Campbell’s football team has reached uncharted territory. The Camels jumped into the national FCS Top 25 for the first time in program history after beating North Carolina A&T 42-14 on Saturday night.
Campbell (3-1, 1-0 CAA) landed at No. 22 in the Stats Perform media poll, released Monday morning. The Camels, who have been playing FCS football for 19 seasons, just missed appearing in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll, receiving enough votes to place them 27th.
Coach Braxton Harris’ team won just two games all of 2025 but have been one of the hottest stories in North Carolina college football so far this season. Campbell lost 28-25 to NC A&T a year ago in a game which they led in the fourth quarter but gave up two long-yardage kick-return touchdowns. Saturday’s rematch in Buies Creek was comfortably in hand by halftime.
On the offensive side of the ball, quarterback Kamden Sixkiller has been leading the charge. Sixkiller was named CAA Offensive Player of the Week on Monday following a 23-of-25 passing performance for 341 yards and four touchdowns against A&T. It was his second time earning the weekly honor.
Sixkiller threw three touchdown passes in the first half and another in the third period as Campbell built an insurmountable 35-7 lead. The transfer from McNeese State, who hails from Norman, OK, certainly hasn’t been a one-man show.
Sixkiller hit 10 different receivers in the win over the Aggies. ECU transfer receiver Jyron Waiters caught seven passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns. His second scoring play covered 70 yards midway through the second quarter. Chinua Ezeigbo added six receptions for a career-high 77 yards.
Running back JJ Cowan, who played at nearby Triton High, galloped for 134 yards and added 53 yards in receptions. He took a handoff 90 yards for a touchdown in the first minute to start the onslaught. He also caught one of Sixkiller’s TD throws and found the end zone a third time on a 1-yard plunge in the final period.
Kalen Villanueva paced the defensive stat sheet Saturday, making 10 tackles and recording a sack. DaVonyae Pettis added two sacks for 15 yards in losses. Vance Sheppert picked off two passes.
One of the unheralded stats from Saturday’s win came in special teams. Last season, NC A&T’s Elijah Kennedy returned a punt and kickoff for touchdowns in the fourth quarter to lift the Aggies to a comeback victory. In this matchup, Kennedy only touched the ball three times in the return game – gaining just two yards on two punt returns and 13 yards on a kickoff return.
For the season, Campbell is averaging 30.5 points and 456.5 yards per game. Those averages include a Week 3 contest at Florida, a 52-3 defeat against an FBS opponent from the SEC. Campbell’s other wins have come against Western Carolina (28-19) and ETSU (49-37).
The Camels will play on the road the next two Saturdays, visiting Hampton on Sept. 26 and North Carolina Central on Oct. 3, before getting a bye week.
Campbell is the only North Carolina team ranked in the Stats Perform FCS poll this week. Elon (3-1) received votes and was just a few spots shy at joining the Camels in the Top 25. The Stats Perform poll is considered the most authoritative media rankings for the FCS level.
👉 View final scores from this past weekend at our North Carolina College Football Scoreboard
👉 See who’s playing this weekend across the state: Week 4 North Carolina college football schedule
