On Aug. 28, No. 10 ranked Virginia Union football will open the 2026 season at Lenoir-Rhyne at 6 p.m. ET in Hickory, N.C. Although this isn’t the game of the century, D2 football fans need to tune into tomorrow’s matchup.
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Here’s why:
Both Teams Are At The Top Of Their Conference
Virginia Union was selected as the preseason favorite in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Predicted Order of Finish, while Lenoir-Rhyne was slotted third in the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) polls. Defensive back Jymere Melendez and punt return specialist Zyaire Tart were named to the 2026 Preseason All-CIAA Team. The SAC designated several L-R Bears as preseason players to watch, including Tye Roberson (RB), Rubens Joseph (OL), Carnell Ferguson (DL) and freshman KJ Whitehead (DB).
This Is Game One Of A Virginia Union Playoff Run
We aren’t just guessing that the Panthers will make it to the postseason; rather, it’s almost inevitable that they will. Under the direction of head coach Dr. Alvin Parker, VUU has made four consecutive NCAA D2 Playoff appearances. In 2025, they went undefeated in conference play until the CIAA Championship game, where they fell 45-21 to Johnson C Smith.
Watch Lenoir-Rhyne’s Tye Roberson in Action
Redshirt-senior Tye Roberson is back for the Bears and is expected to tear up the turf this season. Last season, the AFCA First Team All-American honoree led the country with three kick return touchdowns and an average return of 41.92 yards, which ranks second in D2 history. The records don’t stop there; the running back ranked second across all NCAA divisions with the average. In mid-October, he ran for a season-best 98-yard kickoff return touchdown against Anderson.
How To Watch D2 Football In 2026
Hundreds of Division 2 football games will stream live on FloCollege and the FloSports app.
Game replays, highlights and breaking news will also be available on both platforms.
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