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

Shaw University

2-8 2025 final

Shaw University is a historic HBCU in Raleigh whose football program is rebuilding after 2025, led by new coach Lamar Manigo who vows 'we don't want a rebuilding process' but faces years of work.

The Bears are in the woods.

Record
2-8
win% .200
D2 Top 25
Conf Standing
Playoff Path
Building résumé
Dead PeriodOffseasonPatientPost-loss — diagnostic
The Long Wait·Offseason

Shaw University is a historic HBCU in Raleigh whose football program is rebuilding after 2025, led by new coach Lamar Manigo who vows 'we don't want a rebuilding process' but faces years of work.

Title DroughtSince 2010 · 15 yrs

Shaw went 2-8 overall and 2-5 in CIAA in 2025, a disastrous season under new coach Lamar Manigo (hired January 2025, his first head coaching job). The season culminated in a 55-7 loss to Emory & Henry. Manigo is tasked with buildi…

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 Shaw University

Quiet · dead period heritage · signal ramps back in camp
The Bears are in the woods.

What moved it — offseason · last 30 days

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

Aspiration Ladder

Brief Part III §33.4 · Shaw 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.

Shaw University · Next-Season Outcome Band

Floor / Base / Ceiling

floor0-12Rebuild year. Below .500.
base2-10Mid-table finish.
ceiling5-7Conference 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 · Shaw 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 · Shaw University · medium confidence

Stable (45)

DecliningStableGrowingSurging
On-Field — 2-8 (20% win rate)41
Volume — 9 effective signal-N49

Home-Field Advantage · Shaw University · 2018-present

Strong

52% home win rate vs 30% on the road. margin runs +4.6 better at home.

Home12-11Away8-18
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 L4Last 5 · 1-4Last 10 · 2-8

CIAA Standing · 2025

10th in the CIAA

Shaw University is 10th of 12 in the CIAA at 2-8. The path to the title is steep — the focus is on playoff positioning and rivalry wins.

#ProgramRecord
1Johnson C Smith10-2
2Virginia Union9-3
3Fayetteville State6-4
4Virginia St6-4
5Livingstone5-5
6Elizabeth City State4-6
7Winston-Salem4-6
8Bluefield State3-7
9Bowie State3-7
10Shaw2-8
11St. Augustine's0-0
12Lincoln (PA)0-10

Schedule Strength · Shaw University · 2025

Balanced

Average opponent win rate 53% across 10 finalized games. Balanced slate across the conference slate.

Opp Win %0.533

Moment of the Year · Shaw University · 2025

Won 36-21 at Lincoln (PA)

Week 4 of 2025. The single game that defined the season's arc.

Decisive Margin

From the Archive — Shaw University

2023: Won 20-17 at Elizabeth City State

In 2023, the program won 20-17 at Elizabeth City State — a tight road result that left the 3-point margin on the books.

The Bears eat tonight.