LUT WILLIAMS BCSP Editor
The biggest news coming out of black college football after Saturday’s games was a win by North Carolina A&T and a loss by Benedict.
One (NC A&T) got its first win while the other (Benedict) suffered its first loss.
The Winners
N. C. A&T (1-4, 1-1 CAA), after four straight losses, took down nationally-ranked two-time defending Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) champion and preseason favorite Rhode Island, 22-18 in Greensboro (NC) Saturday.
The Aggies got three field goals and four turnovers while building a 22-3 lead before holding on for their and coach Shawn Gibbs’ stunning first win of the season. The win broke an 8-game losing streak dating back to last season, was the first win over an FCS ranked team in eight years and the first home win over a ranked team in 25 years.
The Rams (2-3, 1-2) came in ranked 19th in the STATS Perform FCS and 23rd in the AFCA FCS polls. Their other CAA loss this season was to Stony Brook (56-24). Rhode Island was 8-0 last season in the CAA.
The Aggies head to Smithfield, Rhode Island Saturday (6 p.m., FloCollege) to face another CAA opponent in Bryant (3-1, 1-0).
Delaware State (3-2), who defeated CAA opponent Towson 33-28 on a game-winning TD in the final minute, faces another CAA squad, UAlbany (2-3, 1-1) Saturday (3:30 p.m., FloCollege).
In the first week of mostly in-conference SWAC play, the winners were Alabama A&M (over Florida A&M), Alabama State (over Miss. Valley State), Alcorn State (in OT vs. Texas Southern), Jackson State (over Southern) and Prairie View (over Grambling State). Bethune-Cookman lost a non-conference game at BCSP FCS leader South Carolina State.
This week West leader Prairie View (2-0) is at MVSU (2 p.m.), and co-leader Alcorn State (2-0) is at Grambling’s homecoming (2 p.m.). Alabama State (1-0) is at Bethune-Cookman (4 p.m.) and Jackson State (4-0, 1-0 E) vs. Alabama A&M (4-1, 1-0 E) in Mobile, Ala. (4 p.m.) are critical East Division showdowns. Arkansas-Pine Bluff is at Southern’s homecoming (6 p.m.). All those games will be streamed on SWAC TV. Texas Southern is playing on the road at Florida Atlantic (6 p.m., ESPN+).
BCSP FCS No. 1 SC State (5-0), up from 14th to 12th in the AFCA poll and from 16th to 15th in the STATS Perform poll, is hosting The Citadel (1-3) Saturday (2 p.m., MEACN).
Edward Waters (46-38 over Morehouse) and Kentucky State (24-16 over Albany State) both got wins to move to 3-0 and in first place in the SIAC. The winners meet in Jacksonville, Fla. Saturday (2 p.m., SIACN) for the outright conference lead. EWU (4-1), the preseason pick to win the SIAC, is now first in the BCSP Div. II Top Five with KSU (4-1) second.
Tuskegee is a half-game back at 2-0 after handing Benedict its first loss, 20-17 Thursday. The Golden Tigers have their annual date with Morehouse Saturday in Montgomery, Ala. at 6 p.m. Benedict (1-1), who needed overtime to beat Fort Valley State before losing to Tuskegee, hosts Clark Atlanta (2 p.m., SIACN). FVSU (0-2), now with 1-point, buzzer-beating losses to Tuskegee and Benedict, is at Central State (1 p.m.).
Virginia Union (over Fayetteville State) and Virginia State (over Winston-Salem State) got wins to move to 3-0 atop the CIAA while J. C. Smith (2-0) was idle. VUU hosts Elizabeth City State (0-2), VSU plays Lincoln (Pa.) in Rochester, NY., JCSU is at Bluefield State and Shaw (2-1) is at Bowie State. All are 1 p.m. starts on the CIAA Sports Network.
Howard (1-3) and Hampton (1-4) stage their annual Battle for the Real HU in Washington, D. C.’s Audi Field (3 p.m., HBCUgo.tv.). Howard won last season’s game (34-7) after eight straight losses in the rivalry.
