The 2025 HBCU football season has kicked off, and every team has played at least one game. It's time to take a look at the first HBCU football power rankings from 草莓网站在线看 Digital's Stan Becton.
These are the first rankings of the regular season. The rankings will be done weekly throughout the regular season, sorting each HBCU football team at the FCS level based on their performances this season. Nicknamed "The Road to Atlanta," the weekly power rankings lead to the annual meeting of HBCU football's two best teams at this year's Celebration Bowl held in Atlanta.
See the latest power rankings below.
The Road to Atlanta: 2025 Week 2 HBCU football power rankings
1. Jackson State | SWAC | 1-0 (0-0) | Prev: 1
Jackson State scored 14 unanswered fourth-quarter points against Hampton to win, 28-14. Does that win mean Jackson State won't be as dominant this season as some thought?
Maybe. But a win is a win and the Tigers stay at the top.
Jackson State鈥檚 Ahmad Miller with a 76-YARD HOUSE CALL 鈽庯笍馃敟
鈥 LIGHT ON COLLEGE SPORTS (@LightOnSports)
馃摵:
EVERYTHING HBCU: Schedule, scores, updates and more from the 2025 HBCU football season
2. North Carolina Central | MEAC | 1-1 (0-0) | Prev: 2
North Carolina Central is 1-1 after a Week 0 win and Week 1 loss. The win came over SWAC West favorite Southern, while the loss came to CAA foe New Hampshire. The Eagles got dominated in the loss, but the win over Southern keeps them at No. 2 for now.
The Eagles don't waste any time striking back! Just 9 seconds later, retakes the lead courtesy of a 49 yard TD run by Chris Mosley.
鈥 Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge (@MEAC_SWAC)
3. South Carolina State | MEAC | 1-0 (0-0) | Prev: 4
South Carolina State picked up a key nonconference win over Wofford to start the season. It came down to the wire, but when the Bulldog offense needed a touchdown, it delivered after being aneimic for most of the game.
HE MISSED THE KICK!!! BULLDOGS WIN 16-15
鈥 Cobi (@cobiorr)
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4. Alabama State | SWAC | 0-1 (0-0) | Prev: 5
Alabama State moved up after a loss? Yes the Hornets did. As you'll see throughout the early season rankings, FBS losses won't hold that as much weight when compared to how an HBCU team played against said FBS opponent.
The way Alabama State played against UAB should put fear into some teams into the SWAC. Quarterback Andrew Body is back from injury and he looked electric, completing 75 percent of his passes for 312 yards and four touchdowns whil rushing for 119 yards and a touchdown.
Alabama State falls 52-42 to UAB in a wild one at Protective Stadium. Despite the loss, Quarterback Andrew Body () was INCREDIBLE: 431 combined yards for the senior with five total touchdowns.
鈥 Davis Baker (@DavisBakerTV)
Looks like the Hornets should definitely content for a SWAC title this鈥
5. Southern | SWAC | 1-1 (1-0) | Prev: 3
Southern stays in the top-five for now at 1-1. The Jaguars rebounded from a MEAC/SWAC Challenge loss to North Carolina Central with a win over Mississippi Valley State. However, quarterback Jalen Woods left the game in an ambulance with a bad injury.
I'm not confident in Cam'ron McCoy for the rest of the season as the starter, but if the rushing attack can continue to average 231 yards a game, Southern can compete with anyone.
The hit that knocked QB Jalen Woods out of the game. No flag thrown for targeting and could not be reviewed because there is no replay here in Valley.
鈥 Kevin Batiste (@KBatisteJr)
Terrene Graves and the entire SU sideline was rightfully livid.
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6. Prairie View A&M | SWAC | 1-0 (1-0) | Prev: 10
It took a touchdown as time expired, but Prairie View A&M won the Labor Day Classic in coach Tremaine Jackson's first game. That win moves the Panthers up four spots in my rankings.
PRAIRIE VIEW A&M WINS THE LABOR DAY CLASSIC ON A WALK-OFF TOUCHDOWN!!! 馃煟馃煛
鈥 LIGHT ON COLLEGE SPORTS (@LightOnSports)
Cameron Peters 鉃★笍 Rodney Ojo FTW!
馃摵: SWAC TV |
7. Tennessee State | OVC-Big South | 1-0 (0-0)| Prev: 7
Tennessee State stays put at No. 7 after blocking North Carolina A&T's game-tying field goal attempt. While the Aggies haven't been good since joining the conference, TSU still can say it now has a CAA win on its resume.
The blocked field goal that gave Tennessee State () the win over North Carolina A&T in Week 1.
鈥 Stan Becton (@stan_becton)
Look at the pressure created over the right guard 馃く
8. Morgan State | MEAC | 0-1 (0-0) | Prev: 9
Morgan State's passing offense didn't score a touchdown. What else is new?
To be fair, the Bears did play against an FBS opponent. However, it's hard to believe things will change offensively in Baltimore until its seen on the field.
9. Howard | MEAC | 1-0 (0-0) | Prev: 15
Welcome the Howard Bison to the top 10! If you like offense I hope you looked away from the Orange Blossom Classic because it was not a good offensive game from either team.
Yet, when offense mattered most, FAU transfer quarterback Tyriq Starks led Howard in to field goal range to make the game-winner as time expired. The game-winning field goal gives Howard a season-opening win and a spot in the top 10.
