Highlighting Week 5 of the HBCU football season is a pair of CIAA matchups featuring teams eager to get in the win column for the first time in conference play.
Elsewhere, the first MEAC conference game of the season takes place in Indianapolis, while a SWAC West team fights for their conference championship hopes in a rivalry game.
Shaw vs. Virginia Union
When: September 28; Time: 1 p.m. ET
How to Watch: TheCIAASN
The Virginia Union Panthers are looking to return to the win column when they play in their home opener against the Shaw Bears.
Virginia Union dropped to 1-2 on the season after losing to Johnson C. Smith in its conference opener. Meanwhile, Shaw improved to 3-1 after handily beating Lincoln (PA). This marked the best start to a season for the Bears since 2009.
This is a must-win game for Virginia Union to keep their hopes of repeating as CIAA champions alive. History is on the Panthers’ side, as they have beaten the Bears in three of their last four meetings.
However, the last time these teams met in Richmond, Shaw won 27-7.
Fayetteville State vs. Virginia State
When: September 28; Time: 2 p.m. ET
How to Watch: TheCIAASN
Virginia State is also looking to bounce back after losing its conference opener, hosting the reigning CIAA championship runner-up Fayetteville State Broncos.
The Trojans are coming off a 15-14 loss to Winston-Salem State, which they lost on a game-winning field goal in the final seconds of the fourth quarter.
On the other hand, Fayetteville State returned from an idle week and opened CIAA play with a decisive 37-7 win over Elizabeth City State.
Although Fayetteville State has won its last two regular-season meetings against Virginia State, the Trojans won their previous matchup in Virginia to claim the 2017 CIAA championship.
Norfolk State vs. North Carolina Central
When: September 28; Time: 3 p.m. ET
How to Watch: ESPNU
The North Carolina Central Eagles begin their quest for the MEAC crown when they open their conference schedule against the Norfolk State Spartans.
North Carolina Central is coming off a thorough 66-24 beating of Aggie-Eagle Classic rival North Carolina A&T, setting a record for the most points scored in the series.
Norfolk State pulled off a dominant win of its own in its last outing against Virginia Military Institute, claiming a 32-10 victory.
The Spartans are looking for their first win over the Eagles since 2019 (they have lost the last three meetings).
Fort Valley State vs Savannah State
When: September 28; Time: 6 p.m. ET
How to Watch: ESPN+
After a big win against Tuskegee last weekend, Savannah State aims to keep itself in the win column when they welcome Fort Valley State to Theodore A. Wright Stadium.
Fort Valley State snapped a three-game losing streak against Savannah State last year, using a 21-point third quarter to knock off the Tigers.
Both teams enter this game with 1-1 conference records, making them two of seven teams in the SIAC with identical marks.
This is one of two SIAC matchups between teams with 1-1 conference records (the other being Benedict-Morehouse).
Prairie View A&M vs Grambling State
When: September 28; Time: 7 p.m. ET
How to Watch: ESPN+
Grambling State seeks to build off its big win against Jackson State when they face Prairie View A&M in the State Fair Classic.
Grambling State defeated Prairie View A&M in last year’s contest, claiming its first win over the Panthers since 2017 (five straight losses in between).
While this is Grambling’s first divisional matchup of the season, this game is crucial for Prairie View A&M, who already has two divisional losses on its record.
