Tigers and Panthers Rule Week 8 on the HBCU-PRO Sports Media Associations Top Ten Football Polls.
The HBCU Sports-Pro Media Association members voted and released its Week 8 HBCU Football’s Major and Mid-Major poll results.
For the eighth consecutive week, Jackson State is number one in the HBCU-PSMA Black College Football Polls’ Major division. The Tigers once again garnered all 20 first place votes, meanwhile the MEAC leading Eagles of North Carolina Central fall to number four after a 26-24 loss to South Carolina State. FAMU heads into homecoming weekend as the new owners of the number two spot on the poll with 169 points. Southern moved up to number three and North Carolina A&T rounds out the top five with 107 points. This weekend, the top ranked Tigers will face the third ranked Jaguars with a pre-game show featured on ESPN’s Gameday
Virginia Union remains unbeaten and number one garnering 19 first place votes and 199 points. Coach Alvin Parker and his Panthers mauled their way to an 8-0 mark outscoring their opponents 305 to 118.
The undefeated Tigers of Benedict nabbed a first-place vote and 181 points, while the Wildcats of Fort Valley State, the Golden Rams of Albany State and the Broncos of Fayetteville State round out the top five.
Tuskegee, Langston, Virginia State, West Virginia State and Kentucky State close out this week’s Mid-Major top ten
Pollsters comprise a cross-section of HBCU media members, including eight different media organizations. These voters cover all four HBCU football-playing conferences, and reside in 12 different states.
Poll Results – Week 8:
MAJOR DIVISION (20 Voters)
| RANK | SCHOOL | POINTS | FIRST PLACE VOTES | LAST WEEK |
| 1 | Jackson State (7-0) | 200 | 20 | 1 |
| 2 | Florida A&M (5-2) | 169 | 3 | |
| 3 | SouthernUniversity (5-2) | 156 | 4 | |
| 4 | North Carolina Central (5-2) | 129 | 2 | |
| 5 | North Carolina A&T (4-3) | 107 | 10 | |
| 6 | Prairie View A&M (4-3) | 94 | 8 | |
| 7 | Alabama State (4-3) | 58 | 9 | |
| 8 | South Carolina State (3-4) | 56 | NR | |
| 9 | Hampton University (4-3) | 40 | 5 | |
| 10 | Tennessee State (3-4) | 32 | NR |
Others Receiving Votes (points in parentheses): Delaware State (27), Texas Southern (13)
Dropped Out of Top Ten: Alcorn State, Delaware State
MID-MAJOR DIVISION (20 Voters)
| RANK | SCHOOL | POINTS | FIRST PLACE VOTES | LAST WEEK |
| 1 | Virginia Union (8-0) | 199 | 19 | 1 |
| 2 | Benedict College (8-0) | 181 | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | Fort Valley State (7-1) | 146 | 3 | |
| 4 | Albany State (6-2) | 134 | 4 | |
| 5 | Fayetteville State (6-2) | 112 | 5 | |
| 6 | Tuskegee University (6-2) | 111 | 6 | |
| 7 | Langston University (6-1) | 89 | 7 | |
| 8 | Virginia State (5-3) | 65 | 10 | |
| 9 | West Virginia State (5-3) | 28 | NR | |
| 10 | Kentucky State (4-4) | 21 | NR |
Others Receiving Votes (points in parentheses): Bowie State (15), Lane College (12)
Dropped Out of Top Ten: Bowie State, Lane College
About the HBCU Pro-Sports Media Association
Founded in 2020, the HBCU-Pro Sports Media Association is an organization that includes (but not limited to) journalists, photographers, broadcasters, reporters, editors, and sports-information directors dedicated to the coverage and support, both on and off the field, of historically black college sports and HBCU alumni athletes who become professionals. For more information, log onto www.hbcuprosportsmedia.com.
Prepared by HBCU-PSMA member Trevin Jones of the Urban Media Today
