PHOTO | TROY HULL

Fayetteville State receiver David Baros (80) turns upfield against J.C. Smith defender Jordan Geter in an Oct. 22 CIAA football game at Eddie McGirt Field. Fayetteville State, which won the CIAA title game Nov. 12 with a 31-28 decision against Chowan, will play at Delta State (Miss.) Saturday in the NCAA Division II playoffs.

For the first time in five years, two CIAA teams are heading to the NCAA Division II football playoffs.

Fayetteville State, which won the conference title with a 31-28 win against Chowan, will go to Delta State as the No. 7 seed in Super Region Two while Virginia Union will host Wingate in Richmond, Va.

The last time two CIAA teams earned playoff bids in the same year was in 2017 when conference champ Virginia State earned the second seed in Super Region Two and Bowie State was fourth.

Virginia Union (9-1), which has been ranked in the top 10 nationally for most of the season, are ranked fourth overall in the region. The Panthers, paced by running back Jada Byers, the CIAA offensive player of the year and coach of the year Alvin Parker, is returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2015. The Panthers are third in Division II scoring with 43.9 points per game while Byers is the nation’s top rusher at 1,809 yards.

Wingate (9-2), a member of the South Atlantic Conference, was 2-0 against the CIAA during the regular season with wins against Fayetteville State and Shaw.

The 9-2 Broncos, who last won the CIAA in 2009, rode the title game to leap into the Super Region II draw after being on the outside of the top seven leading up to the postseason. They’ll take on a Delta State squad that shared the Gulf South Conference title after a 10-1 regular season. The winner will advance to play the West Florida-Limestone winner on Nov. 26.

Undefeated Benedict (11-0), which beat Tuskegee for the SIAC title is the region’s No. 1 seed and the corresponding bye. The Tigers will host the Virginia Union-Wingate winner on Nov. 26.

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