The CIAA released its preseason predicted order of finish during Media Day, and the top two spots look familiar. Virginia Union landed at No. 1 in the poll, one spot ahead of Johnson C. Smith, the team that actually beat them for the conference title last season.
But the order says more about expectations than it does about last year’s trophy case. And frankly, both teams have a case to be the favorite.
Virginia Union finished 9-3 in 2025. Their three losses? One was to Johnson C. Smith in the CIAA championship game. Another was a tight 27-24 loss to California University of Pennsylvania in the NCAA Division II playoffs. That sting is still there. But the Panthers also made history last year when running back Curtis Allen became the first HBCU player ever to win the Harlon Hill Trophy, which is basically the Division II Heisman. That alone changes how people see this program.
Johnson C. Smith Didn’t Just Win. They Did Something Nobody Saw Coming.
Johnson C. Smith went 10-2 and beat Valdosta State early in the season. That’s the same Valdosta State that was the 2024 Division II national runner-up. The Golden Bulls lost their regular-season matchup with Virginia Union 28-10, but they flipped the script in the CIAA title game. They earned a trip to the NCAA Division II playoffs as well, where Frostburg State knocked them out 21-7 in the opening round.
That playoff appearance was historic for the program. It was their first. And it capped a season where people started taking the Golden Bulls seriously as a program that can build something lasting, not just a one-year flash.
What the CIAA Title Race Looks Like on Paper
The full predicted order of finish is below. Fayetteville State sits at No. 3, followed by Virginia State, Winston-Salem State, and Livingstone. Elizabeth City State lands at No. 7, with Bowie State at No. 8. Bluefield State, Shaw, and Lincoln (Pa.) round out the bottom.
- 1. Virginia Union
- 2. Johnson C. Smith
- 3. Fayetteville State
- 4. Virginia State
- 5. Winston-Salem State
- 6. Livingstone
- 7. Elizabeth City State
- 8. Bowie State
- 9. Bluefield State
- 10. Shaw
- 11. Lincoln (Pa.)
Both conference championship finalists are going to carry a target all season. Virginia Union has the individual star power and the preseason poll nod. Johnson C. Smith has the trophy, the playoff experience, and a win over a national runner-up on their resume. The CIAA race is going to come down to which team handles the weight better.
Leave a Comment