While a lot of HBCU teams were on a bye last week (10 of 21 to be exact), there was still plenty of intriguing action across the DI HBCU football landscape. Here's how it all impacted the latest HBCU football power rankings.
These are the eighth 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 9 HBCU football power rankings
1. Jackson State | SWAC | 5-1 (3-0) | Prev: 1
Jackson State had a bye before its trip to Las Vegas this week.
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2. North Carolina Central | MEAC | 5-2 (0-0) | Prev: 2
North Carolina Central had a bye before MEAC play starts.
3. Alabama State | SWAC | 4-2 (2-1) | Prev: 3
Alabama State had a bye before the Magic City Classic. The Hornets will return to action, trying to bounce back from a heartbreaking loss to Jackson State.
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4. Prairie View A&M | SWAC | 5-2 (4-0) | Prev: 4
Teams will be more wary of scheduling Prairie View A&M for homecoming after the Panthers blasted Southern 24-3. PVAMU is now 4-0 in the SWAC West, with a path to the conference championship game is in sight.
5. Delaware State | MEAC | 4-3 (0-0) | Prev: 5
Delaware State had a bye before head coach DeSean Jackson enters the first conference game of his career.
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6. South Carolina State | MEAC | 4-3 (0-0) | Prev: 6
South Carolina State had a bye before MEAC play. The Bulldogs will try to defend their conference title over the next few weeks.
7. Texas Southern | SWAC | 4-3 (3-1) | Prev: 7
Texas Southern defeated Virginia-Lynchburg. The Tigers are on a four-game win streak.
8. Bethune-Cookman | SWAC | 3-4 (2-1) | Prev: 8
Bethune-Cookman had a bye last week. If the Wildcats can string together some wins, they can surprisingly challenge for the SWAC East title.
9. Alabama A&M | SWAC | 4-3 (1-2) | Prev: 9
Alabama A&M had a bye before the Magic City Classic. We'll see if the week off will be enough to get quarterback Cornelius "Quad" Brown IV healthy.
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10. Grambling State | SWAC | 4-3 (1-2) | Prev: 12
Grambling State enters the top 10 after defeating Arkansas-Pine Bluff, ending a two-game losing streak.
| RANK | TEAM |
|---|---|
| 1 | Jackson State |
| 2 | North Carolina Central |
| 3 | Alabama State |
| 4 | Prairie View A&M |
| 5 | Delaware State |
| 6 | South Carolina State |
| 7 | Texas Southern |
| 8 | Bethune-Cookman |
| 9 | Alabama A&M |
| 10 | Grambling State |
| 11 | Tennessee State |
| 12 | Morgan State |
| 13 | Howard |
| 14 | Arkansas-Pine Bluff |
| 15 | North Carolina A&T |
| 16 | Hampton |
| 17 | Florida A&M |
| 18 | Southern |
| 19 | Norfolk State |
| 20 | Mississippi Valley State |
| 21 | Alcorn State |
PAST POWER RANKINGS: Preseason | WK 2 | WK 3 | WK 4 | Wk 5 | Wk 6 | Wk 7 | Wk 8
11. Tennessee State | OVC-Big South | 2-5 (0-3)| Prev: 13
Tennessee State picked up its second win of the season, beating Howard for homecoming. The Tigers now have two DI HBCU wins this season.
12. Morgan State | MEAC | 3-4 (0-0) | Prev: 10
Morgan State had a bye before MEAC play starts. The Bears will open conference play with Howard.
13. Howard | MEAC | 3-4 (0-0) | Prev: 11
Howard was the only MEAC team in action this week. The Bison were also the only MEAC team to lose. With the loss, the hopes of Howard rejoining the top 10 this week went down the drain. However, Howard has its whole season ahead of it with conference play about to start.
14. Arkansas-Pine Bluff | SWAC | 2-4 (1-2) | Prev: 15
Arkansas-Pine Bluff saw its fourth-quarter comeback fall through as Grambling State got a late touchdown to win the game. The Golden Lions will look to bounce back next week against Bethune-Cookman.
*Arkansas-Pine Bluff's win over Westgate Christian is not a countable win.
MORE RANKINGS: AFCA Coaches Poll | STATS PERFORM
15. North Carolina A&T | CAA | 1-6 (1-2) | Prev: 16
North Carolina A&T had a bye last week.
16. Hampton | CAA | 2-6 (0-4) | Prev: 17
Norfolk State is a better team than Alcorn State, and because of that, a two-win Hampton stays ranked above a two-win Florida A&M.
17. Florida A&M | SWAC | 2-4 (1-1) | Prev: 18
Florida A&M moves up one spot after defeating Alcorn State.
18. Southern | SWAC | 1-6 (0-3) | Prev: 14
Southern has now lost five straight games, failing to look competitive in any of them. Things are getting hot in the Bayou, even as we ease into the fall.
19. Norfolk State | MEAC | 1-6 (0-0) | Prev: 19
Norfolk State had a bye, but a win over an actual NCAA institution holds off a pair of other one-win schools in the rankings.
20. Mississippi Valley State | SWAC | 1-5 (0-2) | Prev: 20
Mississippi Valley State picked up a win over Lincoln (CA), its first win of the season. The Delta Devils won 49-0, a touchdown more than Alcorn State's final score, proving MVSU shouldn't be in the bottom spot.
21. Alcorn State | SWAC | 1-6 (0-3) | Prev: 21
Alcorn State lost to Florida A&M, unable to spoil homecoming for the Rattlers.