BENEDICT TIGERS (2-0, 0-0 SIAC) AT FORT VALLEY STATE WILDCATS (1-1, 0-1 SIAC)
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET
Location: Wildcat Stadium — Fort Valley, Ga.
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: Fort Valley State Live Stats
Series: Fort Valley State leads, 25-10
Last Meeting: Benedict 14, Fort Valley State 7 — Oct. 11, 2025
 
FORT VALLEY, Ga. – The 19^th-ranked Benedict College Tigers open SIAC play on Saturday afternoon, traveling to take on Fort Valley State in the Wildcats' home opener at 1 p.m.
 
The 2-0 Tigers, also ranked No. 1 in a pair of D2 HBCU polls, have looked strong in their first two games of the season and have had a week off to prepare for their conference opener against the 1-1 Wildcats, who are also coming off a bye week.
 
Despite having to replace nearly the entire starting lineup after last season, the Tigers defense is once again proving to be the catalyst for this team. Through the first two games, Benedict leads the SIAC and is 19^th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing opponents 15 points per game. Benedict leads the SIAC in several passing defense categories, including passing yards allowed and passing efficiency defense.
 
The Tiger defense will be up against a Fort Valley State team that averages 335 yards of total offense, including nearly 200 yards passing per game.
 
After opening the season with a 17-14 victory over Elizabeth City State, the Wildcats had a 23-7 fourth-quarter lead against Tuskegee two weeks ago, only to see the Golden Tigers rally with 17 unanswered points, including the game-winning field goal as time expired.
 
Benedict opened the season with a dominating 32-10 victory over highly-regarded Johnson C. Smith, and followed that with a 24-20 victory at Shorter that saw the Tigers capitalize on a pair of big fourth-quarter plays to secure the victory.
 
The Wildats may try to test Benedict's run defense, which has struggled at times so far this season. Johnson C. Smith's Fabian Duncan rushed for 148 yards in the season opener, while Shorter's David Hill rushed for 88 yards, but averaged 4.6 yards per carry. Fort Valley State rushed for 213 yards in that close loss to Tuskegee, averaged 6.7 yards per carry, and had a pair of runs of more than 40 yards.
 
Offensively, the Tigers have demonstrated a nice balance between the run and the pass, averaging 178.5 yards per game on the ground and 215.5 yards per game through the air. David Smith is averaging 101.5 yards per game on the ground, while quarterback Jett Peddy has been efficient, completing 44 percent of his throws for 424 yards, three touchdowns and has not thrown an interception. Zackery Watkins and Tamyrion "TJ" Hatch are his top targets.
 
The game could come down to the play of special teams, an area that Benedict head coach Ron Dickerson Jr., stresses. Punter Garrett Hyder ranks third in the SIAC and 18^th in the nation in punting, averaging 44.9 yards per punt and his ability to pin opponents deep has been key in the two victories. The Tigers also rank second in the SIAC and 16^th in the nation in kickoff returns, averaging 27.25 yards per return.
 
After this week, the Tigers have a short turnaround, and will take on Tuskegee in Alabama on Thursday, Sept. 24 in a nationally-televised ESPN2 game.