ATLANTA — After four impressive wins and another two contests going down to the wire last weekend, the next round on the gridiron is set. The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference will complete the first half of the 2025 season as the jockeying for position continues in Week 5.
The second full slate of SIAC action is set over a six-hour period on Saturday's action. The conference saw three squads of Benedict College, Albany State and Edward Waters stay unblemished and Kentucky State continue its upward climb.
With a six-game schedule, Edward Waters will be the only guaranteed member without a league loss for another week with a bye. Allen University tests its mettle for the second week in a row against one of the top teams in cross-town rival Benedict College. Albany State treks to west Tennessee to Lane College to keep pace as well.
One of the longest series plays its 93rd edition for an ESPN+ national audience as Tuskegee University battles Morehouse College in Montgomery, Ala.'s Crampton Bowl 7 p.m. ET.
Central State looks to continue its newfound offensive at The Blueprint Homecoming against Fort Valley State. Kentucky State will make its fourth straight long road trip — this time to Miles College — in search of its first win.
Former Benedict College head coach Chennis Berry takes on his next SIAC foe when his South Carolina State program entertains Savannah State.
Week 4's biggest wins were shared by Benedict College and Albany State in taking down quality opponents in going away fashion.
Jaxon Williams made sure Benedict never trailed by returning the opening kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown. The Tigers again ran off a long run of points with 38 unanswered in its 59-24 win over the Panthers of Clark Atlanta. The SIAC's top offense exploded for 572 yards as Albany State put two early touchdowns on the scoreboard and a 36-7 cushion in the third quarter before the 57-14 win over Allen. Getting the Honorable Mention honors, Fort Valley State also used a special teams score with
Braelen Morgan's 98-yard kick return to put his team up by two touchdowns in a 27-20 final at Tuskegee.
BOXTOROW's HBCU D2 rankings have four SIAC squads within its top 10 ratings – 2. Albany State; 3. Benedict College; 4. Edward Waters; and 7. Kentucky State. Edward Waters received a season-high seven votes in the AFCA D2 Football Coaches rankings, while both Albany State and Benedict picked up one apiece.
CENTRAL STATE AT FORT VALLEY STATE – TheGrio
Saturday, Oct. 4, at 1 p.m. ET
Location: Wildcat Stadium
Address: 1005 State University Drive, Fort Valley, GA 31030
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For the first time this fall, both teams in this matchup come off victories.
Central State (1-4, 1-3 SIAC) and
Fort Valley State (1-3, 1-1 SIAC) recorded wins in different fashions and will clash to see who will turn it into a winning streak.
The Marauders will be able to add state number six to its 2025 count as they continue to play in a new state each week. CSU played off the shores of Lake Ontario in New York last week for a 42-13 win over Lane College.
After seeing three fourth-quarter leads erased in the first three contests, FVSU snapped the tough late outcomes in a 27-20 victory at Tuskegee. The host Golden Tigers pulled back within six, 19-13, only to see SIAC Special Teams Player of the Week
Braelen Morgan return the ensuing kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown.
It will be the 14th contest in the series and a renewal after two years without a game. The Wildcats once trailed Central State by four games until it claimed the last five games played. The FVSU won in the 2022 game in Wilberforce by a 32-17 final score. The Marauders won in a 33-0 shutout for their last victory in 1992.
Central State will look to continue the points it found last week. The Marauders broke a run of three-straight games without a point before
Dai'Vontay Young went 59 yards for last week's first touchdown 8:41 into the game. In fact, Central State's 42 points are two-thirds of its points for the first five games. Young leads the ground game with a 64.6-yard per game average (8.3 yd/carry) with 323 yards. Linebacker
Domonique Davis II continued his torrid pace of tackles with 12 to go with two for a loss, a sack, and a fumble return for a score to earn SIAC Defensive Player of the Week.
J.T. Pendleton surpassed the 100-yard mark at Tuskegee with 137 yards on five catches and a touchdown for FVSU. Quarterback
Jai'Que Hart threw for 221 yards of the Wildcats' 307 total yards of offense. Pendleton is second in the SIAC with a 71.8-yard receiving average.
Game History: 5-0 Fort Valley State (since 2016)
SAVANNAH AT FCS SOUTH CAROLINA STATE – ESPN+
Saturday, Oct. 4, at 1:30 p.m. ET
Location: Oliver C. Dawson Bulldog Stadium
Address: 300 College Ave, Orangeburg, SC 29115
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For the first time since returning to the SIAC and NCAA DII,
Savannah State (2-2, 1-2 SIAC) takes on FCS member South Carolina State (2-3, 0-0 MEAC).
