A Revamped Championship Weekend
The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association opened its 2026 football season with Media Day in Durham, North Carolina, signaling the start of what coaches and analysts expect to be one of the most competitive campaigns in recent memory.
Winston‑Salem State University (WSSU) arrived at the event represented by first‑year head coach Tory Woodbury alongside student‑athletes Chancellor Smith and Jayden Grimes, who will be key contributors as the Rams aim to improve on a fifth‑place preseason projection.
The preseason poll placed Virginia Union at the top, followed by Johnson C. Smith University, Fayetteville State University and Virginia State University, setting a deep field of contenders that promises heightened competition across the conference.
In response to the growing depth of the league, the CIAA announced an expanded Championship Weekend format that adds a Friday night game between the third‑ and fourth‑seeded teams, with the championship game itself scheduled for Saturday, November 14, at Durham County Memorial Stadium.
The winner of that Saturday contest will secure an automatic berth in the NCAA Division II Football Championship, underscoring the stakes for every program vying for postseason participation.
Season Outlook and Upcoming Schedule
Conference play is slated to begin in September, with the full regular season kicking off in late August, giving teams a compressed but intense schedule to jockey for position before the November championship events.
WSSU’s coaching staff and players say the new structure provides additional opportunities to showcase their talent, and they are focused on turning the projected fifth‑place forecast into a championship‑contending run.