Along with the arrival of CIAA Football Media Day comes the announcement of the Preseason Predicted Order of Finish, seeing the Virginia Union Panthers ranked at the top of the list ahead of the defending conference champion Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls.
In a historic 2025 campaign that saw running back Curtis Allen become the first HBCU player to win the Harlon Hill trophy, Virginia Union finished the regular season with a 9-1 overall record, including a perfect 7-0 mark against the CIAA to clinch its third straight conference championship appearance.
This included a 28-10 win against Johnson C. Smith (did not count toward Virginia Union’s conference record), whom they would meet in the CIAA championship game.
However, in the title game, the Panthers fell short against Johnson C. Smith, surrendering five passing touchdowns in a 45-21 loss.
This marks the second time in the past three seasons that a team that didn’t win the CIAA championship was picked to finish first in the conference’s Predicted Order of Finish the following year (Virginia State was picked first in 2024 over defending champion Virginia Union).
Coming up behind Johnson C. Smith is in-state rival Fayetteville State in third, followed by Virginia State in fourth, and Winston-Salem State completing the top five.
Despite being picked to finish atop the CIAA, Virginia Union only fielded one selection on the Preseason All-CIAA Team (punt returner Zyaire Tart).
Meanwhile, Johnson C. Smith leads all schools with six selections, three of which are offensive linemen.
Virginia State’s lone selection, quarterback and reigning All-CIAA Second Team member Rahsaan Matthews, highlights the Preseason All-CIAA team following a spectacular freshman season with the Trojans.
Matthews’ 236.1 passing yards per game average ranked second in the CIAA last season, adding 20 touchdowns to eight interceptions. He also compiled 439 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
On defense, Johnson C. Smith linebacker Vincent Hill is the only player from last year’s All-CIAA First Team to be selected to this year’s Preseason team.
Hill finished the 2025 season with 75 total tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, three pass breakups, and two quarterback hurries. This included nine tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, and 1.0 sacks in Johnson C. Smith’s first-ever Division II playoff game against Frostburg State.
