Fabulous 15: Top four teams hold their ground for another week

The top line of our Fabulous 15 statewide college football rankings held strong for another week.

The first four teams on our list — Johnson C. Smith, North Carolina Central, Lenoir-Rhyne and Wingate — each won again on Saturday. Save for a blocked field goal at the end of regulation, the No. 5 Duke Blue Devils would have joined them in the win column (instead coach Manny Diaz’s squad fell 28-27 in OT when a 2-point try misfired).

This is a monumental week for our most fabulous Fab 15ers. Johnson C. Smith tackles long-time CIAA stalwart Fayetteville in its quest for a perfect regular season. Lenoir-Rhyne and Wingate will tackle each other in Hickory, with supremacy in the South Atlantic Conference’s Piedmont Division at stake. North Carolina Central faces an upstart South Carolina State team in a Thursday night clash that will shape the final legs of the MEAC championship race.

As for the Blue Devils, it’s on to Miami for a chance for Diaz and company to wreck the Hurricanes undefeated campaign.

A junior college team moves into our top five this week, their highest ranking ever in our Fabulous 15. It’s hard to leave Louisburg, now 7-2, any lower after its most recent performance, which included not allowing any points or first downs.

As for spots 6-15, there is still a lot of shuffling going on as kingdoms rise and fall with each passing week. Very few schools have enjoyed sustained success this season.

Thanks again to the North Carolina Sports Network for sponsoring our Fabulous 15. Check out their latest content, including The David Glenn Show, HERE (web) and HERE (YouTube).

Before we unveil this week’s Fabulous 15, remember our main criteria:

1) Which teams are having the most special seasons?

2) To qualify, schools must have a .500 record or better (there are 17 total this week)

3) At least one team from each major division of play (FBS, FCS, D2, D3/NAIA/JUCO) will be included on our list.

The Fabulous 15 | Week 9 Edition

1. Johnson C. Smith (8-0) | D2

Next Game: Saturday vs. Fayetteville State

The best start in a generation has now become the best start in program history. The Golden Bulls have two more hurdles to cross — rivals Fayetteville State and Livingstone over the next two weeks — to claim a perfect regular season and a spot in the CIAA title game. The championship contest in Salem, Va., is looking more and more like a JCSU vs. Virginia Union rematch.

2. North Carolina Central (6-2) | FCS

Next Game: Thursday at South Carolina State

The No. 20/21 Eagles have won five straight since losing on the Kenan Stadium turf in mid-September. J’Mari Taylor, who ran wild in a homecoming win over Morgan State this past weekend, has found the end zone at least once in every game this season. South Carolina State is 5-2 under new coach Chennis Berry and undefeated at home.

3. Lenoir-Rhyne (7-1) | D2

Next Game: Saturday vs. Wingate

The Bears turned to their defense to clinch a win over a scrappy Limestone squad. The Saints scored a touchdown with 1:13 left to pull within 21-19, but Na’Shawn Biggs and Royce Turner stacked up Limestone’s 2-point conversion attempt. Lenoir-Rhyne has picked off 15 passes this season (including two Saturday) and ranks third in the SAC in points allowed (16.6 per game).

4. Wingate (6-1) | D2

Next Game: Saturday at Lenoir-Rhyne

The D2 national rankings feature three SAC teams this week, but not the Bulldogs. Not sure why that’s the case. The ‘Dogs have a solid resume, with a win over a then-ranked Delta State squad. Wingate could change that with a win over the No. 12/16 ranked Bears on the road. Wingate won a nailbiter last season at home, scoring in the final minute.

5. Louisburg (7-2) | JUCO

Next Game: Saturday vs. Nassau Community College (at Potomac HS in Virginia)

We thought there must have been a mistake on the official box score following Sunday’s game at Brevard JV. But it was correct, the Hurricanes forced eight turnovers and held the Tornados to minus-69 yard rushing in a 60-0 shutout. Have mercy.

