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.
vs Bethune-Cookman 5 OT chaos:
— Kevin Batiste (@KBatisteJr)
1st OT: Both score TDs
2nd OT: Both score TDs & fail 2pt
3rd & 4th OT: Failed 2 pt attempts on pass plays
5th OT: Jags score on a run then call game on defense
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.
Kareem Keye punches it in! x
— Alabama State Football (@BamaStateFB)
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.
your first half highlights 📺 🔷🔶
— Morgan State Football (@MSUBearsFB)
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.
☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️
— Grambling - The Basketball School (@IamGramblingMan)
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.
🏈: 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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