Dr. Kenyatta Cavil contributed to this report
Week 11 of Dr. Cavil’s Inside the HBCU Sports Lab Major Division Top 7 Poll rankings saw stability in its upper echelons. However, the lower portion of the saw all of the teams change positions from the prior week.
7. Alabama State (5-4, 4-2)
The Hornets drop two places to the bottom of the rankings. Saturday Alabama State seemed to be in the driver’s seat in their matchup with Grambling, holding a 23-10 lead in the fourth quarter before Grambling would storm back to take the lead with two scores to take a 24-23 lead. A potential game-winning was no good, sealing the win. Next week Alabama State plays host to Jackson State.
6. Florida A&M (5-4, 3-2)
Like Alabama State, the Rattlers of Florida A&M also fell two spots from the previous week. In their most recent outing, the Rattlers were taken down 31-12 at the hands of Prairie View. Florida A&M quarterback Daniel Richardson left in the first quarter with an injury. Backup Junior Muratovic completed 16-of-29 passes for 150 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions, one of which was a pick-six. Up next the Rattlers will head home to the friendly confines of Bragg Memorial Stadium to take on Mississippi Valley State.
5. Southern University ( 6-4, 5-1)
The Jaguars move up one spot from the previous week. Southern is coming off a 25-23 defeat of Bethune-Cookman in a quintuple overtime thriller. Kobe Dillon led all Jaguar ballcarriers with 130 yards on 19 carries, while Kendric added 90 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. In their next outing the Jaguars will take on the Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman. Southern blanked BC-U 27-0 in their meeting last season.
4. Tennessee State (7-3, 4-2)
Tennessee State climbs three spots in this week’s polls. Coming off their loss against UT Martin, Tennessee State bounced back with a 45-20 win over Western Illinois on Saturday afternoon. TSU quarterback bounced back from the interception-laden performance of a week prior, completing 12-of-19 passes for 197 yards, 3 touchdowns, and an interception. The Tigers continue their pivotal stretch of Big South-OVC contests when they meet Gardner-Webb this week. Last season TSU squeaked by Webb 27-25.
3.North Carolina Central ( 6-3, 2-1)
The Eagles have not played since their highly anticipated matchup with South Carolina State, an encounter the Bulldogs came away with a 27-24 victory. The defeat stripped them of control over their path to the MEAC crown to now needed help to reach the Celebration Bowl. Up next for the Eagles is a Friday matchup with the Bison of Howard University. Howard blasted N.C.Central 50-20 in their meeting last season.
2. South Carolina State (7-2, 3-0)
South Carolina remains at the no.2 spot from the previous week. In their most recent outing, SCSU spanked Howard 38-14. The Bulldogs’ defense recorded 6 sacks and picked off four passes, one of which was returned for a touchdown by Jarod Washington. Eric Phoenix continued his high level of play, completing 16-of-26 passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns. Next up for South Carolina State is another road trip, this one to Baltimore, MD, where the Morgan State Bears await. Morgan State defeated SCSU 20-17 in their meeting that took place November 17, 2023.
1.Jackson State ( 8-2, 6-0)
The Tigers remain in the spot for the second consecutive week. In the Tigers’ most recent outing, they shellacked Mississippi Valley State, 51-14. Running back Irv Mulligan recorded his fourth consecutive 100-yard game, running for a season-high 187 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. Riding a six-game winning streak, Jackson State heads to Montgomery, Alabama to take on Alabama State. The Hornets defeated the Tigers 24-19 in their meeting last season.
No teams dropped out of the polls this week
Receiving Votes:
Alcorn State Braves (5-5, 5-2) -141
Prairie View A&M (5-5, 3-3) -139
Morgan State Bears (5-5, 2-1) -122
