Bowie State and Bethune-Cookman surge in HBCU football
Bowie State and Florida A&M delivered surprising results in the CIAA and SWAC, while Bethune-Cookman and Jackson State saw their conference standings shift.
By Nour Haddad ·
Upsets in Week 8 of HBCU football have reshaped conference races in the CIAA, SWAC, and MEAC. These results have altered championship trajectories for several teams just as the month of October ends.
In the CIAA, Bowie State defeated Morgan State 74-42. The loss snapped Morgan State’s winning streak and left the team with a one-loss conference record. Bowie State remains unbeaten in the league. The SWAC saw Bethune-Cookman gain ground with a 43-12 win over Jackson State. This result extended Bethune-Cookman’s winning streak to five games. Jackson State dropped to 3-1 in conference play, a setback in its pursuit of the league title.
The MEAC produced its first full conference slate this week, adding depth to the standings. Central State defeated North Carolina Central 41-20. The result kept Central State’s conference record at 1-0. In the SIAC, Tuskegee secured a 48-27 victory over Alabama A&M. Tuskegee leads the conference, while Alabama A&M has dropped to 2-5.
These outcomes have created new gaps between contenders and challengers. In the CIAA, Bowie State’s win over Morgan State demonstrates that an unbeaten record does not guarantee safety against strong opponents. The SWAC race remains tight, with Bethune-Cookman now holding a distinct advantage over Jackson State. The MEAC standings are beginning to take shape as teams accumulate wins and losses.
Additional results included a 26-14 win by Edward Waters over Tennessee Martin in the SIAC. Tennessee Martin’s loss extended its conference losing streak to three games. In the CIAA, North Carolina Central lost to Delaware 41-21. This was Delaware’s first conference win of the season. The MEAC also saw a 47-20 win by Virginia State over Hampton.
South Dakota State and Alabama State both recorded wins in their respective conferences. South Dakota State defeated Alabama State 24-10 in the SWAC. This win helped South Dakota State maintain its position near the top of the conference. Alabama State’s loss dropped it to 2-4 in league play. The week’s results concluded with several teams extending their winning streaks, setting the stage for the final month of the season.