6. Duke (6-2) | FBS

Next Game: Saturday at Miami

Despite being +6 in turnover margin, the Blue Devils lost a heartbreaker to SMU, 28-27. Duke missed a field goal in the fourth quarter and had another blocked that would have won the game at the buzzer. This week brings the Manny Diaz Bowl, as the Devils first-year head coach faces the team he coached from 2019-21.

7. Wake Forest (4-4) | FBS

Next Game: Friday, Nov. 8 vs. California

Left for dead after a loss to Louisiana dropped them to 1-3, the Deacs have (somewhat quietly) salvaged their season. Wake has won three out of the last four (NC State, UConn, Stanford) — all on the road and all by one possession. A bye week will be followed by a four-game drive to reach bowl eligibility — Cal, UNC, Miami and Duke.

8. Winston-Salem State (6-3) | D2

Next Game: Saturday, Nov. 9 vs. Fayetteville State

Rams fans were disappointed by their team’s showing against Johnson C. Smith, the offense mostly non-existent. But WSSU remains in the hunt for a playoff spot, as evidenced by the team’s inclusion in the initial D2 Super Region rankings. Winston-Salem State will have to snap a four-game losing streak to Fayetteville State next week to get in.

9. Brevard (4-2) | D3

Next Game: Saturday vs. Methodist

A 60-yard pick-six from James Woods, a 23-yard pick six from Chase Pfeiffer and a 25-yard TD run from Jadien Deaton pushed the Tornados past a solid Huntingdon squad, Brevard’s first-ever win on the road in Montgomery, Alabama. Brevard remains in the hunt for the USA South title, with winnable conference games the next two weeks against in-state foes.

10. Shaw (5-4) | D2

Next game: Saturday vs. Livingstone

Ending a losing skid to Fayetteville State that went back to 2013 assured the Bears of earning at least a .500 record. It’s hard to believe, but Shaw will play its season finale this Saturday against Livingstone, a sixth win and a winning record on the line for each school. Too soon! We’ve really enjoyed following this high-scoring team this season.

11. NC State (4-4) | FBS

Next game: Saturday vs. Stanford

The Wolfpack, coming off a bye, will seek to go 2-0 against the ACC’s new West Coast contingent. Was the Oct. 19 win over Cal the catalyst for a more satisfying ending to what has been a mostly disappointing campaign? Transfer QB Grayson McCall retired from football officially last week, making this CJ Bailey’s show the rest of the way. He’s been a spark for sure.

12. Western Carolina (4-4)

Next game: Saturday vs. Chattanooga

Mercer scored 27 unanswered points to erase a 24-7 deficit and defeat the Catamounts in a crucial SoCon contest, 44-34. Instead of sitting on top of the conference standings all alone, WCU is now in a logjam of four one-loss teams. Title hopes likely fade with another SoCon defeat.

13. Davidson (5-3) | FCS

Next Game: Saturday at San Diego

Offense hasn’t been the problem for the Wildcats, who are averaging 40.9 points per game. The defense has been porous the past few games, though, giving up 48 points in back-to-back weeks. The ‘O’ couldn’t overcome that many points-against in Saturday’s loss to Butler.

14. Mars Hill (3-3) | D2

Next Game: Saturday vs. Emory & Henry

Quarterback JR Martin earned conference offensive player of the week honors after a monster game at UVA Wise. This week, Martin and the Lions will take on an Emory & Henry squad fresh off an upset of Carson-Newman. Mars Hill can muck up the SAC Mountain title race with an upset of its own this weekend.

15. Livingstone (5-3) | D2

Next game: Saturday at Shaw

The Blue Bears rank second in the CIAA in total defense (surrendering 282.0 yards per game), trailing only undefeated Johnson C. Smith. Davion Watkins ranks second in the league in tackles-for-loss with 13. Livingstone will need its stern defense against a high-powered Shaw team this weekend.

Outside Looking In: North Carolina (4-4) and East Carolina (4-4) are the only other NC schools with winning or .500 records at this point. If the Tar Heels and Pirates play like they did this past weekend, they’ll vault into — and upward — in future Fabulous 15 rankings.