The renewal of the Tigers-Bulldogs series takes place for the first time since 2018 – a South Carolina State win by a 21-17 final. The Bulldogs own a 15-3 lead in the series overall. Savannah State grabbed the 2017 contest by a 34-10 margin.
After leading Benedict College to back-to-back SIAC titles and NCAA DII playoff appearances in 2022 and 2023, Chennis Berry faces a SIAC team. Berry was 2-1 in three games with Benedict against Savannah State.
Savannah State takes an even 2-2 mark into the weekend with an opening loss before it had its two-game win streak ended by Kentucky State, 37-20.
Jimmy Tran booted a pair of field goals to tie the Thorobreds, 6-6, early in the second quarter. Kentucky State put the ensuing 17 points on the scoreboard and rode it to the win.
The Tigers outgained the Thorobreds, 344-311, but they had four passes picked off. Quarterback
Christian Burks threw for 165 yards and a TD with
Cinsere Clark pulled in six of the passes for 67 yards and one score.
Darrian Bell led the defense with 10 stops.
South Carolina State racked up 449 yards of total offense, but it saw Charleston Southern find the endzone with 1:03 left for the winning points, 31-24. South Carolina State's other two losses were at South Carolina and South Florida.
Game History: 7-1 South Carolina State (since 2011)
ALLEN AT BENEDICT – SIAC Network
South Carolina HBCU Classic
Saturday, Oct. 4, at 2 p.m. ET
Location: Charlie W. Johnson Stadium
Address: 1920 Two Notch Road, Columbia, SC 29204
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The battle for Columbia resumes on Saturday afternoon.
Allen University (2-3, 2-1 SIAC) makes the short trip to Charlie W. Johnson Stadium for the South Carolina HBCU Classic against
Benedict College (4-0, 3-0 SIAC).
For the second week in a row, Allen lines up against one of the SIAC's undefeated teams. The Yellow Jackets fell short in their first contest last week to the Golden Rams of Albany State (57-14). Benedict passed its road test in Atlanta over Clark Atlanta (59-24).
In the series of the SIAC's Columbia teams, Allen holds a 19-16-2 lead after the first 37 meetings. The Tigers, though, have won the four games since the Yellow Jackets renewed their football program. Benedict took a close 34-27 overtime final last fall. Allen prevailed the last time in 1965 by a 27-6 tally.
After Albany State scored the game's opening 14 points, Allen quarterback
Jamir Dismukes found
Lawrence Nandersfrom 50 yards to cut the margin in half. The Golden Rams answered with the next 22 points. Dismukes completed 23 of 31 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns. Nanders pulled in seven passes for 141 yards.
Jaxon Williams started off last Saturday's game by returning the opening kick for a Benedict 94-yard touchdown. Clark Atlanta pulled within four points, 28-24, with under two minutes in the first half. The Tigers put up the final 31 points to win in going away fashion. Running back
Triston Morgan surpassed 100 yards rushing for the first time with 112 yards on only eight carries with a touchdown. Getting all the acclaim,
Ty'Metrius Patterson received both the D2Football.com and HBCU D2 National Defensive Player of the Week honors after he recorded eight tackles, seven solo, four tackles for loss, three sacks, two pass break ups and two forced fumbles. Patterson's fourth-quarter strip sack was returned 44 yards for a touchdown.
Game History: 13-11 Allen (since 1946)
KENTUCKY STATE AT MILES – ESPN+
Saturday, Oct. 4, at 3 p.m. ET
Location: Albert J. Sloan Alumni Stadium
Address: 5500 Myron Massey Blvd., Fairfield, AL 35064
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The Thorobreds make their fourth-straight long trip and Saturday will be their toughest NCAA DII road trip of the year to date.
Kentucky State (3-2, 3-1 SIAC) aims to continue its solid play against a hungry
Miles (0-5, 0-2 SIAC) squad.
Following an overtime loss at Grambling State, Kentucky State has put together back-to-back wins at Morehouse College and Savannah State (37-20). Miles battled back to tie Morgan State only to see the game slip away on a blocked field goal returned for a 94-yard touchdown with 1:17 in the 24-17 loss.
In the series, the Golden Bears enjoys a 17-10 lead in the 27 contests. Saturday will be the first meeting in three years since Kentucky State won 35-7 in 2022. Miles registered its last win the previous season in 2021 (28-21).
