SIAC Flexes Its Muscle In Sweep of the CIAA
The SIAC went 3-0 against the CIAA during opening weekend, highlighted by Benedict’s dominant victory over defending conference champion Johnson C. Smith.
The first big statement of the 2026 HBCU football season came from the SIAC.
And it was difficult to miss.
The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference swept all three of its opening-week matchups against the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, finishing 3-0 against its Division II HBCU rival.
Fort Valley State rallied to beat Elizabeth City State 17-14.
Benedict stunned nationally ranked Johnson C. Smith 32-10.
Allen rolled past Livingstone 37-16.
Add it all together and the scoreboard told an even more convincing story:
SIAC 86, CIAA 40.
It was only one weekend in a long season, but for a conference looking to establish itself as one of the strongest leagues in HBCU Division II football, the SIAC could not have asked for a much better start.
Benedict delivers the weekend’s biggest statement
If there was one result that immediately grabbed national attention, it was Benedict’s.
Johnson C. Smith wasn’t simply another nonconference opponent.
The Golden Bulls entered 2026 as the defending CIAA champions after a 10-win season and NCAA Division II playoff appearance. They also entered the matchup nationally ranked.
Benedict made all of that seem irrelevant.
The Tigers controlled the game on both sides of the football in a 32-10 victory.
Quarterback Jett Peddy threw for 227 yards and two touchdowns, while David Smith rushed for 117 yards on 14 carries.
Peddy also connected with Zackery Watkins on a 97-yard touchdown pass that helped Benedict establish an early advantage.
Johnson C. Smith managed to cut Benedict’s lead to 16-10 early in the third quarter.
That was as close as the Golden Bulls would get.
Benedict scored the final 16 points and shut out JCSU for the remainder of the game.
The Tigers finished with 435 yards of offense, rushed for more than 200 yards and forced two turnovers.
It wasn’t just a win.
It was the kind of performance that can change how a team is viewed nationally.
Benedict entered the season expected to contend in the SIAC. After beating the defending CIAA champion by 22 points, the Tigers showed they may have aspirations that extend well beyond their conference.
Fort Valley State refuses to fold
Fort Valley State’s victory looked much different.
The Wildcats had to fight for theirs.
Trailing Elizabeth City State 14-3 entering the fourth quarter, Fort Valley State appeared headed toward an opening-week road loss.
Instead, the Wildcats came alive.
Isai Nathaniel connected with Myles Smith for a seven-yard touchdown that pulled Fort Valley State within 14-10.
Then came the drive that changed the game.
Fort Valley State marched 93 yards on 13 plays before Michael Caballero scored on a five-yard touchdown run with 1:47 remaining.
The Wildcats suddenly had a 17-14 lead.
Their defense made sure it stayed that way.
Isaiah Carter intercepted Elizabeth City State on the Vikings’ ensuing possession to complete the comeback.
Fort Valley State forced three interceptions and did not allow Elizabeth City State to score in the second half.
For the Wildcats, it was a road win built on patience, defense and late-game execution.
Those are qualities that tend to matter when conference championship races begin tightening later in the season.
Allen brings the fireworks
Allen didn’t need a fourth-quarter comeback.
The Yellow Jackets simply overwhelmed Livingstone.
After falling behind 10-7 in the first quarter, Allen took control and scored 23 unanswered points during the second and third quarters on the way to a 37-16 road victory.
The offensive numbers were impressive.
522 total yards.
Quarterback Brent Upshaw Jr. completed 17 of 25 passes for 333 yards and two touchdowns without throwing an interception.
Running back Javis Floyd rushed for 158 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries.
Allen finished with 333 yards through the air and 189 on the ground.
The Yellow Jackets also controlled the football for more than 36 minutes and held Livingstone to 3-of-13 on third down.
For a team that closed the 2025 season with four consecutive victories, the opening-week win showed that momentum may have carried into a new season.
Allen has now won five straight games dating back to last year.
SIAC grabs early bragging rights
The CIAA-SIAC debate has been part of HBCU Division II football for years.
Which conference is deeper?
Which one has the better teams?
Which league is more physical?
Which conference is more prepared to make noise in the NCAA Division II playoffs?
Three games in August aren’t going to settle those arguments.
But the SIAC certainly grabbed the opening talking point.
SIAC vs. CIAA
Fort Valley State 17, Elizabeth City State 14
Benedict 32, Johnson C. Smith 10
Allen 37, Livingstone 16
Record: SIAC 3-0
Combined score: SIAC 86, CIAA 40
The sweep becomes even more notable considering two of the three victories came on CIAA home fields.
Fort Valley State went to Elizabeth City and won.
Allen traveled to Livingstone and won by three touchdowns.
Benedict took care of perhaps the CIAA’s biggest prize by beating its defending champion by 22.
Three games produced three different formulas.
Fort Valley State showed resilience.
Benedict showed dominance.
Allen showed explosiveness.
The end result was the same.
A win for the SIAC.
There is far too much football remaining to declare one conference superior to another. Both leagues will have championship races, rivalry games and postseason opportunities that ultimately shape how the 2026 season is remembered.
But opening weekend provided the first piece of evidence.
And this one belonged entirely to the SIAC.
Three games. Three wins. A clean sweep.
For at least one weekend, the SIAC didn’t just flex its muscle against the CIAA.
It landed the first punch in the 2026 HBCU Division II football debate.