The 2025 HBCU Football season is winding down as the CIAA and SIAC close their regular season business in Week 11 while MEAC and SWAC schools continue to jockey for position in races that promise to go down to the finish.
With that in mind, your friendly neighborhood HBCU football prognosticator has his work cut out for him. If these picks go sideways…charge it to the game.
Before those picks, however, let’s look back at a successful Week 10.
Week Nine Record: 21-5
2025 Overall Record: 198-59
Best pick: Johnson C. Smith 24, Fayetteville State 21 (Golden Bulls won 17-14. One part of the revenge tour down, one to go this weekend…)
Worst pick: Southern 28, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 23 (Golden Lions won 40-21…if this were the NFL, Southern would absolutely be tanking for the first pick. But since this isn’t…well…)
Game Of The Week: Livingstone (5-4, 3-3 CIAA) at Johnson C. Smith (8-1, 5-1 CIAA), Saturday Nov. 8, 1 p.m. EST, CIAA Network
JCSU has likely relived the nightmare of Livingstone pushing them out of the CIAA title game several times over the last year. Now, in the oldest HBCU football rivalry in the nation, the Golden Bulls will have a chance for revenge.
One player Smith MUST contain is Blue Bears sophomore edge rusher Kenyon Garner, who leads all of NCAA Division II in sacks with 14. LC also leads the CIAA in forced fumbles, so ball control will be key.
If Livingstone is to pull off an upset for the second year in a row, finding a way to keep the Golden Bulls offense in check will be key.
Kelvin Durham leads the conference in passing yards (2259) and is second in touchdown passes (19); while running back Bobby Smith is second in rushing and receivers Brian Lane (646 yards) and Deandre Proctor (642) are in the top five in receiving.
Smith had to live with last year’s failure long enough to understand what it takes to win. While LC is poised for a breakout season one of these years, it likely won’t be at JCSU’s expense this time.
Prediction: Johnson C. Smith 31, Livingstone 21
Delaware State (6-3, 2-0 MEAC) at Morgan State (3-6, 0-2 MEAC) Friday Nov. 7, 7 p.m. EST, ESPNU
The Hornets can wrap up their first winning season in 13 years with a win on national TV Friday night, but it won’t come easy.
The Bears have found a gem in redshirt freshman quarterback Raymond Moore III, who has quickly jumped onto the MEAC leaderboard among signal callers.
Morgan State’s defense is still very tough, so the DSU ground game, held 60 yards below their nation-leading average last week, will have to really grind hard for those yards.
Prediction: Delaware State 24, Morgan State 16
Bethune Cookman (5-4, 4-1 SWAC) at Grambling (6-3, 3-2 SWAC), Saturday Nov. 8, 3 p.m. EST, SWAC TV
Two teams who weren’t expected to compete for anything in the SWAC this year will play an elimination game at Eddie G. Robinson Stadium this weekend.
Offensive edge goes to Bethune-Cookman, while Grambling has to figure out what their quarterback situation will be.
Against a Wildcats offense that averages north of 31 points per game, it will be tough, but the Tigers’ magic streak of the last few weeks can continue as well with a solid defensive effort and some breaks here and there.
Prediction: Bethune-Cookman 30, Grambling 24
Benedict (8-1, 6-1 SIAC) at Savannah State (4-5, 3-4 SIAC), Saturday Nov. 8, 3 p.m. EST, SIAC Network
Savannah State will have plenty of fans in Frankfort, Kentucky this weekend as they look to upset Benedict and give Kentucky State, provided they beat Lane, a trip to the SIAC championship game against Albany State.
The trouble with those hopes is outside of a loss to the Golden Rams, the Tigers have been a force on the defensive side of the ball and getting just enough offense to win.
Expect the same this weekend as an Albany-Benedict rematch for all the marbles will likely be clinched with a BC win.
Prediction: Benedict 23, Savannah State 13
Week 11
Saturday, Nov. 8
North Carolina Central 34, Norfolk State 20
South Carolina State 30, Howard 21
Texas Southern 27, Alcorn State 14
Prairie View 27, Alabama A&M 24
Florida A&M 25, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 20
Jackson State 34, Mississippi Valley State 14
Alabama State 31, Texas Southern 18
Alcorn State 23, Southern 17
UT-Martin 33, Tennessee State 16
North Carolina A&T 19, Stony Brook 17
Elizabeth City State 29, Bluefield State 23
Emory and Henry 27, Shaw 19
Bowie State 35, Lincoln (Pa.) 13
Fayetteville State 24, Winston-Salem State 20
Virginia Union 34, Virginia State 32
Edward Waters 31, Allen 27
Albany State 32, Fort Valley State 14
Miles 27, Tuskegee 24
Kentucky State 35, Lane 15
Clark Atlanta 28, Morehouse 27
Frostburg State 30, West Virginia State 20
Lincoln (Mo.) 14, William Jewell 13
Oklahoma Panhandle State 33, Texas College 21
Langston 31, Nelson 27
Louisiana Christian 34, Arkansas Baptist 17
Florida Memorial 26, Ave Maria 23
Sacred Heart 35, VUL 13
Gordon State 32, Barber-Scotia 14
