DURHAM, N.C. – The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association revealed the 2025 preseason football poll at their annual CIAA Football Media Day on Wednesday.

Elizabeth City State was selected to finish ninth in the CIAA according to the coach's association.  First-year head coach, Adrian Jones, will look to turn the program around after the Vikings posted a 3-7 overall record 1-6 mark in the CIAA during the 2024 season.

Defending CIAA Champion and NCAA DII playoff participant, Virginia Union, was selected to finish first overall.  Johnson C. Smith was selected to finish second.  The Golden Bulls started the 2024 campaign with eight straight wins before falling in the final two games of the regular season.  Virginia State, Fayetteville State, and Winston-Salem State round out the top-five.

Bowie State, Livingstone, and Shaw are predicted to finish above the Vikings, while Lincoln (PA) and Bluefield State round out the poll.

Terrance Holland and Darius Satterfield were selected to represent the Blue and White on the All-CIAA Preseason team.

Holland, named as a return specialist, tallied nearly 600 return yards last season including a season-high 118 yards against Shaw.  The Jacksonville, N.C. native also recorded nearly 300 receiving yards and led the Vikings with five touchdowns.

Satterfield earned the preseason nod as a kicking specialist notching 57 punts averaging 38.6 yards including a 61-yard punt against Bowie State.  The Mebane, N.C. native tallied seven punts of 50-plus yards and 11 punts inside-the-20.

The full list of the CIAA preseason poll and preseason All-CIAA team can be found here.