There's a new No. 1 at the top of the HBCU football power rankings yet again. It's time to take a look at the latest HBCU football power rankings from NCAA Digital's Stan Becton.
These are the second rankings of the regular season. The rankings will be done weekly throughout the regular season, sorting each HBCU football team at the FCS level based on their performances this season. Nicknamed "The Road to Atlanta," the weekly power rankings lead to the annual meeting of HBCU football's two best teams at this year's Celebration Bowl held in Atlanta.
See the latest power rankings below.
The Road to Atlanta: 2024 Week 3 HBCU football power rankings
1. Jackson State | SWAC | 1-1 (0-0) | Prev: 2
Jackson State did what FCS teams are supposed to do to Division II teams — dominate. The Tigers defeated Lane by 51 points with over 400 yards of total offense.
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2. Florida A&M | SWAC | 2-1 (0-0) | Prev: 3
If Florida A&M wasn't ranked above Jackson State when it was undefeated, the Rattlers wouldn't move past the Tigers after losing to Miami.
3. North Carolina Central | MEAC | 1-1 (0-0) | Prev: 1
North Carolina Central is still my favorite to win the MEAC, but its loss against Elon shows that there likely isn't a MEAC team worthy of being in the top 30 FCS teams this year.
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4. Alabama State | SWAC | 1-1 (0-0) | Prev: 4
Alabama State bounced back with a win over Miles.
5. Tennessee State | OVC | 1-1 (0-0) | Prev: 5
Tennessee State showed that it was still not ready to hang out with the big dogs of the FCS after being blown out by North Dakota State.
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6. Morgan State | MEAC | 1-1 (0-0) | Prev: 7
Morgan State looks like the same old Morgan State after losing to Towson: a team with great defense and sub-par offense.
7. Texas Southern | SWAC | 1-1 (1-0) | Prev: 8
Texas Southern lost to Rice from the FBS, but a season-opening win over Prairie View A&M should have a lasting impact.
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8. South Carolina State | MEAC | 1-1 (0-0) | Prev: 9
South Carolina State had a three-point win over the Citadel. I expect plenty of one-score finishes for the Bulldogs this season. They'll be a hard team to put away.
9. Howard | MEAC | 1-1 (0-0) | Prev: 6
Howard fell three spots in the rankings because it needed a miracle to defeat Mercyhurst, which is in its first year of Division I play. That's not the standard the Bison have set.
10. Grambling State | SWAC | 1-1 (0-0) | Prev: 11
Grambling State handled Tuskegee for its first win of the year.
PAST POWER RANKINGS: Preseason | WK 2
11. Alcorn State | SWAC | 0-2 (0-0) | Prev: 10
Alcorn State hasn't scored a touchdown this year after opening with two FBS opponents. I can't have a team that hasn't scored a touchdown be in my top 10.
12. Southern | SWAC | 1-1 (0-0) | Prev: 13
Southern blasted Savannah State 42-10. Up next is a road nonconference game against Jackson State.
13. Norfolk State | MEAC | 1-2 (0-0) | Prev: 14
Norfolk State moves up one spot after escaping Virginia State.
14. Prairie View A&M | SWAC | 1-1 (0-1) | Prev: 12
Prairie View A&M got on the win column over Northwestern State, but I dropped the Panthers two spots because the win was very undisciplined in crucial fourth-quarter moments. Those mistakes will lead to losses against the better teams of the SWAC.
15. Hampton | CAA | 1-1 (0-0) | Prev:16
Hampton goes as Elijah Burris goes after the star running back ran for 145 yards and two scores. Meanwhile, quarterback Chris Zellous nor Malcolm Mays provide any hope that this Hampton team can contend — even at the bottom — in the CAA.
16. Delaware State | MEAC | 1-1 (0-0) | Prev: 17
Delaware State had a bye last week.
17. Alabama A&M | SWAC | 1-1 (0-0) | Prev: 18
The Alabama A&M offense accounted for 659 total yards against Kentucky State from Division II. If the Bulldogs can carry over this success against an FCS opponent, they'll climb the rankings.
18. North Carolina A&T | CAA | 1-1 (0-0) | Prev: 15
North Carolina A&T won, but I dropped them three spots because they needed overtime to defeat a Division II school.
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19. Mississippi Valley State | SWAC | 0-2 (0-0) | Prev: 19
Mississippi Valley State lost 28-14 to Lamar. The Delta Devils were within one touchdown entering the fourth quarter.
20. Arkansas-Pine Bluff | SWAC | 1-1 (0-0) | Prev: 20
A win over Arkansas Baptist — an NAIA school — won't move the needle for the Golden Lions.
21. Bethune-Cookman | SWAC | 0-2 (0-0) | Prev: 21
Bethune-Cookman hasn't scored a touchdown through two games.
🏈: Recapping the 2024 HBCU football season
📲 B/R:
📚 Football History: Top MEAC/SWAC Challenge moments | Individual stars | | Recapping 2022 | Recapping 2021
Championships: Jackson State wins 2024 Celebration Bowl | Tennessee State, NC Central win tennis title | Football title history | Track champions
🏟 Classics: Every HBCU Football Classic's history | Florida Classic | Bayou Classic | Can't miss atmospheres
🏀 HBCU hoops: Pac-12/SWAC series |1980s Alcorn State | NBA draft picks | Hall of Famers
👀 March Madness: Men's history | Women's history | Two HBCU wins in 2021 | HBCU vs. HBCU | Tournament upsets
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