The 2025 Division II HBCU football season was filled with exciting games that perfectly encapsulated the unpredictable nature of sports.
Here are 5 games from last season that stood out the most.
Edward Waters vs. Virginia Union
Edward Waters’ thrilling win over the then-defending CIAA champion Virginia Union was easily the biggest upset of the 2025 season.
After a sloppy opening quarter, during which each team committed turnovers on their opening offensive drives, the game began to pick up steam as it shifted to the next period.
Of the 14 offensive drives from the 12:42 mark of the second quarter to the end of the game, 10 of them culminated in scores, including seven touchdowns.
One particular sequence saw both teams combine for three straight touchdown drives in a span of two minutes.
Trailing 31-17 in the fourth quarter in the final 10 minutes, Virginia Union mounted a comeback by first capping a 75-yard drive with a nine-yard touchdown pass. On the ensuing defensive possession, they recovered EWU fumble, returning it 51 yards for a touchdown to tie the score 31-31 with 4:09 left.
It did not take long for Edward Waters to get the lead back, returning the following kickoff 90 yards for a score to go up 38-31 with 3:50 remaining.
After another Virginia Union score to tie the score again with 1:20 still on the clock, Edward Waters miraculously drove the ball down the field for the game-winning field goal as time expired.
Kentucky State vs. Grambling State
The most controversial finish on this list comes from Kentucky State’s overtime thriller against Grambling State.
Kentucky State started the game upset-minded, building a 14-0 lead that turned into a 21-10 lead with two minutes left in the first half.
Grambling trimmed its deficit down to one score before the end of the half, later taking the lead toward the end of the third quarter.
However, a muffed punt set off a run of 10 unanswered points for the Thorobreds that gave them a 31-24 advantage in the final two minutes of the game.
In the face of adversity, a string of big plays by quarterback C’zavian Teasett got the Tigers downfield, culminating in a 17-yard touchdown run to tie the game at the end of regulation.
The controversy comes in Kentucky State’s only drive in overtime, facing third-and-four with a chance to extend the drive.
After a pass is stopped short of the first down, and forward progress seems to stop as a pile of defenders pushes the receiver back, the referees allow the play to continue.
Grambling State took full advantage of the opportunity, forcing a fumble and returning it 83 yards for the game-winning touchdown.
Benedict vs. Edward Waters
Edward Waters makes the list once again, this time on the wrong side of the final result in their clash against Benedict.
Benedict entered this game looking to preserve its unbeaten record while Edward Waters, reeling after suffering its first conference loss against Kentucky State the previous week, was trying to remain in the SIAC title hunt.
The drama began with Benedict taking a 10-7 lead with less than a minute remaining in the first half, beginning a sequence that proved consequential in determining the winner.
On the second play from scrimmage after the ensuing kickoff, Edward Waters turned the ball over after Benedict forced and recovered a fumble, getting the ball back in position to score.
However, on their first play after the turnover, they fumbled the ball back to Edward Waters, who returned it 61 yards the other way, putting them in field goal range.
With a chance to tie the game on a 54-yard field goal, the kick was blocked by Benedict and returned for a touchdown to take a 17-7 lead at halftime.
Despite the setback, Edward Waters responded well, scoring the first points of the second half with a field goal, then tying the game on a 56-yard punt return touchdown.
After taking the lead in the fourth quarter with another field goal, the game turned into a track meet with both teams trading touchdowns back and forth.
This sequence ended with Benedict getting the final word, scoring with 29 seconds remaining to win and keeping its undefeated streak intact.
Johnson C. Smith vs. Fayetteville State
While the final score of 17-14 is not exactly indicative of a Game of the Year candidate, the backstory and the action on the field paint the picture of this magical matchup.
The previous year, Johnson C. Smith was primed for its first CIAA championship in school history, winning each of its first eight games, only needing one win to clinch a title berth.
Then they ran into Fayetteville State, suffering a damaging 27-0 loss followed by a 15-10 loss in the final week to Livingstone, putting a halt to their championship destiny.
Fast forward to 2025, and it’s now Fayetteville State who holds a perfect 5-0 conference record, needing a win over Johnson C. Smith, who sit a game behind them in the standings.
Cutting to the fourth quarter, trailing 10-0 at the start of the period, the Broncos scored two unanswered touchdowns to take a 14-10 lead with 3:28 remaining.
Faced with a repeat of their championship hopes falling by the wayside, the Golden Bulls came up clutch, driving the ball downfield for a touchdown with 13 seconds remaining to seal the win.
Johnson C. Smith further exorcised its demons by knocking off Livingstone the following week to officially clinch a berth in the CIAA championship game, where they would defeat Virginia Union to claim their first conference title since 1969.
Benedict vs. Wingate
Benedict’s Division II playoff win against Wingate was an extraordinary display of resilience in the face of adversity, producing what was easily the best finish to a game in Division II football last year.
For context, Benedict made the playoffs as an at-large bid after losing to Albany State in the SIAC championship game the previous week.
This meant the Tigers would be going on the road for a Division II playoff game for the first time in school history (their previous two appearances were at home) against a Wingate team that defeated them in their first-ever playoff appearance in 2022.
History looked like it was going to repeat itself as on the second play from scrimmage in the second half, Benedict threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown to put them down 24-0.
On the verge of being shut out, the Tigers’ defense gave the team a chance in the third quarter, forcing turnovers on three straight possessions.
The offense finally took advantage after the final turnover, converting it into a touchdown for their first points of the game.
Special teams then got in on the action, returning a blocked field goal for a touchdown, followed by another offensive touchdown to bring the lead back down to 24-19 with 3:36 remaining.
With 19 seconds left in the game, Benedict got the ball back with a chance to win the game.
After three incomplete passes, the Tigers pulled off a miracle hook-and-ladder play, taking the ball 86 yards down the field for the go-ahead touchdown as time expired, claiming their first Division II playoff win in school history.
