It’s Saturday in the Carolinas, and the CIAA is carrying the load. Five North Carolina HBCUs kick off this afternoon, UNC closes the night in Chapel Hill, and a few of our other teams already got their work in earlier this week. Here’s your game day guide.
Today’s Kickoffs at a Glance
All times Eastern. CIAA games are listed on the CIAA Sports Network, per NC Football News. Check your school’s athletics site for stream links.
- 1:00 PM – Johnson C. Smith at Bowie State (CIAA Sports Network)
- 1:00 PM – Shaw at Virginia Union, VUU Homecoming at Hovey Field, Richmond (CIAA Sports Network)
- 1:00 PM – Winston-Salem State at Lincoln (Pa.) (CIAA Sports Network)
- 2:00 PM – Elizabeth City State at Livingstone, Salisbury (CIAA Sports Network)
- 2:00 PM – Fayetteville State at Bluefield State, Bluefield, W.Va. (CIAA Sports Network)
- 7:30 PM – Syracuse at North Carolina, Chapel Hill (ACC Network)
JCSU Takes Its Perfect CIAA Record on the Road
Johnson C. Smith comes in 6-1 overall and 5-0 in the CIAA after beating Lincoln 40-6 in front of its own Homecoming crowd last week, according to the CIAA’s Week 7 recap. Now the Golden Bulls head to Bowie State, which is 3-2 in league play but coming off a 48-7 loss to Virginia Union. A win keeps Charlotte’s HBCU in the driver’s seat of the title race.
Shaw Walks Into Virginia Union’s Homecoming
This is the toughest ticket on the board for a Carolina team. Virginia Union is 6-1 (5-0 CIAA) and riding a six-game win streak, and the Panthers get to do it in front of their Homecoming crowd at Hovey Field. Shaw (4-4, 2-4 CIAA) needs a reset after a 76-13 loss to Virginia State last week. Expect a big VUU atmosphere and a Bears team with something to prove.
Fayetteville State Rides Momentum Into West Virginia
The Broncos rolled Elizabeth City State 43-7 on their Homecoming last week and now travel to Bluefield State. Per Fayetteville State Athletics, the defense is giving up just 18 points per game, but Bluefield State can throw it, averaging 250.8 passing yards with 26 touchdown passes. QB Jamir Dismukes threw for 205 yards and three scores last week, and DB Zyking Patillo picked off two passes and blocked a punt. Broadcast and live stats are at fsubroncos.com/gameday.
WSSU Looks to Stack Wins, Livingstone Back Home
Winston-Salem State got its first win of 2026 last week, 43-14 over Bluefield State, and now visits Lincoln (Pa.), per the CIAA. Livingstone is fresh off a bye and hosts Elizabeth City State at 2 PM in Salisbury, according to the Blue Bears’ schedule. It’s not Homecoming (that was Oct. 3), but it’s a chance to get right at home.
UNC Is the Favorite This Time
Bill Belichick’s Tar Heels are 4-2 (2-1 ACC) after winning close road games at Pitt and Duke, and the Duke win brought the Victory Bell back to Chapel Hill, per Field Level Media. Syracuse is 2-4 and still looking for its first ACC win, but Belichick isn’t sleeping on them: “I don’t think their record is indicative of the talent they have.” Watch Orange receiver Umari Hatcher, who went for 224 yards against Louisville, and keep an eye on UNC’s backfield after Benjamin Hall left the Duke game early. Kickoff is 7:30 PM on ACC Network (FBSchedules).
Already Played This Week
- NC Central 31, Delaware State 12 (Friday, at Dover). The Eagles improve to 3-5 (theScore). Howard comes to Durham Oct. 31.
- Duke 19, Virginia 16 (Friday, in Charlottesville), per theScore.
- Stanford 31, NC State 28 (Friday, in Stanford). The Pack cut it to three late but couldn’t recover the onside kick and fall to 3-4 (GoPack). Cal visits Raleigh for Homecoming Oct. 31.
- App State 34, James Madison 31 (OT) (Thursday, in Boone). Malachi Singleton threw for 271 yards and two scores as the Mountaineers moved to 5-2 and handed JMU its first loss (FOX Sports).
Off This Week
NC A&T is on a bye at 3-5 after beating Chicago State 27-12 (NC Football News). Rest up, Aggies: the Greatest Homecoming on Earth is next Saturday, Oct. 31, against Elon at Truist Stadium (NC A&T Athletics). Charlotte is also off this weekend.
Sources
- NC Football News: 2026 NC college football master schedule
- CIAA: Week 7 recap
- Fayetteville State Athletics: Broncos travel to Bluefield State
- Livingstone Athletics: 2026 schedule
- Field Level Media: UNC a favorite as it hosts Syracuse
- FBSchedules: TV selections for Oct. 24
- NC State Athletics: Wolfpack unable to get past Stanford
- FOX Sports: JMU vs. App State box score
- NC A&T Athletics: GHOE date set
