CFB-D2: Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Week 5 Release and Previews

As the second month of the 2024 football season commences, teams begin to separate themselves from the pack, inching closer to a postseason berth.  

Virginia State @ Johnson C. Smith (1:00 P.M.) 
Coming off a big 35-18 win over Fayetteville State, Virginia State hits the road to take on the hottest team in the conference, Johnson C. Smith. The Golden Bulls are coming off a huge 42-3 victory over Bluefield State to improve to 5-0. Their strong first half of the season helped them crack the top-25 in all of Division II, coming in at #23 this week.  

Bowie State @ Fayetteville State (1:00 P.M.) 
Bowie State and Fayetteville State face off this weekend for a chance to get back in the win column. The Bulldogs dropped a 28-14 contest to Winston-Salem State, while the Broncos played their third consecutive road game and fell to Virginia State, 35-18. The two teams have faced off seven times since 2009, with Bowie State winning the last four matchups and Fayetteville State winning the previous three before that.  

Winston-Salem State @ Virginia Union (1:00 P.M.) 
After a 14-point takedown of Bowie State, Winston-Salem State looks to continue their hot start as they head to the reigning champions, Virginia Union, who had a big 42-7 victory of their own and are playing in their second of three straight home games. In the last 20 years, both schools have faced off nine times, with the Rams holding a 6-3 advantage in those contests. The Panthers, however, have won the last two meetings, most recently in 2019.  

Lincoln (PA) @ Morgan State (1:00 P.M.) 
The lone CIAA school not participating against a conference counterpart is Lincoln (PA), who will take on Morgan State. The Lions are off to a slow start in 2024, coming in at 0-4, but will look to grab their first win against the Bears in their first-ever matchup. Last week, they suffered a nail-biting loss to Livingstone, 15-14. The Bears’ season has been a story of highs and lows; in their three losses, they’ve scored less than 10 points, but have also scored 30+ points in their two victories.  

Bluefield State @ Shaw (1:00 P.M.) 
Two teams coming off big losses will face off for a chance to right the ship, as Bluefield State hits the road to take on Shaw. The Big Blue managed just three points in a 42-3 loss against first-place Johnson C. Smith, while Shaw dropped their second game of the season to Virginia Union. 42-7. While in the same conference, the two teams have not faced off in recent history and will look to make their mark and move up in the standings.  

Elizabeth City State @ Livingstone (4:00 P.M.)  
The Vikings are coming off two weeks of rest thanks to an early-season bye and will head west to take on Livingstone for the first time in two seasons. The Blue Bears have had a nice first half of the season, coming into the matchup above .500 for the first time since 2019 when they were 4-1. They held ECSU scoreless when the two faced off in 2022, cruising to a 19-0 victory. Prior to the bye, the Vikings fell to Fayetteville State, 31-7.