Good luck trying to figure out D2 football in North Carolina so far this season. It has been an exciting ride for sure, but an unpredictable roller coaster at the same time.
Wingate was picked to win the South Atlantic Conference, and the Bulldogs already have three losses – and may already be in danger of losing out on the playoffs. Lenoir-Rhyne blasted Virginia Union on opening night but lost two of its next three games.
UNC Pembroke beat No. 9 Valdosta State 44-41 but lost 10-7 to a Fayetteville State squad that got beat by Valdosta 38-9.Mars Hill was picked last among North Carolina’s four teams in the SAC but they’re the only undefeated D2 program in the state right now with league wins over Catawba and Lenoir-Rhyne.
A roller coaster indeed.
So here we are at Week 4 of the North Carolina D2 football season with several crucial games on deck that could further sort out the conference picture in the CIAA and South Atlantic. Here are the matchups and what we’re watching today. As games start, we’ll fill in scores, and add notes and observations once the action wraps up.
🔗 Jump To: Today’s D2 Games | Live Scoreboard | What We’re Watching Today
🏆 More Scores: Full North Carolina College Scoreboard
Raise More for Your Football Program or Sports Team
Need to raise money for your team? Hour-A-Thon helps high school athletic programs raise funds through a simple, one-hour event built around players connecting with family, friends and supporters. No products to sell and no weeks-long fundraiser to manage. Learn more about Hour-A-Thon and what it can do for your program.
📅 North Carolina D2 Football Today | Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026
🔥CIAA Football Games Today
Bowie State at Elizabeth City State – 1 p.m., CIAA Sports Network
Records: Bowie State 0-3 | ECSU 0-3
Location: Elizabeth City, NC
Livingstone at Shaw – 1 p.m., CIAA Sports Network
Records: Livingstone 2-2 | Shaw 3-1
Location: Durham, NC
Virginia Union at Fayetteville State – 1 p.m., CIAA Sports Network
Records: Virginia Union 3-1 | Fayetteville State 2-2
Location: Fayetteville, NC
Winston-Salem State at Virginia State – 1 p.m., CIAA Sports Network
Records: WSSU 0-4 | Virginia State 3-1
Location: Ettrick, VA
⚡South Atlantic Conference Games Today
Mars Hill at Carson-Newman – 1 p.m., FloCollege
Records: Mars Hill 3-0 | Carson-Newman 4-0
Location: Jefferson City, TN
Lenoir-Rhyne at Anderson – 2 p.m., FloCollege
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne 2-2 | Anderson 3-1
Location: Anderson, SC
Catawba at Tusculum – 6 p.m., FloCollege
Records: Catawba 2-2 | Tusculum 2-2
Location: Greeneville, TN
UVA Wise at Wingate – 6 p.m., FloCollege
Records: UVA Wise 0-4 | Wingate 1-3
Location: Wingate, NC
💪 Conference Carolinas Games Today
Monroe at UNC Pembroke – 1 p.m., Conference Carolinas Digital Network
Records: Monroe 1-2 | UNC Pembroke 3-1
Location: Pembroke, NC
West Alabama at Barton – 4 p.m., Conference Carolinas Digital Network
Records: West Alabama 3-1 | Barton 1-3
Location: Wilson, NC
📊 Live Scoreboard: North Carolina D2 Football
Games for Saturday, Sept. 26 | Refresh your browser for the latest updates
| AWAY | SCORE | HOME | SCORE | STATUS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIAA TEAMS | ||||
| Bowie St |  ECSU | Sept. 26, 1 p.m. | ||
 Livingstone |  Shaw | Sept. 26, 1 p.m. | ||
| Virginia Union |  Fayetteville St | Sept. 26, 1 p.m. | ||
 WSSU | Virginia St | Sept. 26, 1 p.m. | ||
 JCSU | Idle | Next: at Bluefield St (10/3) | ||
| SOUTH ATLANTIC | ||||
 Mars Hill | Carson-Newman | Sept. 26, 1 p.m. | ||
 Lenoir-Rhyne | Anderson | Sept. 26, 2 p.m. | ||
| UVA Wise |  Wingate | Sept. 26, 6 p.m. | ||
 Catawba | Tusculum | Sept. 26, 6 p.m. | ||
| CONF CAROLINAS | ||||
| Monroe |  UNCP | Sept. 26, 1 p.m. | ||
| West Alabama |  Barton | Sept. 26, 4 p.m. | ||
 Chowan | Idle | Next: at W Alabama (10/3) |
What We’re Watching Today
🔥 Game of the Day: Mars Hill at Carson-Newman
Two unbeatens. Both 2-0 in conference play. Carson-Newman just rushed for 500 yards in a 42-7 win over UVA Wise. Mars Hill, meanwhile, held Lenoir-Rhyne to 16 net rushing yards, had seven sacks and won 15-7. The winner is sitting pretty in the SAC standings heading into October.
👀 CIAA game to watch: Virginia Union at Fayetteville State
The CIAA expanded championship weekend from two to four teams for 2026. Durham will now host a league title game and a third-place contest in mid-November. VUU vs. Fayetteville State was the actual CIAA championship game in 2023, and this year’s head-to-head could play a big role in determining who will be slotted where for that final conference weekend in Durham.,
📈 Can UNCP build on the upset?
The Braves just beat No. 9 Valdosta State 44-41. Now comes the classic danger after a huge win: taking care of business against Monroe, which is moving into Division II this season after years as a NJCAA Division I (junior college) powerhouse.
🐻 Is Shaw for real?
Shaw might be the most improved Division II team in North Carolina. The Bears are 3-1 and have won three straight under coach Lamar Manigo. They’ve done it with an offense averaging 31.5 points and more than 400 yards per game, including a rushing attack led by Fabian Diggs and Trey Thorpe.
Livingstone should provide an interesting test. The Blue Bears have won two straight and have shown a knack for turning games into physical, grind-it-out affairs. Both teams enter Saturday 1-1 in CIAA play, making this an early opportunity for one of them to establish itself in the conference race.
🚨 Desperation time for Wingate?
At 1-3, this is becoming a must-win type of afternoon against 0-4 UVA Wise. Wingate likely will have to win out and hope for help to contend for a post-season spot. This could be a good weekend to build momentum toward the stretch run.
