The top-five has a new look, led by a new No. 1 team. It’s time to take a look at the latest changes in the HBCU football power rankings from NCAA Digital’s Stan Becton.
These are the 10th 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 11 HBCU football power rankings
| RANK | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Jackson State |
| 2 | South Carolina State |
| 3 | North Carolina Central |
| 4 | Florida A&M |
| 5 | Tennessee State |
| 6 | Alabama State |
| 7 | Hampton |
| 8 | Southern |
| 9 | Alcorn State |
| 10 | Texas Southern |
| 11 | Prairie View A&M |
| 12 | Morgan State |
| 13 | Norfolk State |
| 14 | Howard |
| 15 | Grambling State |
| 16 | Arkansas-Pine Bluff |
| 17 | Alabama A&M |
| 18 | Bethune-Cookman |
| 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
1. Jackson State | SWAC | 7-2 (5-0) | Prev: 2
Jackson State scored 41-unanswered points to defeat Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Tigers haven’t allowed a second-half point in their last three games and haven’t allowed a third quarter point in their last four.
2. South Carolina State | MEAC | 6-2 (2-0) | Prev: 4
South Carolina State was in contention for the top spot after its upset win over North Carolina Central. However, an early-season loss to Florida A&M, an opponent which Jackson State beat, lands the Bulldogs second.
3. North Carolina Central | MEAC | 6-3 (2-1) | Prev: 1
North Carolina Central falls to No. 3 after losing to South Carolina State.
4. Florida A&M | SWAC | 5-3 (3-1) | Prev: 3
Florida A&M continues to Bragg different, winning on homecoming to push the home win streak to 23 games.
2024 HBCU football: Following the 2024 HBCU football season from start to finish
5. Tennessee State | OVC | 6-3 (3-2) | Prev: 5
Even with a loss, I’ll keep Tennessee State in my top five. The Tigers are 6-3, and I don’t think there are five teams that have been playing at a consistently high level to move past them.
6. Alabama State | SWAC | 5-3 (4-1) | Prev: 7
Alabama State moves up one spot after beating Alcorn State, who I had in my top 10 HBCU football teams last week.
7. Hampton | CAA | 5-4 (2-3) | Prev: 6
Hampton comes in at No. 7 after losing to a top-15 FCS-ranked Villanova squad by just one possession.
8. Southern | SWAC | 5-4 (4-1) | Prev: 8
Southern beat Alabama A&M, but its biggest win might’ve come from Alabama State which took down the top competitor in the SWAC West for the Jaguars. Southern won’t play a team with a winning record in SWAC play for the rest of the season.
9. Alcorn State | SWAC | 4-5 (3-2) | Prev: 9
Alcorn State lost a close game to Alabama State 21-17. Even though the Braves lost, there isn’t a team worthy of knocking them out of the top 10.
10. Texas Southern | SWAC | 3-5 (2-3) | Prev: 10
Texas Southern holds on to its top-10 spot, even after a loss, since it beat the No. 11 team to start the season.
HOMECOMING SCHEDULE: Here’s every 2024 HBCU football homecoming and classic in the FCS
11. Prairie View A&M | SWAC | 4-5 (2-3) | Prev: 13
Prairie View A&M has now won two straight games.
12. Morgan State | MEAC | 4-5 (1-1) | Prev: 14
The Bears kept themselves in the MEAC race with an overtime win.
13. Norfolk State | MEAC | 3-7 (1-2) | Prev: 15
Norfolk State lost in overtime to Morgan State
14. Howard | MEAC | 4-5 (1-1) | Prev: 16
Howard shutout Delaware State to move to 1-1 in the MEAC.
15. Grambling State | SWAC | 4-5 (1-4) | Prev: 11
Grambling State is now 1-4 in SWAC play. The Tigers’ win over the current No. 1 team in HBCU football can’t keep GSU from plummetting. Grambling has lost four of its last five games, all by one possession.
16. Arkansas-Pine Bluff | SWAC | 3-6 (2-3) | Prev: 12
UAPB’s blowout loss to Jackson State drops the Golden Lions four spots this week.
17. Alabama A&M | SWAC | 3-5 (1-3) | Prev: 17
Alabama A&M only stays above Bethune-Cookman — for now — because of head-to-head.
18. Bethune-Cookman | SWAC | 2-7 (2-3) | Prev: 18
Bethune-Cookman added an impressive win over Grambling that almost guarantees it won’t be ranked last at season’s end. The Tigers have now won two of their last three games.
19. Delaware State | MEAC | 1-8 (0-2) | Prev: 19
Delaware State couldn’t find points last week and stays in the bottom three.
20. North Carolina A&T | CAA | 1-8 (0-5) | Prev: 20
North Carolina A&T was no match for a ranked FCS opponent.
21. Mississippi Valley State | SWAC | 0-9 (0-5) | Prev: 21
Mississippi Valley State came close to its first win of the season, but couldn’t prevail.