Main Story

Savannah State closes its conference road schedule Saturday against No. 15 Benedict, a 7-1 team still in contention for a Division II playoff berth. The matchup pits Benedict’s top-ranked SIAC rushing offense against Savannah State’s No. 2 rush defense. The Tigers are looking to turn a near-upset last week into momentum for next season.

By the Numbers
  • Savannah State: 1-7 overall, 1-5 in the SIAC; Benedict: 7-1 overall, 5-1 in the SIAC.
  • Benedict leads the series 15-4 and has won the past 4 meetings since Savannah State rejoined the SIAC.
  • Savannah State totaled 481 yards of offense and held Kentucky State to 21 rushing yards last week, but lost 27-24.
  • Benedict averages 31.13 points and 397.4 yards per game; its defense allows 17.75 points per game.
Yes, But

Savannah State has shown it can compete, but it has yet to win on the road this season. Benedict is unbeaten at home and brings a balanced, physical team—so the Tigers’ strong run defense will face a major test.

State of Play
  • Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 31, at 2 p.m. ET at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina.
  • The game will stream on ESPN+.
  • Savannah State quarterback RaShawn Truell enters with 1,101 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and 6 interceptions.
What’s Next

A road win would give Savannah State a meaningful lift heading toward the 2027 season. Benedict, meanwhile, needs to keep winning to strengthen its playoff case.

Bottom Line

Savannah State’s clearest path to an upset is to contain Benedict’s ground game and avoid the late mistakes that turned last week’s close contest into a loss.