JACKSON STATE AND BOWIE STATE CAPTURE HBCU-PSMA NATIONAL TITLES
Jackson State University has captured the 2021 HBCU-Pro Sports Media Association Black College National Football Championship. The Tigers posted a 11-2 record on the way to winning the first-ever HBUC-PSMA Major Division National Title. Meanwhile the Bulldogs of Bowie State University finished its season 12-2 capturing the HBCU-Pro Sports Media Association Mid-Major Division National crown.
The Tigers of Jackson State claimed the Major Division crown despite a disappointing loss in the Celebration Bowl which brought an end to its season-long nine game winning streak. Head Coach Deion Sanders and his team won the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Championship with a perfect 8-0 regular season record and 11 wins overall (the most regular season wins in JSU history).
In the final HBCU-PSMA poll voting, Jackson State University and South Carolina State each received the same number of first place votes. However, the Tigers finished ahead of the Bulldogs by a slim 7 points finishing ranked number one. Florida A&M was third finishing 8 points behind South Carolina State. Alabama A&M finished in fourth place and Prairie View A&M was ranked fifth. Alcorn State University was number six with North Carolina Central University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina A&T State University and Tennessee State University rounding out the top ten of the Major Division.
Bowie State University captured the Mid-Major crown on the strength of a perfect 7-0 conference record and by capturing the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association conference title. Head Coach Damon Wilson and his Bulldogs opened the season with a loss to Delaware State before rebounding with a 12-game winning streak that concluded with a loss to Valdosta State in their first ever appearance in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II playoffs.
In the final HBCU-PSMA Poll voting, Bowie State University was the unanimous selection for the Mid-Major Division crown receiving all first-place votes. The Bulldogs finished ahead of second place Albany State with Fayetteville State third, Savannah State fourth and Langston ranked fifth. Kentucky State, Miles University, Shaw University, Virginia Union, and Lane College rounded out the top ten of the Mid-Major Division.
2021 Major Division Final Rankings
| Rank | Team | 2021 Season Record | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jackson State (SWAC) Previous HBCU-PSMA Ranking: 1 Last Game: 12/18 lost vs South Carolina State Next Game: season over | 10-2 | 169 |
| 2 | South Carolina State (MEAC) Previous HBCU-PSMA Ranking: 5 Last Game: 12/18 won vs Jackson State Next Game: season over | 7-5 | 162 |
| 3 | Florida A&M (SWAC) Previous HBCU-PSMA Ranking: 2 Last Game: 11/27 lost vs SE Louisiana Next Game: season over | 9-3 | 154 |
| 4 | Alabama A&M (SWAC) Previous HBCU-PSMA Ranking: 4 Last Game: 11/20 won vs UAPB Next Game: season over | 7-3 | 121 |
| 5 | Prairie View A&M (SWAC) Previous HBCU-PSMA Ranking: 3 Last Game: 11/27 lost vs Mississippi Valley St Next Game: season over | 7-5 | 106 |
| 6 | Alcorn State (SWAC) Previous HBCU-PSMA Ranking: 6 Last Game: 11/20 lost vs Jackson State Next Game: season over | 6-5 | 82 |
| 7 | North Carolina Central (MEAC) Previous HBCU-PSMA Ranking: 7 Last Game: 11/20 won vs Delaware State Next Game: season over | 6-5 | 75 |
| 8 | Norfolk State (MEAC) Previous HBCU-PSMA Ranking: 8 Last Game: 11/20 lost vs South Carolina State Next Game: season over | 6-5 | 64 |
| 9 | North Carolina A&T (BSC) Previous HBCU-PSMA Ranking: 9 Last Game: 11/20 lost vs Gardner-Webb Next Game: season over | 5-6 | 26 |
| 10 | Tennessee State (OVC) Previous HBCU-PSMA Ranking: 10 Last Game: 11/20 lost vs Mississippi State Next Game: season over | 5-6 | 14 |
| Others receiving votes: Hampton University Dropped out: None |
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“Major” schools include all HBCU members that participate in FCS: MEAC and SWAC teams, and teams who do not participate in traditional HBCU conferences – Hampton, North Carolina A&T State, and Tennessee State.
2021 Mid-Major Division Final Rankings
| Rank | Team | 2021 Season Record | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bowie State (CIAA) Previous HBCU-PSMA Ranking: 2 Last Game: 12/4 lost vs Valdosta State Next Game: season over | 12-2 | 180 |
| 2 | Albany State (SIAC) Previous HBCU-PSMA Ranking: 1 Last Game: 11/20 lost vs West Georgia Next Game: season over | 10-2 | 162 |
| 3 | Fayetteville State (CIAA) Previous HBCU-PSMA Ranking: 3 Last Game: 11/13 lost vs Bowie State Next Game: season over | 8-2 | 130 |
| 4 | Savannah State (SIAC) Previous HBCU-PSMA Ranking: 4 Last Game: 11/6 won vs Edward Waters Next Game: season over | 8-2 | 121 |
| 5 | Langston University (SAC) Previous HBCU-PSMA Ranking: 7 Last Game: 11/13 lost vs SAGU Next Game: season over | 7-3 | 88 |
| 6 | Kentucky State (SIAC) Previous HBCU-PSMA Ranking: 5 (tie) Last Game: 11/13 won vs Erskine Next Game: season over | 7-4 | 84 |
| 7 | Miles College (SIAC) Previous HBCU-PSMA Ranking: 5 (tie) Last Game: 11/13 lost vs Albany State Next Game: season over | 6-5 | 70 |
| 8 | Shaw University (CIAA) Previous HBCU-PSMA Ranking: 9 Last Game: 11/6lost vs St. Augustine’s Next Game: season over | 6-4 | 57 |
| 9 | Virginia Union (CIAA) Previous HBCU-PSMA Ranking: 8 Last Game: 11/6 won vs Virginia State Next Game: season over | 6-4 | 43 |
| 10 | Lane College (SIAC) Previous HBCU-PSMA Ranking: 10 Last Game: 11/6 lost vs Benedict College Next Game: season over | 6-4 | 32 |
| Others receiving votes: West Virginia State Dropped out: none |
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“Mid-Major” schools include all HBCU teams that participate in an NCAA Division II HBCU conference (CIAA, SIAC), NCAA Division II teams in a non-traditional HBCU conference (Bluefield State, Lincoln-MO, West Virginia State), NAIA (Florida Memorial, Langston, Texas College), and USCAA (Virginia-Lynchburg).
About the HBCU-Pro Sports Media Association:
While the seeds of the HBCU-Pro Sports Media Association were planted well before, early in 2020 a like-minded group of journalists got together and built an organization that represented who collectively we are… professionals providing multimedia coverage of Historically Black College and University sports, as well as professional sports.
The purpose of the association is to transform and empower the culture of media by providing informative broadcast stories, rich contextual reporting, and inspirational photography of the marginalized by educating, inspiring, and informing a global community.
It is the vision of the HBCU-PSMA to
- acknowledge the heritage of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and the connection to professional sports organization,
- illuminate the pride of the African American community and the Black Diaspora,
- recognize the voice of Black media,
- create unity for substantive change in the world.
Weekly Rankings
Pre-Season
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Final Poll
