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Stan Becton | krikya18.com | November 11, 2024

The Road to Atlanta: Southern, Morgan State rise in Week 12's HBCU football power rankings

Cam Ward UIW highlights: 10 TDS in just two FCS playoff games

Last week saw upsets of SWAC contenders while MEAC contenders separated themselves. It's time to take a look it all impacted the latest changes in the HBCU football power rankings from NCAA Digital's Stan Becton.

These are the 11th 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 12 HBCU football power rankings

RANK Team
1 Jackson State
2 South Carolina State
3 North Carolina Central
4 Tennessee State
5 Southern
6 Florida A&M
7 Alcorn State
8 Prairie View A&M
9 Alabama State
10 Morgan State
11 Hampton
12 Texas Southern
13 Grambling State
14 Norfolk State
15 Alabama A&M
16 Howard
17 Bethune-Cookman
18 Arkansas-Pine Bluff
19 Delaware State
20 North Carolina A&T
21 Mississippi Valley State

PAST POWER RANKINGS: Preseason | WK 2 | WK 3 | WK 4 | WK 5 | Wk 6 | Wk 7 | Wk 8 | Wk 9 | Wk 10 | Wk 11

1. Jackson State | SWAC | 8-2 (6-0) | Prev: 1

Jackson State remains on top after beating Mississippi Valley State.

2. South Carolina State | MEAC | 7-2 (3-0) | Prev: 2

South Carolina State handled business against Howard, continuing its undefeated start to MEAC play.

3. North Carolina Central | MEAC | 6-3 (2-1) | Prev: 3

North Carolina Central stays put after a bye.

4. Tennessee State | OVC | 7-3 (4-2) | Prev: 5

Tennessee State moves up one spot after Florida A&M lost.

5. Southern | SWAC | 6-4 (5-1) | Prev: 8

It took five overtimes, but Southern got the job done against Bethune-Cookman. While the win wasn't the prettiest, it gets the Jaguars into the top five.

2024 HBCU football: Following the 2024 HBCU football season from start to finish

6. Florida A&M | SWAC | 5-4 (3-2) | Prev: 4

Florida A&M drops out of the top five after losing to Prairie View A&M. The Rattlers lost by 19 points, eliminating itself from the SWAC East race.

7. Alcorn State | SWAC | 4-5 (4-2) | Prev: 9

Alcorn State's 28 second-half points gave the Braves a pivotal win over Texas Southern to remain in SWAC West contention. 

8. Prairie View A&M | SWAC | 5-5 (3-3) | Prev: 11

Prairie View A&M returns to the top 10 after being Florida A&M.

9. Alabama State | SWAC | 5-4 (4-2) | Prev: 6

Alabama State falls after losing to Grambling State.

10. Morgan State | MEAC | 5-5 (2-1) | Prev: 12

Morgan State has won two straight games. That gets the Bears back in the top 10.

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11. Hampton | CAA | 5-5 (2-4) | Prev: 7

Hampton falls out of the top 10 after losing back-to-back games.

12. Texas Southern | SWAC | 3-6 (2-4) | Prev: 10

Texas Southern got its score doubled in a 42-21 loss to Alcorn State.

13. Grambling State | SWAC | 5-5 (2-4) | Prev: 15

Grambling State finally won a close game. It took a missed field goal, but the win brings a sense of relief to the Tigers who are finally back in the win column.

14. Norfolk State | MEAC | 3-7 (1-2) | Prev: 13

Norfolk State had a bye last week.

15. Alabama A&M | SWAC | 4-5 (2-3) | Prev: 17

Alabama A&M is 4-5 after putting up 52 points on Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Bulldogs have the potential to be a top-10 HBCU team by season's end if they finish strong.

16. Howard | MEAC | 4-6 (1-2) | Prev: 14

Howard has lost three of its last four games and the schedule doesn't get any easier with road trips to NC Central and Morgan State to close the season.

HOMECOMING SCHEDULE: Here's every 2024 HBCU football homecoming and classic in the FCS

17. Bethune-Cookman | SWAC | 2-8 (2-4) | Prev: 18

Bethune-Cookman nearly won its third game out of its last four, but the Wildcats couldn't score a two-point conversion in overtime. While that game goes down as a loss, it showed that Bethune-Cookman may be better than its record shows.

18. Arkansas-Pine Bluff | SWAC | 3-7 (2-4) | Prev: 16

Arkansas-Pine Bluff lost big at home to Alabama A&M dropping the Golden Lions in this week's rankings.

19. Delaware State | MEAC | 1-9 (0-3) | Prev: 19

Delaware State ran out of gas against Morgan State. 

20. North Carolina A&T | CAA | 1-9 (0-6) | Prev: 20

North Carolina A&T lost to Villanova last week.

21. Mississippi Valley State | SWAC | 0-10 (0-6) | Prev: 21

Mississippi Valley State remains winless.

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The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NCAA or its member institutions.

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