Dr. Kenyatta Cavil contributed to this report
Week 6 of the Inside the HBCU Sports Lab major division saw movement amongst the bottom 5 teams all ascending in the rankings as well as a previously unranked team joining the fray.
7. Morgan State (3-3, 0-0)
Morgan State enters the polls at no.7, after being outside of the top 7 the previous week. The Bears are coming off a 41-0 decimation of homecoming opponent, Lincoln (PA) of the CIAA. The Bears’ defense was able to limit Lincoln to just 37 passing yards and just 8 first downs on the afternoon. The win marked the 100th career win for Morgan State head coach Damon Wilson. The Bears take on Merrimack College on Saturday.
6. South Carolina State ( 3-2, 0-0)
The Bulldogs of South Carolina State ascended one spot from their previous week’s ranking. In their most recent outing, SCSU defeated Tennessee Tech of the OVC, who bested Tennessee State 24-14 two weeks prior, 24-22. Bulldogs quarterback Eric Phoenix completed 17 of 31 passes for 412 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. Bulldog wide receivers Caden High and Justin Smith-Brown both turned in 100-yard performances with High grabbing 7 passes for 150 yards and Smith-Brown hauling in 4 receptions for 129 yards and 2 touchdowns. Up next for South Carolina State is another out-of conference tilt, this time with the SIAC’s Fort Valley State.
5. Grambling State (3-2, 0-1)
Despite being on their bye week, the Tigers of Grambling State managed to rise one spot in the poll rankings. In their last outing, the Tigers came up on the short end of the stick 36-34 to Prairie View in a 5 overtime thriller that is an instant classic. Grambling returns to action on October 12 when they play host to Alcorn. The Braves edged out the Tigers 25-24 in their matchup last season.
4. Tennessee State (4-2, 2-1)
Tennessee State slides up to the no. 4 slot, up one position from the no.5 they occupied in the previous week’s poll. Coach Eddie George’s team is coming off a 24-20 win over conference opponent Lindenwood in which TSU was down 14-0 four minutes into the contest and 20-7 at halftime. The defense pitched a shutout in the second half and Tennessee State was able to claim the lead for the first time halfway through the fourth quarter on a Tevin Carter that brought the contest to its final count. It’s homecoming at TSU and the Tigers are hosting Big South-OVC foe Eastern Illinois. In the last matchup between the schools, on November 11, 2023, the Panthers defeated the Tigers 30-17.
3. Jackson State ( 4-2, 2-0)
The Tigers of Jackson State moves up a spot to the no.3 in this week’s poll rankings. JSU seemed on its comfortable win over Alabama A&M in the Gulf Coast Challenge, building leads of 28 points on two separate occasions at 38-10 and 45-17 before a furious AAMU comeback with 14 points in the third and fourth quarters, drew the Bulldogs to within a single possession at 45-38. However, Jackson State was able to bleed the final 2:41 off the clock to secure the victory. The Tigers are off a week before returning to action on October 19 against Florida A&M.
2. Florida A&M )3-2, 1-0)
Coach James Colzie III’s Florida A&M team maintained its no. 2 ranking from the previous week. In their most recent outing, the Rattlers rained on Alabama State’s homecoming parade, defeating the Hornets 28-13. Daniel Richardson quarterback Daniel Richardson completed 20 of 30 passes for 196 yards, 3 touchdowns qne 2 interceptions. Although FAMU’s defense allowed 211 rushing yards, they brought the Hornets’ passing game to a screeching halt with just 68 yards. Up next to the Rattlers is a highly anticipated matchup with no.3 Jackson State on October 19.
1. North Carolina Central (4-2, 1-0)
The Eagles of North Carolina Central continue to remain perched atop the weekly rankings. Saturday the Eagles built a 28-0 lead on the path to handily dispatching Campbell 45-14 for their third straight win on the season. Up next for head coach Trei Olver’s squad is a matchup against Virginia-Lynchburg. The two schools met for the first time on September 24, 2022, where Central obliteralted VUL 59-14.
Dropped out: Hampton (3-3, 0-2)
Receiving votes: Alcorn State (3-3, 2-0)-141, Hampton (3-3, 0-2)-135, Howard (2-3, 0-0)-129
