7.Texas Southern University ( 1-1, 0-0)
Texas Southern enters the week ranked 7th. New head football coach Cris Dishman got his first career win in their convincing 27-9 win over Prairie View in the season-opening Labor Day Classic. Texas Southern was taken to the woodshed by Rice 69-7 in their most recent outing and they look to bounce back when take on Lamar this week.
6.Howard University (2-1, 0-0)
Howard defeated Morehouse 35-21 Saturday in the HBCU NYC Football Classic to get their second consecutive win and move to 2-1 on the season. The Bison currently boasts the
most proficient rushing attack in the MEAC, currently averaging 186.3 yards per contest. Running back Jarrett Hunter is second in the conference, averaging 92.0 yards per game, only trailing his quarterback, Ja’Shawn Scroggins who averages 94.5 rushing yards per game. The Bison take on Hampton next week in Battle of the Real HU/ Truth & Service
Classic.
5. Grambling State University (2-1, 0-0)
Grambling moves into the fifth position, coming off an overtime defeat to Texas A&M Commerce 35-28 to open a season 2-1 for the first time since 2017. Up next for new head coach Mickey Joseph’s club is a home non-conference tilt against Jackson State on September 21.
4. Tennessee State (2-1, 0-0)
Saturday night Tennessee State defeated Arkansas Pine Bluff 41-28 in the 35th Southern Heritage Classic. This marks the second straight season Eddie George’s team has started as season 2-1. Both of the Tiger's two wins on the young season have come against SWAC opponents, having defeated Mississippi Valley 41-21 in the season-opening John A. Merritt Classic. The Tigers kick off Big South-OVC play this week against Tennessee Tech.
3. Hampton Pirates (2-1, 0-0)
Hampton enters the poll at number 3, coming off a smothering 37-7 beatdown of Norfolk State in the Battle of the Bay that moves them to 2-1 on the season. The Pirate's defense held the Spartans to just 99 yards of total offense on the afternoon and just 3 first downs through the first three-quarters of play. Hampton plays Howard in the Battle of Real HU next week.
2.Jackson State (2-1, 0-0)
The Tigers took care of Southern 33-15 in wire-to-wire fashion Saturday night, marking their fifth consecutive defeat of the Jaguars. The Tigers were defeated 30-14 by Louisiana Monroe in their season opener but bounced back with a 58-7 of SIAC opponent Lane College. Jackson State heads to Grambling, LA next week to take on Grambling.
1. Florida A&M (2-1, 0-0)
The Rattlers of Florida A&M were on a bye this week. In their last outing, FAMU was blown out 56-9 by Miami in a contest that, at times was more competitive than the score would indicate. FAMU has victories over Norfolk State in the seasonopening MEAC/SWAC Challenge as well as former long-time MEAC foe South Carolina State. It doesn't get much easier for new Rattlers head coach James Colzie III and his club as they hit the road to Troy, Alabama to face the Trojans of Troy University.
ABOUT DR. CAVIL'S INSIDE THE HBCU SPORTS LAB
As part of Dr. Cavil's Classic Cuts Weekly HBCU Sports Series, The THG Agency produces Dr. Cavil's "Inside the HBCU Sports Lab with Mike Washington and Charles Bishop on KCOH 1230 AM radio in Houston, TX. The show explores the exciting mixture between the HBCU sports scene (The Sporting HBCU Diaspora, HBCU Sports Culture, and HBCU Athletic Aesthetics in Cultural Identity, including the teams, bands, coaches, classics, homecomings, and content creation. Inside the HBCU Sports Lab airs live on the Black College Sports Network (BCSN) and on Facebook, YouTube, X (Twitter), and other social media platforms each and every Tuesday and Thursday at 7PM ET/6PM CT. During football season the show additionally airs on Sunday at 10AM ET/9AM CT.
ABOUT DR. CAVILS POLL RANKINGS
Dr. Cavil has released a poll every season since 2002, ranking the top football programs in HBCU. Dr. Cavil was the first to separate the Major Division (FCS) and the Mid-Major Division (NCAA D-II and NAIA) into two distinct polls.
ABOUT BLACK COLLEGE SPORTS NETWORK
The Black College Sports Network (BCSN) is the first online media outlet dedicated to LIVE coverage & broadcasting of HBCU sporting events on a weekly basis. The BCSN is the first international digital media network dedicated to providing it viewers and listeners, with the news, entertainment and LIVE sports programming from an African/Urban centered perspective. The BCSN is the flagship product of the JERICHO Broadcast Networks (JBN) and has been broadcasting online since 1998!
