NEW YORK/Fuquay-Varina, N.C. – There were a few changes but not a whole lot of major turnovers in this week’s Boxtorow.com/BASN HBCU media and coaches top 10 HBBC Power Rankings football polls.
The Grambling State Tigers (6-1) and the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (7-0) remained No.1 and 2, respectively, after wins by both this past weekend.
Grambling State running back sensation Frank Warren recorded his third 200-yard rushing performance this year (27 carries, 209 yards) as the Tigers defeated Mississippi Valley State 35-14 to remain undefeated in SWAC play. Bethune-Cookman defeated North Carolina Central 23-10 in Durham, N.C.
This week the Tigers received 18 of the 22 first-place votes in the media poll and 12 of the 16 first-place nods in the coaches’ top 10.
Albany State (8-0) and South Carolina State (5-2) remained No. 3 and 4 in this week’s media poll, while Winston-Salem State (8-1) climbed back into the No. 5 spot.
Jackson State’s (5-2) loss to Texas Southern dropped them one spot to No.6, while Tuskegee (6-2) moved up to No. 7, Hampton (5-2) fell one spot to No. 8, Saint Augustine’s (7-1) moved up a spot to No. 9 and Morehouse (6-2) fell two spots to No. 10 after falling to Tuskegee 13-12.
As for the coaches poll, South Carolina State Texas Southern (4-3) and Hampton are three, four, and five, respectively.
The rest of poll includes No. 6 Jackson State, No. 7 Florida A&M (4-3), No. 8 Prairie View A&M (5-3), No. 9 Arkansas-Pine Bluff (4-3) who climbs back into the poll and No. 10 Morgan State (4-3), who appears in the poll for the first time this year.
Games this week include the Boxtorow.com Game of the Week which will feature a nationally televised CIAA showdown between Winston-Salem State and Shaw in Durham, N.C. The victor could be one step closer towards securing the CIAA Southern Division.
Other games include Grambling vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the Literacy Classic in Little Rock, Ark., and Jackson State hosting Prairie View A&M for homecoming. Below are both the coaches and media’s top-10 Power Rankings through Oct. 25:
HBCU Media Top 10 Poll
School/ Wins-Losses/ Points
1. Grambling State/ 6-1/ 214
2. Bethune-Cookman/ 7-0/ 198
3. Albany State/ 8-0/ 168
4. South Carolina State/ 5-2/ 160
5. Winston-Salem State/ 8-1/ 119
6. Jackson State/ 5-2/ 81
7. Tuskegee/ 6-2/ 77
8. Hampton/ 5-2/ 69/
9. St. Augustine’s/ 7-1/ 46
10. Morehouse/ 6-2/ 28/
Others receiving votes: Florida A&M (4-3) 17, Prairie View A&M (5-3) 15, Texas Southern (4-3) 13, Fort Valley State (7-1) 11, Alcorn State (3-4) 4, Morgan State (4-3) 1, Shaw (6-2) 1.
FCS HBCU FCS Coaches Top 10 Poll ??
School/ Wins-Losses/ Points
1. Grambling State/ 6-1/ 155
2. Bethune-Cookman/ 7-0/ 148
3. South Carolina State/ 5-2/ 116
4. Texas Southern/ 4-3/ 98
5. Hampton/ 5-2/ 81
6. Jackson State/ 5-3/ 78
7. Florida A&M/ 4-3/ 73
8. Prairie View A&M/ 5-3/ 64
9. Arkansas-Pine Bluff/ 4-3/ 23
10. Morgan State/ 4-3/ 14
Others receiving votes: Tennessee State (3-5) 8, Alabama State (4-3) 6, Alcorn State (3-4) 6.
