The sixth No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup in the history of my HBCU football power rankings lived up to the hype, creating an FCS Game of the Year candidate. While the Jackson State-Alabama State game decided the top spot this week, there were other games that impacted the rankings too. In fact, there are two new top-10 teams in Week 8's HBCU football power rankings.
These are the sixth 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 8 HBCU football power rankings
1. Jackson State | SWAC | 5-1 (3-0) | Prev: 1
There should be no doubt about what team has earned the top spot in the HBCU football rankings. Jackson State's win over Alabama State makes the Tigers the clear No. 1.
Jackson State retakes the lead with 50 seconds remaining 🐅
— LIGHT ON COLLEGE SPORTS (@LightOnSports) October 11, 2025
JaCobian Morgan finds Nate Rembert for the go-ahead TD 🔥
WHAT A GAME! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Ip6nwNuWNT
| Year | Week | Winner | Loser | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Week 7 | No. 1 Jackson State | No. 2 Alabama State | 38-34 |
| 2024 | Celebration Bowl | No. 1 Jackson State | No. 2 South Carolina State | 28-7 |
| 2024 | Week 1 Orange Blossom Classic |
No. 2 North Carolina Central | No. 1 Alabama State | 31-24 |
| 2022 | Week 9 | No. 1 Jackson State | No. 2 Southern | 35-0 |
| 2022 | Week 1 Orange Blossom Classic |
No. 1 Jackson State | No. 2 Florida A&M | 59-3 |
| 2021 | Week 6 | No. 1 Jackson State | No. 2 Alabama A&M | 61-15 |
EVERYTHING HBCU: Schedule, scores, updates and more from the 2025 HBCU football season
2. North Carolina Central | MEAC | 5-2 (0-0) | Prev: 3
After a game like the one we saw in Jackson, I debated leaving Alabama State at No. 2 in the rankings. However, North Carolina Central went into Bragg Memorial Stadium and blasted Florida A&M 45-7. The way that the NCCU offense is playing gets them the No. 2 spot.
The Eagles stay hot, scoring 45 points for the 4th straight game, extending their win streak to 4.
— HBCUGO.TV (@HBCUGoTV) October 12, 2025
Brought to you by @Febreze_Fresh pic.twitter.com/3Bt2lrOHQZ
3. Alabama State | SWAC | 4-2 (2-1) | Prev: 2
Alabama State lost a heartbreaker against Jackson State. I didn't like the final play call into the boundary for the Hornets with a chance to win the game, but one play doesn't take away from the fact that Alabama State is the clear second-best team in the SWAC.
— LIGHT ON COLLEGE SPORTS (@LightOnSports) October 11, 2025
4. Prairie View A&M | SWAC | 4-2 (3-0) | Prev: 4
Prairie View A&M had a bye last week after starting 3-0 in SWAC West play this season. The Panthers don't move here.
5. Delaware State | MEAC | 4-3 (0-0) | Prev: 5
Delaware State dominated a Division II school which is exactly what I want to see from a team in my top five. The Hornets dropped 70 points while rushing for 608 yards and seven touchdowns.
ELITE: Ranking the top 10 HBCU football players after one month
6. South Carolina State | MEAC | 4-3 (0-0) | Prev: 6
South Carolina State spoiled GHOE — for the football team at least — beating North Carolina A&T 22-16. Yet, that first half raises some questions for the Bulldogs after trailing 9-0.
After losing to a one-win Charleston Southern team and only beating a one-win Wofford team by one point, how good is this SC State team in actuality?
7. Texas Southern | SWAC | 3-3 (3-1) | Prev: 8
After starting 0-3, Texas Southern has won three straight SWAC games to get to .500. The Tigers can't be counted out of the SWAC West race just yet.
8. Bethune-Cookman | SWAC | 3-4 (2-1) | Prev: 12
Bethune-Cookman is back in the top 10 after a 45-14 win over Southern. Head-to-head matters here, which is why the Wildcats jump in front of Alabama A&M too. Bethune-Cookman is now 2-1 in SWAC play.
What a CATCH Lorenzo Jenkins!
— 🏈 Bethune-Cookman Football (@BCUGridiron) October 11, 2025
📺 https://t.co/SC2oSrdtOD
📻 https://t.co/26qgbJfkBj
🎧 https://t.co/U0EXwmxO9F
📊 https://t.co/BfpOgLFoGj#𝙃𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙨 | #𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙮𝙏𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 pic.twitter.com/fCJWqNO9mC
9. Alabama A&M | SWAC | 4-3 (1-2) | Prev: 10
I was on the call for Alabama A&M's win over Mississippi Valley State for SWAC TV, and I liked what I saw from the Bulldogs, especially in the second half. That offense can score with anyone, whether it's Eric Handley at quarterback or Quad Brown when he comes back from injury.
