HBCU Football Week 12 gives us championship games, key conference battles and maybe a surprise or two.
Your friendly neighborhood HBCU football prognosticator has your predictions for what promises to be a fun weekend of football.
As usual, before we pick this week’s game, let’s look back at Week 11’s predictions.
Week 11 Record: 23-8
2025 Overall Record: 221-67
Best pick: Johnson C. Smith 31, Livingstone 21 (Golden Bulls won 26-21, are in the CIAA title game for the first time in over 50 years…let’s see what happens now that they’re there…)
Worst pick: Texas Southern 27, Alcorn State 14 (Braves won 35-17, pretty much eliminating TSU from the SWAC West race)
Game Of The Week: South Carolina State (7-3, 3-0 MEAC) at North Carolina Central (7-3, 2-1 MEAC), Friday Nov. 14, 5 p.m., EST, ESPN2
Thanks to ESPN’s bass-ackwards scheduling, the most important game on the MEAC schedule to date will begin at rush hour in the Bull City.
That said, plenty is on the line. The Bulldogs have not lost a conference game since Chennis Berry’s arrival last season, and they look to set up a potential championship game showdown at Delaware State next week.
To do that, they’ll have to go through an Eagles squad with revenge on their mind following last season’s controversial loss in Orangeburg.
Central is missing leading rusher Chris Mosley, but A.J. Rodgers fills in admirably and Walker Harris continues to have an offensive player of the year-caliber season at quarterback.
Lineman Thomas Johnson leads an angry NCCU defense that doesn’t allow much in the passing game.
They’ll be tested by James Madison transfer Billy Atkins, who has given South Carolina State a boost with his strong arm.
If Central wins, quite the interesting three-way tiebreaker is in play. If South Carolina State wins, they’ll be one win away from a return trip to Atlanta.
Expect this game to be one of the year’s best in HBCU Football.
Prediction: South Carolina State 28, North Carolina Central 24
Virginia Union (9-1, 7-0 CIAA) vs. Johnson C. Smith, (9-1 6-1 CIAA), CIAA Championship Game, Durham County Memorial Stadium, Durham, North Carolina, Saturday Nov. 15, 3 p.m. EST, CIAA Network
The Panthers went through the CIAA schedule unbeaten, including a 28-10 over the Golden Bulls September 20th.
JCSU had to sweat out some close games, including revenge games against Fayetteville State and Livingstone, to get to the title game, so they already know this game will be tough.
The question is can they slow down Curtis Allen and the vaunted VUU running game? Either way, both teams appear headed for the NCAA Division II tournament, so the CIAA wins as a league.
Prediction: Virginia Union 31, Johnson C. Smith 21
Benedict (9-1, 7-1 SIAC) at Albany State (9-1, 8-0 SIAC), SIAC Championship Game, Saturday Nov. 15, 1 p.m. EST, ESPN+
The Golden Rams battered the Tigers 31-3 in Columbia three weeks ago, so having home field advantage makes matters tougher for Benedict.
Defense for both teams will be key as both will need to be lights out to keep the game from getting away.
Albany State’s offense has been more consistent and now that Isaiah Knowles is back at quarterback, they look like a dark horse for a long run in the NCAA Division II tournament.
That run likely starts with a SIAC championship win.
Prediction: Albany State 30, Benedict 16
Bethune-Cookman (5-5, 4-2 SWAC) at Jackson State (7-2, 5-1 SWAC), Saturday Nov. 15, 1 p.m. EST, theGrio
JSU can wrap up another SWAC East title against a shorthanded Bethune-Cookman team still reeling from last weekend’s dust-up at Grambling.
Unless the Tigers completely forget how to play football and the Wildcats who make the trip play out of their minds, you can pencil in a W for the home team.
Prediction: Jackson State 27, Bethune-Cookman 13
Week 12
Saturday, Nov. 15
Delaware State 20, Howard 14
Norfolk State 24, Morgan State 21
Texas Southern 27, Alcorn State 14
Prairie View 34, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 20
Florida A&M 26, Alabama A&M 25
Alcorn State 21, Grambling 17
Texas Southern 23, Southern 14
Alabama State 35, Mississippi Valley State 17
William & Mary 33, Hampton 18
Monmouth 34, North Carolina A&T 16
Gardner-Webb 32, Tennessee State 17
Kentucky State 33, Shorter 23
Allen 34, Erskine 19
Charleston 30, West Virginia State 15
Lincoln (Mo.) 14, William Jewell 13
Langston 24, Oklahoma Panhandle State 23
Florida Memorial 28, St. Thomas 17
Fort Lauderdale 27, VUL 16
