The 2025 HBCU football season features the CIAA and SIAC, MeAC and SWAC schools in a race that promises to be down to the finish line as they close out their regular-season affairs.
With that in mind, your friendly neighborhood HBCU Football Prognosticator has his work cut out for him. If these options go side by side … fill in the game.
Before these qualifiers, let’s go back to a successful week 10.
Week Nine Record: 21-5
2025 General note: 198-59
Top picks: Johnson C. Smith 24, Fayetteville State 21 (The Golden Bulls won 17-14. Part of the revenge, to go to each other this weekend …)
Worst pick: South 28, Arkansas-Shin Bluff 23 (The Golden Lions won 40-21 … If this were the NFL, the South would be completely tanked for the first pick. But this is … well …)
Game of the Week: Livingstone at Johnson C. Smith (5-4, 3-3 CIAA)
JCSU likely relied on Livingstone’s nightmare, which has pushed them out of the CIAA title game several times over the past year. Now, the Golden Bulls will have a chance for revenge in the nation’s oldest HBCU football rivalry.
One player Smith led the Blue Bears to the NCAA Division II in the NCAA division with 14 sacks is Edge Rusher Kenyon Garner.
Livingstone’s upset for the second year in a row will be key if you can’t find a way to check the Golden Bulls’ offense.
Kelvin Durham was second in conference passing yards (2,259) and touchdown passes (19); Running back Bobby Smith is in the top five in rushing and receivers Brian Lane (646 yards) and Deandre Proctor (642).
Smith had to live long enough to understand what it was to win with the lack of the past year. While LC is gearing up for a breakout season one of these years, this time it won’t be at JCSU’s expense.
Prediction: Johnson C. Smith 31, Livingstone 21
Delaware State (6-3, 2-0 Meac) at Morgan State (3-6, 0-2, 0-2 Meac) Friday 7, 7, ESPNU
The Hornets can close out their first winning season in 13 years with a win on national television, but it won’t come easy.
The Bears have found a gem in a Redshirt Freshman Quarterback Raymond Moore III, the signal quickly jumped on the Meac Leaderboard among callers.
Morgan State’s defense is still very stout, so the DSU ground game, which averaged a nation-leading 60 yards last week, should really struggle for those yards.
Prediction: Delaware State 24, Morgan State 16
Bethune Cookman (5-4, 4-1 4-1 SWAC), 8, Saturday, Saturday, SWAC TV
Two teams not expected to compete for anything in the SWAC this year will play an elimination game this weekend at Eddie G. Robinson Stadium.
The offense goes to Bethune-Cookman on the edge, Grambling has to figure out what the quarterback situation will be.
Averages of 31 points per game will be difficult, but the Tigers’ magical efforts of the last few weeks can continue with some breaks here and there.
Prediction: Bethune-Cookman 30, 24 Gramling
Benedict (8-1, 6-1) at Savannah State (4-5, 3-5, 3-5, 3-5, 3-4, 3-4)
Savannah State will have a lot of fans as they upset Kentucky State Benedict this weekend and give Kentucky State, Kentucky State if they travel to the SIAC championship game against Albany State.
The problem with those hopes is that outside of the loss to the Golden Rams, the Tigers have been a force on the defensive side of the ball and have had enough offense to win.
An Albany-Benedict narrative for the same marbles this weekend will close with a BC win.
Prediction: Benedict 23, Savannah State 13
Eleven weeks
Saturday, November 8
34 North Carolina Central, Norfolk State 20
South Carolina State 30, Howard 21
Texas 27 Alcorn State 14
27 Prairie View, Alabama A&M 24
Florida A&M 25, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 20
Jackson State 34, Mississippi Valley State 14
Alabama State 31, Texas 18 18
Alcorn State 23, 17th South
Ut-Martin 33Tennessee 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
mile 27, Tuskegee 24
Kentucky State 35, Lane 15
Clark Atlanta 28, MoreHouse 27
Frostburg State 30, West Virginia State 20
Lincoln (M.) 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