SUPERLATIVES: Here are some FCS football midseason superlatives for 2025
10. Morgan State | MEAC | 3-4 (0-0) | Prev: 11
I really — and I mean really — don't want to rank Morgan State in my top 10 this week after the Bears beat Virginia Lynchburg. I'm not hating on Morgan State; I just don't think the Bears have a win worthy of being here.
Morgan State has a 3-4 record, but hasn't beaten a DI opponent. However, when every other team in contention for the final spot in the top 10 has lost back-to-back games, it lets the Bears move up.
| 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 | Morgan State |
| 11 | Howard |
| 12 | Grambling State |
| 13 | Tennessee State |
| 14 | Southern |
| 15 | Arkansas-Pine Bluff |
| 16 | North Carolina A&T |
| 17 | Hampton |
| 18 | Florida A&M |
| 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
11. Howard | MEAC | 3-3 (0-0) | Prev: 7
Sacred Heart moved to 3-0 in MEAC play, with wins over Howard, Norfolk State and Delaware State. The Bison were the only team to suffer a multiple-possesion defeat, falling 32-14.
Yet, Howard has a win over a SWAC opponent, something Grambling State does not. The Bison stay one spot above the Tigers.
12. Grambling State | SWAC | 3-3 (0-2) | Prev: 9
Grambling State lost 21-20 to Texas Southern, falling to 0-2 in the SWAC. The Tigers have now lost two straight games, with only one DI win on its resume.
13. Tennessee State | OVC-Big South | 1-5 (0-3)| Prev: 14
Now's where the clear dropoff comes from the top-12 HBCU teams and the rest. I moved Tennessee State up one spot this week to No. 13 because at least the Tigers didn't get blown out in their fifth straight loss.
14. Southern | SWAC | 1-5 (0-2) | Prev: 13
Southern has been dominated and blown out in each of its five losses this season. The Jaguars have lost four straight games.
15. Arkansas-Pine Bluff | SWAC | 3-3 (1-1) | Prev: 15
A win over Westgate Christian does not count in my rankings. Quite literally, the win doesn't count because Westgate Christian is not a countable opponent. Arkansas-Pine Bluff stays put.
MORE RANKINGS: AFCA Coaches Poll | STATS PERFORM
16. North Carolina A&T | CAA | 1-6 (1-2) | Prev: 16
North Carolina A&T lost another homecoming game, begging the question of if a school can claim the "Greatest Homecoming on Earth" if the team doesn't win on the field.
How can North Carolina A&T claim GHOE, The Greatest Homecoming on Earth, if the team hasn't won a homecoming game since 2022 and is 1-4 in homecoming games this decade?
— Stan Becton (@stan_becton) October 12, 2025
17. Hampton | CAA | 2-5 (0-3) | Prev: 18
Hampton lost another game, this time to Campbell. That might've been the best shot for another win that the Pirates will have this year.
18. Florida A&M | SWAC | 1-4 (0-1) | Prev: 17
We might not hear the phrase "Bragg Different" ever again with the way Florida A&M has played at home this year. While the Rattlers did beat DII Albany State at home, they have since got blown out in back-to-back games against Alabama State and North Carolina Central.
The student section in the sun might not have the only hot seats in Tallahassee if this continues.
19. Norfolk State | MEAC | 1-6 (0-0) | Prev: 19
Norfolk State lost to Wofford, a team that was winless before the Michael Vick-led Spartans came to town. That's now five straight losses for NSU after need 21 fourth-quarter points and overtime to beat a DII Virginia State team earlier in the year. Things might get worse with MEAC play about to start.
20. Mississippi Valley State | SWAC | 0-5 (0-2) | Prev: 20
Mississippi Valley State lost to Alabama A&M to fall to 0-5 on the season. It was a tale of two halves for the Delta Devils, unable to keep up with the Bulldogs as the game progressed.
21. Alcorn State | SWAC | 1-5 (0-2) | Prev: 21
Alcorn State could've put up 100 points on Lincoln (CA). That still might not have been enough to get them out of the last spot in these rankings.
Yes, the Braves have their first win. But Lincoln isn't an NCAA program and there were still flaws in Alcorn's game. Alcorn went 4-of-10 on third downs and had over 100 yards in penalties.
🏈: Recapping the 2024 HBCU football season
📲 B/R: Follow HBCU sports on Bleacher Report
📚 Football History: Top MEAC/SWAC Challenge moments | Individual stars | Recapping 2023 | Recapping 2022 | Recapping 2021
🏆 Championships: Jackson State wins 2024 Celebration Bowl | Tennessee State, NC Central win tennis title | Football title history | Track champions
🏟 Classics: Every HBCU Football Classic's history | Florida Classic | Bayou Classic | Can't miss atmospheres
🏀 HBCU hoops: Pac-12/SWAC series |1980s Alcorn State | NBA draft picks | Hall of Famers
👀 March Madness: Men's history | Women's history | Two HBCU wins in 2021 | HBCU vs. HBCU | Tournament upsets
