Week 15 of Dr. Cavil’s Inside the HBCU Sports Lab saw no invitees to the party but did see some shuffling of the proverbial deck.
7. Grambling State Tigers (7-5, 4-3)
The Tigers of Grambling State University remain at No.7 in the Week 15 rankings. In their most recent and final outing of the season, Grambling suffered a heartbreaking 28-27 loss to Southern in the Bayou Classic. The Tigers were unable to convert a potential go-ahead field goal and then fumbled in Southern territory on the would-be game-winning drive, leaving them tantalizingly 1 point short. Despite the loss Grambling finished with a 7-5 record, their best win total since posting a 6-5 mark in the 2019 season.
6.North Carolina Central Eagles ( 8-4, 3-2)
North Carolina Central is sixth in this week’s rankings, just as it was a week ago. The Eagles closed out what head coach Tree Oliver termed a “disappointing” season with a 33-14 defeat of Morgan State. Quarterback Walker Harris there for a program record 3,124 yards and 24 touchdowns and was named MEAC Offensive Player of the Year. The Eagles were well-represented in MEAC honors, with 17 players recognized with postseason honors.
5. Delaware State Hornets ( 8-4, 4-1)
The Hornets are No.5 in the polls this week. Delaware State ended the season on a sour note with a 28-17 loss to South Carolina State in what was the de facto MEAC Championship game. Although the Hornets came up short on winning the MEAC crown and the trip to the Celebration Bowl that accompanies it, Delaware State still finished the season with 8 wins, their first season with an above .500 winning percentage since a 6-5 mark in the 2012 campaign. Head Coach DeSean Jackson was named the 2025 BOXTOROW Coach of the Year.
4. Alabama State Hornets ( 10-2, 7-1)
Alabama State drops a spot to No.4 in this week’s rankings. The Hornets have not taken the field since a 58-21 drubbing of Tuskegee in the Turkey Day Classic on Thanksgiving. The 10 wins Alabama State posted were their highest win total since going 8-4 in 2013.
3 Jackson State Tigers ( 9-3, 7-1)
Jackson State slips a spot to No.3 in this week’s rankings. In their most recent outing, the Tigers advanced back to the SWAC Championship game, but came up short, losing 23-21 to the visiting Prairie View A&M Panthers in a hotly contested matchup whose outcome was still in doubt late into the game. The defeat ended Jackson State’s season and denied them an opportunity to defend their crown in the Celebration Bowl.
2.Prairie View A&M Panthers ( 10-3, 7-1)
The Panthers moved up a pair of slots to No.2 in this week’s rankings. PV defeated Jackson State 23-21 in the SWAC Championship game for their first conference crown since 2009. The Panthers’ defense came up big, holding the vaunted and SWAC-leading Jackson State run game to just 84 yards, 170 yards below their normal production. Prairie View quarterback had himself a game, completing 17 of 28 passes for 294 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception, while adding 100 yards and a touchdown. Up next for the Panthers is facing South Carolina State for all the marbles in the Celebration Bowl.
1.South Carolina State ( 9-3, 5-0)
South Carolina State remains perched atop Dr Cavil’s Inside the HBCU Sports Lab Major Division Top 7 for the third consecutive week. In the Bulldogs’ last time on the gridiron, they defeated Delaware State 28-17 in what was the de facto MEAC Championship game. The win cemented the Bulldogs’ second consecutive MEAC title and Celebration Bowl berth and kept Chennis Berry’s record unblemished in MEAC play. SCSU has not suffered a conference loss in the two seasons that Coach Berry has helmed the program. South Carolina State will face Prairie View A&M in the Celebration Bowl.
Dropped out: No teams dropped out
Receiving Votes :
Texas Southern Tigers (6-5, 5-3) 138
Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (6-6, 5-3) 137
