CFB Zeitgeist
June 22, 2026 · Dead Period · Heritage Window · 2026 Outlook

Edward Waters University

5-5 2025 final

Edward Waters is the Tiger founded in 1866 (the first HBCU in Florida) that brought football back to life in 2012 after a 15-year hiatus, and now plays every Saturday as a gift to the university and the city of Jacksonville.

The Tigers wait in the brush.

Record
5-5
win% .500
D2 Top 25
Conf Standing
Playoff Path
Building résumé
Dead PeriodOffseasonPatientPost-loss — diagnostic
The Long Wait·Offseason

Edward Waters is the Tiger founded in 1866 (the first HBCU in Florida) that brought football back to life in 2012 after a 15-year hiatus, and now plays every Saturday as a gift to the university and the city of Jacksonville.

Title DroughtSince 1964 · 61 yrs

Edward Waters started the 2025 season 3–0 (historic hot start for the program's comeback), then settled to a 5–5 final record (4–4 SIAC). Coach Brian Jenkins was elevated from interim to permanent in 2025, signaling institutional…

low signal
Read the full program story ↓

Offseason

69 days

until kickoff · Sun Aug 30 · 17:00 UTC

Act I

The 2026 Outlook

The Pulse on Edward Waters University

Quiet · dead period heritage · signal ramps back in camp
The Tigers wait in the brush.

What moved it — offseason · last 30 days

June Dead-period quiet — official-visit + heritage window
Camp Fall camp ~40 days out
"Go Edward Waters" — Edward Waters University fanbase · recurring line
0 mentions · awaiting signal

Aspiration Ladder

Brief Part III §33.4 · Edward Waters University

Winning record

The baseline for a successful season.

Conference title

Earns a Super Region playoff qualifier bid.

Super Region qualifierLocked

Entry into the 32-team national bracket.

McKinney, TXLocked

The Division II national championship game.

Edward Waters University · Next-Season Outcome Band

Floor / Base / Ceiling

floor3-9Rebuild year. Below .500.
base5-7Mid-table finish.
ceiling8-4Conference title race. Bracket qualifier in range.

Variance assumed at ±2 wins from last-season record. Replace with the season-path projection once preview data is built.

Act II

Who We Are

D2 Program Prestige · Edward Waters University

Mid-Major Contender

D2 Playoff Contender — consistent Super Region participant, regional force.

T1Regional
T2Mid-Major
T3Power
T4National
T5Blue Blood
T6Dynasty
T7All-Time

Fanbase Health Index · Edward Waters University · low confidence

Growing (58)

DecliningStableGrowingSurging
On-Field — 5-5 (50% win rate)58

Home-Field Advantage · Edward Waters University · 2018-present

Strong

48% home win rate vs 41% on the road. margin runs +8.5 better at home.

Home12-13Away10-14
Act III

Last Season Reviewed

2025 season · tap to expand

Recent Form · last 10 games

Cold

One of five. The film room is busy this week.

Streak L2Last 5 · 1-4Last 10 · 5-5

SIAC Standing · 2025

5th in the SIAC

Edward Waters University sits 5th of 13 in the SIAC at 5-5. Mid-conference — moves up or down depend on rivalry results and the late-season closing run.

#ProgramRecord
1Albany State GA12-2
2Benedict College10-3
3Kentucky State9-3
4Allen6-5
5Edward Waters5-5
6Fort Valley State4-6
7Savannah St4-6
8Tuskegee4-7
9Central State (OH)3-7
10Clark Atlanta3-7
11Morehouse College3-7
12Miles College3-8
13Lane College0-10

Schedule Strength · Edward Waters University · 2025

Balanced

Average opponent win rate 48% across 10 finalized games. Balanced slate across the conference slate.

Opp Win %0.489

Moment of the Year · Edward Waters University · 2025

Won 41-14 at Savannah St

Week 1 of 2025. A statement margin. Recruiting boards re-rendered overnight.

Decisive Margin

From the Archive — Edward Waters University

2023: Won 41-17 vs Virginia University Of Lynchburg

In 2023, the program won 41-17 vs Virginia University Of Lynchburg — a comfortable home result that left the 24-point margin on the books.

The Tigers earn their dinner.