Tied at 6-6 early in the second quarter, the Thorobreds raced out to a tune of 23-straight points including an interception for a touchdown and
Torrence Bardell throwing and running for a score each. Bardell earned the SIAC Offensive Player of the Week honor with his three touchdowns on six completions and a fourth via rush.
After coming all the way back from a 17-point deficit, Miles' first win eluded itself with the blocked field goal attempt returned for the score. Quarterback
Brinley Vandiver connected for 260 yards through the air with a pair of TDs and rushed for another 29 yards. Wide receiver
Glen Williams grabbed nine of those passes for 138 yards and one score.
Game History: 10-2 Miles (since 2010)
ALBANY STATE AT LANE – SIAC Network
Saturday, Oct. 4, at 3 p.m. ET
Location: Lane Field
Address: 545 Lane Ave., Jackson, TN 38301
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It will be a contest of two opposite starts to the 2025 campaign in Jackson.
Albany State (3-1, 2-0 SIAC) looks for its fourth NCAA DII win and third SIAC victory while host
Lane (0-4, 0-2 SIAC) tries to get on the right side of the final score for the first time.
In last weekend's top SIAC matchup heading into the game, Albany State jumped on Allen with two early touchdowns and then added 22-straight points following the Yellow Jackets' one touchdown on the way to the 57-14 final. The Dragons scored first but they saw the Marauders of Central State run off the next 23 points and eventual 42-13 win in Rochester, N.Y.
After 17 clashes on the gridiron, the Golden Rams have come out with more points 14 times with an overall record of 14-2-1 over the Dragons. ASU has prevailed in the last three games, including a 33-13 final in 2019. Lane took the 2013 game by a 37-31 margin.
The SIAC's top offense, ASU amassed 572 yards of total offense last week – 285 yards rushing and 287 yards passing.
Tiant Wyche ran for 104 yards on 11 carries with a touchdown as one of five players to run in for scores.
Omari Stewartclutched seven passes for 121 yards receiving with his own touchdown.
The Golden Rams are averaging 45.5 points and 463.8 yards of offense to lead the Conference.
Quarterback
Nick Billoups registered 184 all-purpose yards with 120 passing and 64 rushing for the Lane offense.
Game History: 4-2 Albany State (since 2011)
TUSKEGEE VS. MOREHOUSE – ESPN+
Morehouse-Tuskegee Classic
Saturday, Oct. 4, at 7 p.m. ET
Location: Cramton Bowl
Address: 1022 Madison Ave., Montgomery, AL 36104
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In one of the best oldest rivalries of NCAA DII football,
Tuskegee (2-3, 1-2 SIAC) and
Morehouse (0-4, 0-2 SIAC) will toe the gridiron for the 93rd time Saturday night at the Morehouse-Tuskegee Classic.
Over the first 92 editions, Tuskegee has had its way with Morehouse with a 65-22-5 series record. Tuskegee takes a three-game winning streak into the 2025 meeting, including a 42-0 shutout last fall. Morehouse doubled up Tuskegee by a 31-15 final for its last win in 2021.
The Golden Tigers and the Maroon Tigers were the two hard-luck losers from last week. Tuskegee pulled within six points of Fort Valley State only to watch the ensuing kickoff returned 98 yards for a touchdown in the eventual 27-20 loss.
Morehouse was so close to its first win of the year it could taste it. The Maroon Tigers edged ahead, 24-20, with 7:05 left on a
Nicholas Woodford 49-yard run. Edward Waters had the answer with its own 26-yard scoring pass with 1:46 and pulled out the 27-24 win. Morehouse did drive to the Edward Waters' 33-yardline before it turned the ball over on downs in the final seconds.
Quarterback
Miles Scott connected for 267 yards passing, while Woodford missed the century mark rushing by five yards with 95 and two touchdowns.
Game History: 11-3 Tuskegee (since 2000); 76-30-7 Tuskegee (since 1902)
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ABOUT THE SOUTHERN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (SIAC)
The SIAC is a NCAA athletic conference consisting primarily of historically black colleges and universities with headquarters in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The SIAC includes 15 member institutions (Albany State University, Allen University, Benedict College, Central State University, Clark Atlanta University, Edward Waters University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Miles College, Morehouse College, Savannah State University, Spring Hill College, and Tuskegee University), which are located within a contiguous seven-state footprint (Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Ohio). The SIAC sponsors nine men's and seven women's sports and is a proud member of the NCAA Division II. For more information, visit
www.thesiac.com.