With our friends at HBCU Gameday, we present the HBCU FCS and Division II Power Rankings.
FCS
1. North Carolina A&T (7-1, 5-0): Another week, another win against FAMU last week. This weekend the competition gets stiffer as A&T faces rival SC State in a game that could re-shape the MEAC race.
2. Grambling (6-2, 6-0): Grambling returns from its off week to play Texas Southern, a team it can’t afford to overlook.
3. Alcorn State (6-2, 4-1): Alcorn State came back in a big way last week, blowing out Southern at home. This week it gets a chance to play a Prairie View team headed by former ASU offensive coordinator Willie Simmons.
4. Bethune-Cookman (6-2, 5-1): BCU finishes up its home schedule with a Morgan team hoping to claw is way back into the MEAC picture.
5. South Carolina State (5-3, 4-1): All eyes will be in Orangeburg as a SC State win gives several teams hope for a shot at the title.
6. Prairie View (6-2, 5-1): Prairie View handled business against UAPB, but Alcorn State poses a much bigger obstacle.
7. North Carolina Central (5-3, 3-1): NCCU’s 1-3 start seems a distant memory as last week’s win over Norfolk made four in a row, meaning it is still very much alive in the MEAC Championship race.
8. Southern (4-4, 3-2): Southern got back in the winners circle against Texas Southern last week, but gets a rise in competition when it plays Alcorn State in a rematch of last year’s SWAC Championship.
9. Tennessee State (4-4, 1-3): TSU got back to .500 with a 20-6 win over OVC foe Austin Peay.
10: Alabama State (4-4, 4-3): After a slow start, Brian Jenkins and his team are headed in the right direction. ASU has won four of its last five games, including Saturday’s Magic City Classic.
Division II
1. Bowie State (8-1, 6-0): A win would give Bowie the CIAA’s best record, but that still may not be enough to get Bowie State in the CIAA Championship Game pending a ruling on an ineligible player.
2. Tuskegee (8-1, 4-0): ‘Skegee is one win away from clinching another SIAC Championship Game berth, but will have to fend off an upset-minded Miles team.
3. Virginia Union (7-2, 5-1): A win against rival Virginia State could propel VUU to the CIAA Championship Game, depending on what happens with Bowie State on and off the field.
4. Virginia State (6-3, 5-2): The defending CIAA Champs would like nothing better than to spoil rival VUU’s championship hopes.
5. Fort Valley (5-3, 4-0): All that’s up for grabs in FVSU’s rivalry game against Albany State is a berth in the SIAC Championship Game. No pressure, though.
