RFC Small College Preview: Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)

Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)

2015 Football Standings--Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association

Looking back: The Winston-Salem State University Rams pulled off the biggest upset of the 2015 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) season, as they stunned a Bowie State (9-3 overall) team that cruised through the regular season unbeaten at 7-0 in league play. WSSU won the 2015 CIAA championship with a 17-14 win over the Bulldogs. Bowie State then advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs, where they fell to Assumption, 51-29, in the first round.

The only other CIAA squad to advance to postseason play was Virginia Union (8-3 overall in 2015). Just like their counterparts at Bowie State, the Panthers season also ended in the first round of the D-II dance, as Slippery Rock rolled to a 40-21 victory.

Looking ahead: Look for a competitive race for the CIAA gridiron crown in 2016.

Predicted order of finish (2015 overall record in parentheses):

1. Bowie State (9-3): The Bulldogs enter the 2016 campaign as the team to beat in the CIAA. Especially with 16 starters returning from the 2015 team.

2. Virginia Union (8-3): But don't be surprised if the Panthers have a say as to who comes out on top when all is said and done.

3. Winston-Salem State (6-5): Fresh off of a CIAA championship game win last year, don't count the Rams out of the title mix for this year, either.

4. Livingstone (5-4): The Blue Bears will look to build on their first winning season since 1998.

5. Chowan (6-4): The Hawks will look to soar even higher after finishing 4-3 in CIAA action last season.

6. Virginia State (6-4): The Trojans will look to stay competitive under new head coach Reggie Barlow, who spent eight years at Alabama State.

7. Johnson C. Smith (4-6): It was a season of "what might have been" for the Golden Bulls, as they lost five games by double digits in 2015.

8. Fayetteville State (4-6): The Broncos will leave the state of North Carolina only once in 2016. But it will be a big game on the road against Bowie State on October 1.

9. Elizabeth City State (4-5): On the other hand, the Vikings won't play their first home game of 2016 until, you guessed it, October 1. That's when they'll play host to Shaw.

10. St. Augustine's (1-9): The Falcons will face a tough road ahead after a rough 2015 season.

11. Lincoln (Pa.)--(3-7): A quick 2-0 start was quickly forgotten down the stretch for the Lions, finishing 1-7 the rest of the way in 2015. With the signing of multiple players during the offseason, they hope to make a serious move up in the standings for 2016.

12. Shaw (1-9): The beleaguered Bears hope to get off to a fresh start under new head coach Adrian Jones.


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