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Records show that Howard and Talladega claimed the first ever HBCU championship in 1920. It is fitting that in the 100th year of a team being crowned national champions, a team that has never won before wins it for the first time.
The Alabama A&M Bulldogs defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff 40-33 in the SWAC championship game on Saturday and are crowned HBCU national champions, finishing No. 1 in the final BOXTOROW Coaches and Media Polls which were released on Monday.
“Being No. 1 in the BOXTOROW HBCU polls and HBCU national champions mean everything to this program,” said Bulldogs third-year head coach Connell Maynor. “This is what we set out to accomplish three years ago. This is the result of a total team effort from the president, trustees, athletics director on down with all buying in. I am so proud of my coaches and players because they have worked so hard and they deserve this.
“Bulldog nation has been waiting a long time for the Bulldogs to be back at the top.”
Maynor becomes one of the few coaches to win the HBCU national championship with two different teams. He led Winston-Salem State to the title in 2011 and 2012. He also won it as a player with North Carolina A&T in 1990.
The BOXTOROW HBCU FCS Coaches Poll, and the BOXTOROW Media Poll is administered by FROM THE PRESS BOX TO PRESS ROW. The coaches poll, in its 12th year is voted on by the HBCU Football Championship Subdivision coaches. The media poll, in its 14th year, is voted on by media members around the country who cover HBCU football.
Spring 2021 BOXTOROW FCS HBCU Football Coaches Poll
Final
(Records through May 1, 2021)
| No. | Team | W-L | Pts | Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama A&M (15) | 5-0 | 150 | 1 |
| 2 | Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 4-1 | 130 | 2 |
| 3 | Southern | 5-1 | 123 | 3 |
| 4 | Prairie View A&M | 2-1 | 198 | 4 |
| 5 | South Carolina State | 3-1 | 94 | 5 |
| 6 | Alabama State | 3-3 | 74 | 6 |
| 7 | Jackson State | 3-3 | 65 | 7 |
| 8 | Delaware State | 2-3 | 35 | 8 |
| 9 | Tennessee State | 2-5 | 30 | 9 |
| 10 | Grambling | 0-4 | 11 | 10 |
Others receiving votes: Mississippi Valley State (0-3) 7, Texas Southern (0-2) 2, Howard (0-2) 1.
(1st place votes in parentheses)
Spring 2021 BOXTOROW HBCU Football Media Top 10 Poll
Final
(Records through May 1, 2021)
| No. | Team | W-L | Pts. | Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama A&M (15) | 5-0 | 150 | 1 |
| 2 | Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 4-1 | 134 | 2 |
| 3 | Southern | 5-1 | 119 | 3 |
| 4 | Prairie View A&M | 2-1 | 100 | 4 |
| 5 | South Carolina State | 3-1 | 93 | 5 |
| 6 | Alabama State | 3-3 | 76 | 6 |
| 7 | Delaware State | 2-3 | 54 | 7 |
| 8 | Jackson State | 3-3 | 51 | 8 |
| 9 | West Virginia State | 2-2 | 29 | 9 |
| 10 | Tennessee State | 2-5 | 13 | 10 |
Other receiving votes: Langston (2-3) 1.
(1st place votes in parentheses)
BOXTOROW National HBCU Football Champions (Coaches) Year-by-Year
2021 Alabama A&M
2019 North Carolina A&T
2018 North Carolina A&T
2017 North Carolina A&T
2016 Grambling
2015 North Carolina A&T
2014 Alcorn State
2013 Bethune-Cookman
2012 Arkansas-Pine Bluff
2011 Norfolk State
2010 Bethune-Cookman
2009 South Carolina State
BOXTOROW National HBCU Football Champions (Media) Year-by-Year
2021 Alabama A&M
2019 North Carolina A&T
2018 North Carolina A&T
2017 North Carolina A&T
2016 Grambling
2015 North Carolina A&T
2014 Alcorn State
2013 Bethune-Cookman
2012 Winston-Salem State
2011 Winston-Salem State
2010 Bethune-Cookman
2009 South Carolina State
2008 Grambling
2007 Tuskegee