The Game: Fayetteville State remains at home to take on Winston-Salem State in the final game of the CIAA regular season on Senior Day. The Broncos are 5-1 and currently tied for second place in the CIAA standings, playing for a chance to get to the CIAA Championship game. Kickoff at Luther "Nick" Jeralds Stadium is scheduled for 1:00 PM.
Head-to-Head History: Fayetteville State dropped last year's game to Winston-Salem State 37-31 on the road in double overtime. FSU has won four of the last five games over the Rams and is 5-5 over the previous 10 meetings. WSSU leads the all-time series with a 43-13-3 record dating back to 1946.
Players of the Week: Fayetteville State has received ten CIAA Player of the Week awards at various positions this season on offense, defense and special teams. Linebacker Matthew Leach, defensive back Keyshawn Monk and place kicker John Hernandez-Vargas are the three players that have earned multiple POTW awards at their positions. Leach is coming off a Week 9 Linebacker of the Week Award, his third of the year, for his performance last week against Johnson C. Smith in which he recorded12 total tackles (six solo).
Senior Day: In the final home game of the regular season 16 total Bronco seniors and grad students will be honored before the game. The group includes quarterbacks Joe Owens and Demari Daniels, tight ends Kahlil Ashley-Diarrah and Caden Davis, long-snapper Malachi Cord, offensive linemen Jolen Thompson and Malik Thompson, defensive linemen Marcus Thompson, Isaiah Boyd, Tajon Roach and Shawn Robinson, linebackers, Matthew Leach and Jamari Slade, defensive back Theniias Moss, plus wide receiver Marquan Williams.
Leach & Ashley-Diarrah Named to HBCU Legacy Bowl: FSU Tight End Kahlil Ashley-Diarrah and linebacker Matthew Leach have been named as participants in the 2026 Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl. Ashley-Diarrah leads all Bronco receivers with 31 receptions and is second with 313 receiving yards. Leach on the defensive side of the ball leads all Broncos with 66 total tackles and 8.0 tackles for loss. The Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl, presented by the Black College Football Hall of Fame, is a postseason all-star game showcasing the best NFL draft-eligible football players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The game will be broadcast live on NFL Network on February 21st in New Orleans.
Offense Rankings: Fayetteville State's offense enters this week ranked fifth in total scoring (27.7 PPG), sixth in rush yards per game (139.6) and tenth in passing yards per game (170.6). On the special team's side, FSU leads the CIAA with nine field goals made in 12 attempts. The Broncos have also scored at least 30 points in five of six conference games this season and are averaging 34.3 points per game in CIAA play.
Defense Rankings: On the defensive end FSU leads the CIAA with 33 total sacks, and is also tied for first in interceptions (10), third in total yards allowed per game (311.9) and tied for fifth in forced fumbles (7).
Quarterback Room: Since the start of conference play senior Demari Daniels has emerged as the Broncos starting quarterback. Daniels has completed 55.6% of passes this season for 1,307 total yards and nine touchdowns while also displaying his dual-threat ability with 388 rush yards and four TD's on the ground. FSU's quarterback room has plenty of depth with Joe Owens and Wilson Kargbo Jr. having also received starts under center this season.
