Benedict Tigers (6-1, 4-1 SIAC) at Albany State Golden Rams (3-4, 3-2 SIAC)
 
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET
Location: ASU Coliseum
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: Benedict College Athletics Albany State Athletics
Series: Albany State leads the series, 20-4, dating to 2002
Last Meeting: Albany State 14, Benedict 12, Nov. 29, 2025 (NCAA second round)
 
ALBANY, Ga. – The 20^th/23^rd ranked Benedict College Tigers play their final road game of the season at one of their biggest nemeses - the Albany State Golden Rams.
 
Last year, Benedict lost just three games all season, but all three were at the hands of the Golden Rams, including a narrow 22-16 defeat in the SIAC championship game in Albany. Two weeks later, Benedict and Albany met again in the second round of the NCAA championship, and Albany escaped with a slim 14-12 victory.
 
Historically, Benedict has struggled against the Golden Rams. Albany State leads the all-time series 20-4, including 2-9 all-time in the ASU Coliseum. The Tigers last won in Albany in 2022, a 24-20 victory en route to Benedict's first-ever SIAC championship.
 
This year's game also has championship implications. The Tigers, ranked third in the first NCAA NPI regional rankings, are in the chase for a return trip to the conference championship game. Benedict is one of four teams in the SIAC standings with one conference loss heading into the final three games of the regular season, and can't afford to stumble down the stretch.
 
Albany State, at 3-4 overall and 3-2 in the conference standings under new head coach David Bowser, can play the role of spoiler. The Golden Rams are coming off a 17-14 loss at Tuskegee last week, in a game that saw Tuskegee score the game-winning touchdown with under three minutes left in the game. That loss likely knocked the defending SIAC champions out of the 2026 title chase.
 
This contest will see two of the SIAC's top programs in recent memory renew a strong rivalry. The two have combined for four of the last five SIAC championships with Albany State winning titles in 2021 and 2025 and Benedict capturing the crown in 2022 and 2023.
 
This game will be a battle between Benedict's powerful ground game and Albany State's stingy run defense.
 
The Tigers enter the game with the SIAC's top rushing offense, averaging 210.1 yards per game with their stable of three talented backs in David Smith, the reigning SIAC offensive player of the week; Christopher Johnson, a freshman power back; and A'chean Durant, the senior veteran. They run behind a big and experienced offensive line.
 
The Golden Rams, on the other side, lead the SIAC in fewest rushing yards allowed. The "Dirty Blue" defense allows just 87.6 yards per game on the ground. They also lead the SIAC in total defense (284.7 yards per game) and scoring defense (19 points per game). Last week against Tuskegee, they gave up 115 yards rushing to Tuskegee on 35 attempts, an average of 3.2 yards per carry. Albany State also leads the SIAC in third-down conversion defense, allowing opponents to convert on just 24.1 percent on third-down attempts.
 
Luckily, the Tigers pride themselves on a balanced offense, averaging 409.1 yards of offense per game. The Tigers average nearly 200 yards per game through the air. Jett Peddy and Gianni Mascolino combined for an efficient 13-of-21 passing in last week's victory over Edward Waters for 129 yards.
 
The Albany State offense averages 311.9 yards per game, which ranks them ninth in the SIAC. Their offensive line has given up an average of 8.71 tackles for loss per game, which ranks them 155^th out of 159 Division II schools. They also rank near last, 157^th, in sacks allowed, surrendering 4.14 sacks per game.
 
The Tigers are coming off a four-sack performance against Edward Waters last week. The Benedict defense also leads the SIAC with 10 interceptions, which is 12^th best in Division II.
 
The Tigers also have the edge in special teams play. Benedict is second in the nation with four blocked punts, leads the SIAC in net punting, is second in kickoff returns, and leads the conference in kickoff return defense.