South Carolina State is once again the undisputed No. 1 team in HBCU Football.
The Bulldogs were No. 1 in last week’s media poll and No. 2 in the coaches’ poll, but with Jackson State’s 21-14 loss to Alabama State, the Bulldogs moved to the top spot in the coaches’ poll.
South Carolina State received 18 of 20 first place votes in the media poll, while receiving 11 of 13 first place votes in the coaches’ poll.
In the media poll, Bethune-Cookman moved up one spot from last week to No. 2 after its controversial 35-31 victory over Hampton on Sept. 22. Alabama State with its 21-14 victory over previously unbeaten Jackson State moved them up one spot from last week to No. 3 this week, four points behind the Wildcats. Albany State moved to No. 4, up from the sixth spot last week, while Jackson State fell to No. 5.
The remainder of the media poll sees Hampton and Norfolk State tied at No. 6, with the Pirates moving down a spot and the Spartans moving up one spot from last week.
Winston-Salem State remains at No. 8, while Florida A&M is No. 9 and Texas Southern reenters the poll at No. 10.
As for the coaches poll, the Bulldogs edged out Alabama State for first place by three points as the Hornets received two first place votes. Bethune-Cookman remained at No. 3, followed by Norfolk State at No. 4. Jackson State, who was No. 1 amongst the coaches’ last week, fell to No. 5.
Hampton found itself tied at No. 6 once again, this time with Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Texas Southern also reentered the coaches’ poll at No. 8, followed by Florida A&M at No. 9. The Alabama A&M Bulldogs enter the poll for the first time this year at No. 10 this week.
For the first time ever, Grambling State, who lost to Alabama A&M on Saturday 20-14 and is 1-3 on the season, is not in either the coaches or media polls.
Key games this week include Texas Southern at Jackson State, Sept. 29, on national television, South Carolina State at Norfolk State, and Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Alabama A&M.
FROM THE PRESS BOX TO PRESS ROW (Boxtorow) is a nationally syndicated sports talk radio show that places major emphasis on HBCU Sports. ?The voters in the media poll are comprised of some of the top media members in the country who cover HBCU football. The coaches’ poll is voted on by the FCS HBCU coaches. The media poll is in its fifth year and the coaches’ poll is in its third.
