BALTIMORE, MD — Fayetteville State University will enter the 2026 Food Lion CIAA Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament with both programs carrying championship credentials into Baltimore.
The Fayetteville State men's basketball program dominated divisional play with a perfect 10–0 record, securing the title of Southern Division Champions. FSU enters the CIAA Tournament as the No. 1 seed in the Southern Division.
Men's Quarterfinal Matchup
- Date: February 25
- Time: 8:50 PM ET
- Opponent: Winner of Bowie State (4N) vs. Livingstone (5S)
The Fayetteville State's women's basketball team finished divisional play 8–2, tying with Winston-Salem State for the Southern Division title. The Broncos are officially Co-Southern Division Champions and enter the tournament as the No. 2 seed.
Women's Quarterfinal Matchup
- Date: February 26
- Time: 6:00 PM ET
- Opponent: Winner of Virginia Union (3N) vs. Johnson C. Smith (6S)
The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) will host its annual Tip-Off Show on Sunday evening in Baltimore, Md. to present all regular-season ending awards.
"Fayetteville State University continues to embody what it means to be the Campus of Champions. Over the past several years, our programs have established a culture of excellence that is second to none—one built on discipline, pride, and an unwavering commitment to representing this institution at the highest level. Whether it's our women's basketball team capturing back‑to‑back CIAA titles and celebrating consecutive championship seasons, or our cross country and track programs extending their remarkable streaks of CIAA dominance, FSU has shown time and again what sustained success looks like.
This championship mindset resonates far beyond a single team or season. Under our department's collective leadership, nearly every program has contributed to our growing legacy, earning conference titles and runner‑up finishes while excelling academically and in the community. Ten of our eleven programs have combined for 28 championships over the last decade, a testament to the dedication of our coaches, staff, and most importantly, our student‑athletes.
At Fayetteville State, we don't just compete—we set the standard. And as we continue to build on this momentum, our commitment remains the same: to develop champions in every sense of the word and to uphold the prestige that defines Bronco Athletics."
TOURNAMENT BRACKET OVERVIEW
Women's Opening Round — February 24
- Claflin (3S) vs. Lincoln (6N) — 10:00 AM
- Livingstone (4S) vs. Elizabeth City State (5N) — 12:10 PM
- Bluefield State (4N) vs. Shaw (5S) — 2:20 PM
- Virginia Union (3N) vs. Johnson C. Smith (6S) — 4:30 PM
Women's Quarterfinals — February 25–26
- Bowie State (1N) vs. winner of Livingstone (4S) vs. Elizabeth City State (5N) — Feb. 25, 4:30 PM
- Winston-Salem State (1S) vs. winner of Bluefield St, (4N) vs. Shaw (5S) — Feb. 25, 2:20 PM
- Fayetteville State (2S) vs. winner of Virginia Union (3N) vs. Johnson C. Smith (6S)— Feb. 26, 6:00 PM
- Virginia State (2N) vs. winner of Claflin (3S) vs. Lincoln Pa, (6N)— Feb. 26, 12:00 PM
Women's Semifinals — February 27
Women's Championship — February 28
Men's Opening Round — February 24–25
- Shaw (4S) vs. Lincoln (5N) — Feb. 24, 6:40 PM
- Bowie State (4N) vs. Livingstone (5S) — Feb. 24, 8:50 PM
- Johnson C. Smith (3S) vs. Elizabeth City State (6N) — Feb. 25, 10:00 AM
- Bluefield State (3N) vs. Winston-Salem State (6S) — Feb. 25, 12:10 PM
Men's Quarterfinals — February 25–26
- Virginia State (1N) vs. winner of Shaw (4S) vs. Lincoln Pa. (5N) — Feb. 25, 6:40 PM
- Fayetteville State (1S) vs. winner of Bowie State (4N) vs. Livingstone (5S)— Feb. 25, 8:50 PM
- Claflin (2S) vs. winner of Bluefield State (3N) vs. Winston-Salem St. (6S) — Feb. 26, 2:00 PM
- Virginia Union (2N) vs. winner of Johnson C. Smith (3S) vs. Elizabeth City St. (6N) — Feb. 26, 8:00 PM
Men's Semifinals — February 27
Men's Championship — February 28
The complete tournament brackets can be viewed here:
Men's Bracket
Women's Bracket
TOURNAMENT EXPERIENCE & COVERAGE
The CIAA Tournament continues to be one of the most impactful cultural and athletic events in the country, with all 22 games streaming on ESPN+ and championship games airing on ESPNU.
For schedule, tickets, and fan events, visit the official tournament site.
For the latest information on the 2026 Food Lion CIAA Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament, visit ciaatournament.org and follow the CIAA on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.
