BOWIE STATE WINS 3rd CONSECUTIVE BCSN TITLE

A.D. Drew • December 20, 2021

BOWIE STATE WINS 3rd CONSECUTIVE BCSN TITLE

December 20, 2021
A.D. Drew | Black College Sports Network

The Bowie State Bulldogs, once again, have been crowned the Black College Football National Champion by the Black College Sports Network (BCSN) for the Under DI Division. The 2021 title is the 3rd consecutive championship that the BCSN has awarded the Bulldogs. Under the leadership of Head Coach Damon Wilson, Bowie State (BS U) finished the season 12-2, with their two losses to FCS, HBCU, Delaware State in week 1, 32-24 and NCAA Division II runner-up Valdosta State, 41-17, in the Super Region 2 championship game. The Bulldogs led all HBCU football programs in 2021 in victories (12) and post-season victories (2). 

Bowie State was undefeated in the regular season against NCAA Division II opponents, including a 7-0 record versus the CIAA, defeating Fayetteville State in the CIAA championship game 17-7, and an impressive victory on the road at New Haven (Connecticut).  New Haven also advanced to the NCAA Division II football playoffs (Super Region 1), losing in the regional semifinals. 

The Bulldogs earned a #2 seed in Super Region 2.  They defeated four, Top 10 regional teams, en route to their 12 victories. Bowie State boasted the top scoring defense in Division II, with its defense scoring 8 touchdowns on the season. The playoff seed was the best for an HBCU since Winston-Salem’s number 1 seed in 2012.  BSU reaching the regional finals was the best for an HBCU since Tuskegee in 2015.  Bowie State has not lost to a Division II opponent since week 6 of the 2018 season, going 33-6 overall (including playoffs) since 2018. 

Bowie State trailed Albany State (ASU) in the BCSN ranking that was released prior to the Division II playoffs. The Golden Rams finished the season 10-2, with a regular season loss, on the road, to national runner up Valdosta State, 21-3 in week 3 and a playoff loss, at home, to West Georgia, 23-7. ASU swept through the SIAC, defeating Miles in the regular season and in the SIAC championship game by a combined score of 62-3, and Top 10 regional conference rival Savannah State, 30-0.  The Golden Rams defense allowed the fewest points in Division II this season. ASU earned a #4 regional ranking.

The National Championship for Bowie is their 3rd National Championship, all consecutive (2018, 2019). The final rankings for the BCSN Under DI Division are as follows:


Team                      W L Points

Bowie St                12 2 1467

Albany St               10 2 1327

Savannah St            8 2 940

Fayetteville St          8 2 938

Langston                  7 3 874


While there will be a debate at the FCS level about who the HBCU National Champion is, Bowie State is definitely the undisputed Black College National Champion among the NCAA Division II/NAIA HBCUs.