When the FCS playoff bracket dropped this November and HBCU powerhouses like Alabama State were nowhere to be found, the collective groan echoed across Black college football. The SWAC and MEAC champions headed to the Celebration Bowl instead of chasing the FCS crown, leaving a gaping hole in Division I's postseason narrative. But if you're hunting for HBCU championship glory in December 2025, there's only one team left standing: the Albany State Golden Rams.
And they're not just standing - they're dominating.
The Triple Crown: Beating Benedict Three Times in One Season
On November 29, 2025, Albany State accomplished something statistically absurd in college football: they defeated conference rival Benedict College for the third time in a single season, edging out the Tigers 14-12 in a nail-biting NCAA Division II playoff second-round battle.
Let's put this in perspective. Beating the same team three times in one season requires an almost impossibly rare alignment of circumstances. You need to face them in regular season, meet again in a conference championship, and then - against all playoff seeding odds - draw them once more in the postseason bracket. The probability? Astronomically low. Yet Albany State pulled it off, advancing to the NCAA Quarterfinals for just the third time in program history.
The Record-Breaking 12-1 Run
Albany State's 2025 campaign has been nothing short of spectacular. The Golden Rams finished the regular season with an 11-1 record and a perfect 8-0 mark in SIAC conference play, riding a blistering 10-game winning streak into the playoffs. Their only blemish? A season-opening loss to Valdosta State.
Under third-year head coach Quinn Gray - a former NFL quarterback and MEAC Hall of Famer - the Golden Rams have transformed into an offensive juggernaut. The numbers don't lie: Albany State averaged 34.5 points per game in 2024, ranking No. 1 in SIAC scoring offense. Their balanced attack features quarterback Isaiah Knowles, the 2024 SIAC Offensive Player of the Year, orchestrating an offense that's racked up over 2,600 yards and 22 touchdowns this season.
Filling the FCS Void
Here's the uncomfortable truth about HBCU football in 2025: the FCS playoff system has effectively shut out the conferences that house most historically Black colleges. The 24-team FCS bracket doesn't include SWAC or MEAC teams because those conferences prioritize the Celebration Bowl - a postseason matchup between their champions that serves as an alternative to NCAA playoff participation.
The result? No Alabama State. No Jackson State. No path for FCS HBCUs to compete for the Division I national title.
That makes Albany State's Division II run critically important. They're not just representing their school or the SIAC - they're carrying the banner for every HBCU football program excluded from the FCS conversation. They're the last realistic shot at an HBCU claiming a collegiate national championship this December.
What's Next: The Road to McKinney
Albany State now sits just two wins away from the NCAA Division II championship game in McKinney, Texas. Their quarterfinal matchup will test whether this historic season can continue its improbable trajectory.
The stakes couldn't be higher. While FCS HBCUs compete in exhibition bowls, Albany State is fighting for hardware - a legitimate NCAA championship that would cement their place in HBCU football lore and validate the Division II pathway as a viable route to national prominence.
The Bottom Line
Albany State's 12-1 record isn't just impressive statistics. It's a statement. In a landscape where HBCU football has been systematically sidelined from premier postseason opportunities, the Golden Rams have seized the moment in Division II. Their triple-crown victory over Benedict - a feat so rare it defies statistical probability - demonstrates both dominance and destiny.
As December unfolds, all eyes in HBCU football turn to Albany, Georgia. Quinn Gray's Golden Rams aren't just the last HBCU standing - they're standing on the precipice of history.
And they're not backing down.
