For the first time ever, Black college football has a single, unified preseason poll. It dropped this week ahead of HBCU conference media days, and the top spots belong to South Carolina State and Johnson C. Smith.
South Carolina State is the No. 1 team in the NCAA Division I FCS HBCU rankings. The Bulldogs have been dominant under head coach Chennis Berry. They won their second straight MEAC title in 2025 and haven’t lost a conference game since Berry took over in 2024. That run includes a wild Celebration Bowl win over Prairie View A&M — a 40-38 four-overtime thriller that gave SC State back-to-back HBCU national championships.
Over in Division II, Johnson C. Smith leads the way. The Golden Bulls had a historic 2025 season, winning their first CIAA championship since 1969. That also got them into the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time in program history. Not bad for a program that had been dormant in the title conversation for more than five decades.
The poll itself is a big deal. It’s endorsed by all four NCAA conferences that sponsor HBCU football — the MEAC, SWAC, CIAC and SIAC. A 57-member voting panel of HBCU head coaches and media folks submitted Top 10 ballots using a 10-point scoring system. First place is worth 10 points, tenth place is worth one. The poll will run weekly throughout the 2026 regular season.
Who else is in the mix
In Division I, Florida A&M, Jackson State and Texas Southern are the next three. The Rattlers are a perennial contender out of the SWAC and always draw attention. Jackson State brings the Deion Sanders recruitment glow that still lingers plus a roster that’s been reloading. Alcorn State, Howard and Alabama A&M also received votes.
In the Division II poll, the order behind Johnson C. Smith hasn’t been fully broken out yet in the release, but the Golden Bulls are the clear headliner. The CIAA and SIAC both have media days coming up this week, so more details will trickle out.
What this means for HBCU football
Having one unified poll instead of a bunch of scattered ones is a step toward more visibility. HBCU football has always had passionate fans and strong traditions, but the national media tends to overlook it. A single weekly ranking endorsed by all the conferences gives recruits, fans and even casual viewers a clearer picture of who’s who. It also creates a straightforward narrative for the Celebration Bowl and playoff runs.
The timing works. Media days for the SWAC, MEAC, CIAA and SIAC all happen within the next week. Coaches will talk. Players will make bold predictions. And now there’s a preseason poll to argue about before a single snap gets taken.
South Carolina State has the target on its back. Johnson C. Smith has history on its side and a chip on its shoulder. The rest of the HBCU world is chasing both. Should be fun.
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