NEW YORK/Fuquay-Varina, N.C.– For the third straight week, the Tigers of Grambling State (7-1) sit atop the latest editions of the Boxtorow.com/BASN HBCU FCS coaches and media top 10 football polls.
Winners of seven straight games, the Tigers received eight of 13 first-place votes in the coaches’ poll while receiving 14 of the 18 first-place nods in the media poll.
In fact, the top four teams in the media poll remained the same. Undefeated Bethune-Cookman (8-0) is second, followed by another unbeaten team, the Golden Rams of Albany State (9-0) at No. 3. South Carolina State (6-2) is fourth, while Jackson State (6-2) rounds out the top five.
The remainder of the media poll includes Tuskegee (7-2) at six and Saint Augustine’s at seven. Morehouse (7-2) is eighth, followed by Hampton (5-3) at ninth, and Winston-Salem State (8-2) rounding out the poll at 10.
As for the coaches’ poll, Grambling State, Bethune-Cookman, and South Carolina State are 1-2-3 for the second straight week. Jackson State and Texas Southern (5-3) are four and five, respectively.
The remainder of the poll includes Florida A&M (5-3) at six, Hampton in seventh place, followed by Prairie View A&M (5-4) at No. 8. Alabama State (5-3) and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (4-4) are tied for ninth.
Among the key games this weekend is Albany State against Fort Valley State in the 21st Annual Fountain City Classic at Columbus, Ga., for the South Interscholastic Athletic Conference crown. Bethune-Cookman is at Hampton in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference contest, while Saint Augustine’s hosts Shaw in Raleigh, N.C., for the Central Interscholastic Athletic Association Southern Division crown and the right to play in the CIAA championship game on Nov. 13. Jackson State travels to Montgomery to meet Alabama State in a key Southwestern Athletic Conference Eastern Division matchup at the Cramton Bowl.
Below are both the coaches and media’s top-10 Power Rankings through Nov. 1:
HBCU Media Top-10 Poll
School/ Wins-Losses/ Points
1. Grambling State/ 7-1/ 175
2. Bethune-Cookman/ 8-0/ 163
3. Albany State/ 9-0/ 143
4. South Carolina State/ 6-2/ 130
5. Jackson State/ 6-2/ 94
6. Tuskegee/ 7-2/ 67
7. Saint Augustine’s/ 8-1/ 64
8. Morehouse/ 7-2/ 33
9. Hampton/ 5-3/ 31
10. Winston-Salem State/ 8-2/ 26
Also receiving votes: Fort Valley State (8-1) 23, Texas Southern (5-3)?21, Florida A&M (5-4) 20, Shaw (7-2) 19, Prairie View A&M (5-4) 3.
FCS HBCU Coaches Top-10 Poll
School/ Wins-Losses/ Points
1. Grambling State/ 7-1/ 125
2. Bethune-Cookman/ 8-0/ 121
3. South Carolina State/ 6-2/ 101
4. Jackson State/ 6-2/ 81/
5. Texas Southern/ 5-3/ 76
6. Florida A&M/ 5-3/ 65
7. Hampton/ 5-3/ 42
8. Prairie View A&M/ 5-4/ 28
9. Alabama State/ 5-3/ 20
10. Arkansas-Pine Bluff/ 4-4/ 17
Also receiving votes: Morgan State (4-4) 8, Alcorn State (4-4) 2, Norfolk State (3-5) 1, Tennessee State (3-5) 3.
