LUT WILLIAMS BCSP Editor
The SIAC and CIAA crowned their champions over the weekend (See CHAMPIONSHIP GAME RECAPS) and their winners are moving on to postseason competition.
While the MEAC champion will be decided in games this weekend, the SWAC will not decide its champ until the Dec. 2 Championship Game in Tallahassee, Fla. But who will be host Florida A&M’s opponent in that game could be decided in games this weekend. Or not.
Here’s the breakdown.
NCAA Div. II Playoffs
SIAC champion Benedict and CIAA champion Virginia Union both received berths in the 28-team NCAA Div. II national playoffs.
Benedict
For the second straight season, undefeated Benedict (11-0) is ranked first in Super Region II and will receive a bye thru this weekend’s first round games.
The Tigers are led by third-year head coach Chennis Berry and feature grad senior quarterback Aeneas Dennis and a defense that leads Div. II giving up just 8.4 points per game.
Benedict will play the winner of Saturday’s first round game between 4th-seed Lenoir-Rhyne (10-1) and 5th-seed Shepherd (9-2) next Saturday (Nov. 25). A year ago, Benedict lost in the second round to Wingate, 23-6.
Virginia Union
The Panthers (10-1), under sixth-year head coach Dr. Alvin Parker, return to the D2 playoffs for the first time since 2015. They were moved from Super Region II to Super Region I for travel purposes and are seeded seventh. VUU will play at 9-2 Kutztown on Saturday at 12 noon. Kutztown is the champion of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC).
VUU is led by grad senior lefty QB Christian Reid and junior running back Jada Byers (120.5 rushing ypg., 15 TDs), 13th in Div.
II rushing yards. The Panthers have the top rush defense in the nation, giving up just 37.3 yards per game, and surrender just 11.6 points per game (6th in D2).
MEAC
Three teams are still alive for the MEAC title and postseason berths, including the Celebration Bowl bid that goes to the conference champion.
Defending champion N. C. Central, Howard and Morgan State are all at 3-1 in MEAC play headed to this week’s final games. On Saturday, Howard hosts Morgan State (1 p.m., ESPN+) and NCCU hosts Delaware State (2 p.m.).
A Howard win Saturday gives the Bison and third-year head coach Larry Scott the league title and its first Celebration Bowl berth (Dec. 17 in Atlanta) vs. the SWAC champion. Howard’s 50-20 win over NCCU Saturday gives the Bison the edge over NCCU even if the Eagles defeat DelState.
A Morgan State win over Howard and a win for NCCU over DelState gives the conference crown and Celebration Bowl berth to the Eagles who have a head-to-head win over MSU.
MSU can claim the league title and bowl berth with a win over Howard and loss by NCCU.
Trei Oliver’s NCCU Eagles (8-2) dropped from seventh to 14th in both this week’s American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and FCS Coaches national polls. They are still likely alive for an FCS playoff berth with a win Saturday vs. DelState.
SWAC
By virtue of its 7-0 mark in SWAC play, Florida A&M (9-1 overall) is in as East Division champ and host of the Dec. 2 SWAC Championship game. The Rattlers under Willie Simmons are now up from ninth to seventh in both the AFCA and FCS national polls as they head to their regular-season finale Saturday in Orlando (3:30 p.m. on ESPN+) at the Florida Classic vs. rival Bethune-Cookman (3-7, 2-5 E).
Prairie View A&M (5-5) and Alcorn State (6-4) go into Saturday’s games tied for the West Division lead with 5-2 SWAC records though PV holds a head-to-head 23-20 win over Alcorn back on Sept. 23. A Prairie View win at home Saturday (2 p.m. on ESPN+) over a tough 6-3 Alabama State squad would give the Panthers the West title and championship game berth. A PV loss and win by Alcorn at 7-3 Jackson State Saturday (2 p.m. on ESPN+) gives the title game berth to the Braves.
At 4-3, Grambling State (5-5) will take the W. Div. title with losses by both PV and Alcorn Saturday and a G-Men’s victory over Southern in the Nov. 25 Bayou Classic in New Orleans.