Week 9 of Dr. Cavil’s Inside the HBCU Sports Lab top 7 was the football game of musical chairs, with nearly every team in the rankings changing positions from the previous week.
7. North Carolina Central Eagles (5-3, 0-1)
The Eagles took a tumble down the rankings in this week’s poll. It was homecoming at NCCU and unfortunately for the Eagles their opponent Delaware State did not add to the weekend festivities, defeating the home team 35-26. The defeat not only snapped the Eagles’ four-game winning streak but also stopped a string of 5 consecutive victories against the Hornets. Saturday N.C. Central travels to Washington, D.C. to face the Bison of Howard University. The Eagles defeated the Bison 26-3 in their last meeting, November 15, 2024.
6. Texas Southern (4-3, 3-1)
Texas Southern has the distinction in this week’s ranking as the only team to hold their position from the previous week. The Tigers were on a bye week and entered that time fresh from a 61-10 thrashing of perpetual HBCU punching bag Virginia University at Lynchburg. Up next for Texas Southern is a meeting with Alcorn State at home. The two teams met last season, with the Braves taking the contest 42-21 over the Tigers.
5.Delaware State Hornets ( 5-3, 1-0)
Delaware State moves up two spots in this week’s polls. In their most recent outing, Saturday, the Hornets went down to Durham, NC to face the Eagles of North Carolina Central. The Hornets ruined homecoming for the N.C. Central faithful, defeating the Eagles, 35-26. Delaware State outscored the Eagles 28-16 in the second half to turn a 3-point deficit into a 9-point victory. The win over North Carolina Central was Delaware State’s first win over the Eagles since a 28-13 win on October 27, 2018. The Hornets have a short week before facing Norfolk State on Thursday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. The Spartans defeated the Hornets 38-19 in their meeting last season.
4. South Carolina State Bulldogs ( 5-3, 1-0)
The Bulldogs of South Carolina State move up from No. 5 in this week’s rankings. South Carolina State was Norfolk State’s homecoming opponent and as was the case for Delaware State, they rained over someone else’s homecoming parade. Blowing the game open with a 35-point second quarter, the Bulldogs handed the Spartans a 51-20 beating, extending their own win streak to 3, winning their MEAC opener, and pushing their rebuilding opponent’s losing streak to 6 games. The Bulldogs’ next opponent is Morgan State, whom they demolished 54-7 in their most recent meeting, which took place on November 16, 2024.
3. Jackson State Tigers (5-2, 3-1)
For the first time in 14 weeks, Jackson State finds itself somewhere other than the pole position in the weekly rankings.
The Tigers were upended 26-24 by Grambling in the inaugural Las Vegas HBCU Classic. The was even more costly, as starting quarterback and 2025 SWAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Jacobian Morgan went down with an injury in the first quarter and did not return. The extent of his injury will be determined following a Monday meeting with doctors, according to JSU head coach T.C. Taylor. With their four-game winning streak ended, Jackson State will look to pick itself off the mat when it head to Tallahassee, FL to take on Florida A&M. The Tigers defeated the then No. 18-ranked Rattlers 35-21 in their matchup last season.
2. Prairie View Panthers ( 6-2, 4-0)
Prairie View A&M jumps up 2 spots to No.2 in this week’s rankings. In their most recent outing, the Panthers blanked Lincoln (CA) 38-0 for a homecoming win. The Panthers’ defense held the Oaks to a mere 63 yards of offensive production on the afternoon. Winners of five straight games, the hottest team in the SWAC hosts Alabama State on Saturday. The Hornets bested the Panthers in a low-scoring affair, 9-6, in their most recent meeting, November 23, 2024.
1. Alabama State Hornets (5-2, 3-1)
The Hornets of Alabama State are the first team in 14 weeks not named Jackson State to sit a the zenith of the weekly rankings. In their most recent outing, Alabama State took on in-state rival Alabama A&M in the 84th Magic City Classic and defeated their foe decisively, 56-13. Hornets linebacker Jalil Lenore and wide receiver Jalen Jones were named defensive and offensive MVPs. The win marked the fourth consecutive win for Alabama State in the MCC, with the last time they tasted defeat being a 42-28 loss in the 2021 iteration of the contest. Alabama State hits the road, heading to Prairie View, TX to face the Panthers of Prairie View A&M.
Receiving votes:
Bethune Cookman Wildcats ( 4-4, 3-1)
Grambling State Tigers (5-3, 2-2)
Alabama A&M Bulldogs ( 3-4, 1-1)
