their homecoming week on a high note. Up next for Langston is a meeting with Arkansas Baptist, whom the Lions handily defeated 51-20 in their last meeting, on October 21, 2023.
5. West Virginia State (5-2, 4-1)
West Virginia State dropped three spots in this week’s poll rankings. In their most recent outing, the Yellow Jackets were edged 35-33 by Wheeling. A 13-yard touchdown pass from Landon Lutz to Tre Holloway with just 0:22 remaining in the contest proved to be the decisive score. Up next for WVSU is a matchup with UNC Pembroke on Saturday. In their meeting last season West Virginia State narrowly defeated Pembroke 37-35, ending a five-game skid against the Braves.
4. Miles College (5-2, 5-0)
The Golden Bears of Miles College moved up three spots from the previous week. Miles is coming off a homecoming spoiling 49-28 defeat of no.5 Clark-Atlanta in a top 7 matchup. The win keeps the Golden Bears undefeated at 5-0 within the SIAC, where they hold a 1-game lead over the logjam at second place that includes Fort Valley, Albany State, and Tuskegee. Saturday brings a meeting with defending conference champions Benedict, who earned a hard-fought 27-24 win over Miles in their matchup last season.
3. Winston Salem State (6-2, 4-1)
The Rams moved up one spot in this week’s ranking. In their last outing, WSSU defeated then no.6 Livingstone 31-17. Rams quarterback Daylin Lee completed 10-of-26 passes for 182 yards, 1 touchdown , but 2 interceptions, but thankfully for the WSSU cause, only resulted in 3 Livingstone points. Up next on the Rams’ docket is a faceoff with the undefeated and CIAA-leading Golden Bulls of Johnson C. Smith.
2. Virginia Union (5-2, 4-0)
The Panthers moved up from third to second in this week’s rankings. Virginia Union, in its most recent outing, obliterated Lincoln (PA) 63-12. The Panthers led 35-0 at halftime and 56-12! After three quarters. Jada Byers ran for 215 yards and 2 touchdowns on only 18 attempts. Virginia Union, currently riding a four-game winning streak, will take on Bowie State on Saturday. When the two schools tangled last season, it was a lopsided affair in favor of the Panthers, 52-3.
1. Johnson C. Smith (7-0, 4-0)
For the seventh consecutive week, the Golden Bulls of Johnson C. Smith sit upon the Mt. Olympus of our poll rankings. In their most recent outing, JCSU defeated Shaw 21-14. Newly minted BOXTOROW HBCU National Player of the Week, Johnson C. Smith quarterback Darius Ocean completed 24-of-32 passes for 265 yards and 3 touchdowns and no interceptions. Saturday, Smith has a showdown with no.3 Winston-Salem State. In their last matchup, October 28, 2023, in a closely contested battle, Johnson C. Smith emerged victorious 35-31.
Dropped Out: Livingstone Blue Bears (5-3, 3-2)
Receiving Votes: Virginia State Trojans (4-3, 4-1)-115, Florida Memorial Lions (3-2-1, 2-1)-113, Fort Valley State Wildcats (4-3, 4-1)-109
