The 2024 campaign was It was an action-infused roller coaster ride . Although ultimately only one team can drink from the championship chalice, this season saw new stars ascend who could have a say in who hoists championship hardware in the coming years.
7. Southern University (8-6, 7-1)
As was the case with the previous week Southern Jaguars sit no.7 in the rankings. Under first-year coach Terrence Graves, Southern was able to bring home the SWAC Western Division crown. The Jaguars were also able to best their rival Grambling 24-14 in the Bayou Classic, their third consecutive win in the grandaddy of HBCU classics.
6. Alabama State ( 7-5, 5-3)
Despite their quarterback room becoming a m.a.s.h. unit, eventually having to convert a wide receiver to a makeshift signal caller, Alabama State still managed to put together a 7-5 overall record and a 5-3 mark that was only bested in the SWAC’s Eastern Division by the 8-0 posted by eventual conference and national champion Jackson State.
5. Florida A&M (7-5, 5-3)
The Rattlers, the defending HBCU National Champions end the season at 5th in the poll rankings. Even before the first play of the post-Willie Simmons era had been run the team and program were trying to shake off potentially deleterious effects of a protracted and bizarre head football coaching search that made very public the rancor and acrimony that FAMU Board of Trustees seemed to have toward then FAMU Director of Athletics Tiffani-Dawn Sykes. Throughout the season the Rattlers enjoyed the highs of defeating Norfolk State in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge to open the season
beating rival South Carolina State and handing in state foe Bethune-Cookman a fourth consecutive defeat in the Florida Classic. There were also crushing lows in 2024, including a surprising 31-12 loss at the hands of Prairie View and hitting rock bottom with a stunning loss to perennial conference cellar dweller Mussisspoi Valley that ended FAMU’s 23-game winning streak at Bragg Memorial Stadium.
4. Tennessee State (9-4, 6-2)
In his fourth season at the helm of the Tennessee State program, coach Eddie George not only had his best season in his young coaching career but also led the Tigers to their most successful season in a quarter century. With their 28-21 defeat of Southeast Missouri in the season finale, the Tigers were able to claim a share of the Big South-OVC crown, a feat not achieved since 1999. Tennessee State also earned an FCS Playoff berth for the first time in 11 years. Matched up with no. 14 Montana, Tennessee State was defeated 41-27 in an exciting and competitive contest. Head coach Eddie George was named Big South-OVC Coach of the Year, while kick returner CJ Evans, defensive back Boogie Trotter, and offensive lineman Connor Meadows earned All-Big South-OVC First Team honors. Defensive lineman Eriq George, linebacker Ahmad Wilson, wide receiver Karate Brenson, defensive back Jalen McClendon, and AP CJ Evans garnered Second Team recognition.
3. North Carolina Central ( 8-3, 4-1)
The Eagles of North Carolina Central end the season no.3 in our poll rankings. Despite completing their third consecutive season of at least 8 wins and dropping just a single game in the MEAC, the season was termed “disappointing” by head coach Trei Oliver, a sentiment that was only bolstered by the Eagles’ failing to earn a postseason berth, as their 52-10 demolishing of Delaware State was not enough to persuade the FCS Playoff Committee that the Eagles were worthy to be a postseason participant. Running back J’Mari Taylor led the Eagles with 1,146 yards and also led the MEAC with 15 touchdowns. The MEAC’s per game leading rusher (104.2) took home a host of postseason accolades including earning FCS Football Central All-American, Second Team 2024 Stats Perform FCS All-America Team as well as All-MEAC First Team.
2. South Carolina State (9-3, 5-0)
In Chennis Berry’s first season in Orangeburg, he guided the Bulldogs to a 9-3 overall record and an unblemished 5-0 record in MEAC play, continuing a 22-game conference winning streak for Berry’s teams that expanded over the past three seasons. The MEAC Champion Bulldogs advanced to the Celebration Bowl, where the SWAC Champion Jackson State Tigers proved to be too much, defeating SCSU 28-7. South Carolina State swept the conference Player of the Year awards, with defensive lineman Elijah Williams named Defensive Player of the Year, while quarterback Eric Phoenix took Offensive Player of the Year honors. Phoenix led the MEAC in passing yards (2,603), touchdowns (20), completion percentage (62.5), and yards per game (216.9).
1. Jackson State (10-2, 8-0)
When the dust of the 2024 season settled, it was the Tigers of Jackson State who were perched atop the poll as Dr. Cavil’s Inside the HBCU Sports Lab National Champions. Jackson State posted a 10-2 overall and 8-0 in the SWAC; a 41-20 loss to Grambling was not a conference game. The SWAC’s no.1 scoring offenseand no. 2 defense proved too much for SWAC foes, besting their conference opponents by an average of 23.63 points.
After laying a 41-13 beatdown on Southern in the SWAC Championship Game, Jackson State moved on to the Celebration Bowl, where South Carolina State awaited. It was in the Celebration Bowl was the more physical, faster, and more disciplined team as they handily dispatched the Bulldogs 28-7 to lay claim to their first Celebration Bowl and Black College National Championship.
Dropped Out: N/A
Receiving Votes: Morgan State Bears-(6-6, 3-2)-133, Alcorn State Braves-(6-6, 5-3)-132, Alabama A&M Bulldogs-(6-6, 3-5)-131
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