Howard walks it off.
鈥 Taylor Viles (@TVilesWCTV)
They beat FAMU 10-9
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10. Texas Southern | SWAC | 0-1 (0-1) | Prev: 13
Texas Southern lost against Prairie View A&M as time expired. The Tigers still move into the top-10 because even in the loss, the TSU proved it will be a hard out all season long.
Texas Southern TAKES THE LEAD on a KJ Cooper to Roriyon Richardson TOUCHDOWN 馃憖
鈥 LIGHT ON COLLEGE SPORTS (@LightOnSports)
馃摵: SWAC TV
| RANK | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Jackson State |
| 2 | North Carolina Central |
| 3 | South Carolina State |
| 4 | Alabama State |
| 5 | Southern |
| 6 | Prairie View A&M |
| 7 | Tennessee State |
| 8 | Morgan State |
| 9 | Howard |
| 10 | Texas Southern |
| 11 | Grambling State |
| 12 | Hampton |
| 13 | Florida A&M |
| 14 | Delaware State |
| 15 | Norfolk State |
| 16 | Alabama A&M |
| 17 | Mississippi Valley State |
| 18 | Arkansas-Pine Bluff |
| 19 | Bethune-Cookman |
| 20 | North Carolina A&T |
| 21 | Alcorn State |
PAST POWER RANKINGS: Preseason
11. Grambling State | SWAC | 1-0 (0-0) | Prev: 11
Grambling State beating Langston 鈥 an NAIA team 鈥 doesn't impress me. However, the defensive performance was nice, allowing just 97 total yards and -32 rushing yards. I'll need to see the defense perform against a DI opponent first before moving Grambling up the rankings.
12. Hampton | CAA | 0-1 (0-0) | Prev: 15
Hampton pushed the top team in HBCU football to the limit on its home field, staying tied with Jackson State deep into the fourth quarter. It's a tough loss, but it gives a glimpse of where Hampton could be if it played in an HBCU conference.
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13. Florida A&M | SWAC | 0-1 (0-0) | Prev: 6
Zero touchdowns. Only 89 rushing yards on less than three yards per carry. A blocked field goal.
Just an awful all-around offensive game from Florida A&M. The Rattlers do not look like a team that can compete for a Celebration Bowl after Week 1.
14. Delaware State | MEAC | 0-1 (0-0) | Prev: 17
Delaware State ran for 200 yards against FBS opponent Delaware, competing into the third quarter. That's a good sign moving forward for an offense that could be explosive against HBCU competition.
15. Norfolk State | MEAC | 0-1 (0-0) | Prev: 12
Norfolk State looked undsiciplined in Michael Vick's debut as a head coach, as shown by nine penalties on offense. Speaking of offense, who's the answer at quarterback for Norfolk State now after Otto Kuhns took over for Israel Carter in the season-opener.
If it's Kuhns, who has a 4-14 record as a starter and a 23:16 touchdown-to-interception ratio, Vick is in for a rough year one as a coach.
16. Alabama A&M | SWAC | 0-1 (0-0) | Prev: 14
Starting quarterback Cornelious Brown completed less the 50 percent of his passes against Arkansas out of the SEC. It's an FBS opponent so it won't knock AAMU down too far in the rankings, but there is work to be done in Huntsville.
MORE RANKINGS: AFCA Coaches Poll | STATS PERFORM
17. Mississippi Valley State | SWAC | 0-1 (0-1) | Prev: 20
Mississippi Valley State only trailed by two points entering the fourth quarter against Southern. The Delta Devils looked competitive in the season opener.
18. Arkansas-Pine Bluff | SWAC | 0-1 (0-0) | Prev: 18
The Golden Lions were outmatched by an FBS-ranked Texas Tech, but still got a fourth-quarter touchdown after a 90-minute weather delay. I won't read too much into this one.
19. Bethune-Cookman | SWAC | 0-1 (0-0) | Prev: 19
Bethune-Cookman was held without a touchdown against FIU.
20. North Carolina A&T | CAA | 0-1 (0-0) | Prev: 21
North Carolina A&T lost a heartbreaker to Tennessee State after a blocked field goal. However, it wasn't the worst loss of the week, so the Aggies move out of the bottom spot.
21. Alcorn State | SWAC | 0-1 (0-0) | Prev: 8
Alcorn State lost to a Northwestern State team that hadn't won a game in 1,027 days. It's an embarrassing nonconference loss for not just the Braves, but also the SWAC as a whole, potentially hurting a contending team's strength of schedule for an at-large playoff spot.
馃张: Recapping the 2024 HBCU football season
馃摬 B/R:
馃摎 Football History: Top MEAC/SWAC Challenge moments | Individual stars | | Recapping 2022 | Recapping 2021
Championships: Jackson State wins 2024 Celebration Bowl | Tennessee State, NC Central win tennis title | Football title history | Track champions
馃彑 Classics: Every HBCU Football Classic's history | Florida Classic | Bayou Classic | Can't miss atmospheres
馃弨 HBCU hoops: Pac-12/SWAC series |1980s Alcorn State | NBA draft picks | Hall of Famers
馃憖 March Madness: Men's history | Women's history | Two HBCU wins in 2021 | HBCU vs. HBCU | Tournament upsets
