Week seven of the Division II HBCU football season was a chaotic one for the SIAC, seeing one of its top contenders take its first conference loss in a surprising result.
Entering the weekend with one of the top offenses in the SIAC, and a perfect 3-0 record in the conference, Edward Waters was unceremoniously knocked off its perch by Kentucky State in a 42-14 loss.
As a result, there are now just two remaining teams with unblemished conference records in the SIAC (Benedict and Albany State), while Edward Waters joins Kentucky State on the outside looking in.
Meanwhile, in the CIAA, Fayetteville State kept up its winning ways by taking down Livingstone to maintain its lead in the conference standings.
The Broncos remain a half-step ahead of the reigning conference champion Virginia Union, who will have a chance to even the playing field as Fayetteville State enters its week off.
Here is how these results impacted the latest rankings in the Ultimate HBCU Sports Division II Football Poll in Week 7.
Rank | Team | Week 7 Result | 2025 record |
1 | Benedict | 14-7 W vs. Fort Valley State | 6-0 |
2 | Albany State | 32-7 W vs. Clark Atlanta | 5-1 |
3 | Kentucky State | 42-14 W vs. Edward Waters | 5-2 |
4 | Virginia Union | 37-18 W vs. Elizabeth City State | 5-1 |
5 | Johnson C. Smith | Idle | 5-1 |
6 | Fayetteville State | 38-14 W vs. Livingstone | 4-3 |
7 | Edward Waters | 14-42 L vs. Kentucky State | 4-2 |
8 | West Virginia State | 28-21 W vs. Concord | 4-2 |
9 | Savannah State | 23-20 W vs. Allen | 3-3 |
10 | Bluefield State | 30-27 W vs. Lincoln (PA) | 3-3 |