/* hide author info except on post */
if (is_single()) {
echo “boxtorow.com”;
}
[/insert_php]boxtorow.com
North Carolina A&T’s reign as the top team in HBCU football has come to an end.
In a game that decided the MEAC championship, the North Carolina Central Eagles defeated the Aggies 42-21 on Saturday in Durham. The Eagles punch their ticket to the Celebration Bowl and await the SWAC championship game winner.
In the interim, the Eagles climb to No. 2 in both the BOXTOROW Coaches and Media Polls. Grambling, who has been the consensus No. 2 for the majority of the season, is now atop HBCU football in both polls.
In the coaches poll, the Tigers received the majority of the first place votes, 13, while the Eagles received five first-place votes. The Aggies dropped to No. 3, one point ahead of No. 4 Southern.
The vote was much closer with the media as the Tigers received eight first-place votes and finished atop the poll by one point over the Eagles. The Aggies dropped to No. 3.
Tuskegee moved up two spots to No. 6 after defeating Newberry 35-33. The Golden Tigers will face North Greenville in the second round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs.
The Aggies earned a berth to the FCS Playoffs and will face Richmond on Saturday.
The BOXTOROW HBCU FCS coaches poll and the media poll are administered by FROM THE PRESS BOX TO PRESS ROW. The coaches poll is voted on by the HBCU Football Championship Subdivision coaches and the media poll is voted on by media members around the country who cover HBCU football.
2016 BOXTOROW HBCU Football Coaches Top 10 Poll
Week 12
(Records through November 19, 2016)
| No. | Team | W-L | Pts | Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grambling State (13) | 8-1 | 175 | 2 |
| 2 | North Carolina Central (5) | 9-2 | 165 | 3 |
| 3 | North Carolina A&T | 9-2 | 134 | 1 |
| 4 | Southern | 8-2 | 133 | 4 |
| 5 | Prairie View A&M | 7-4 | 100 | 6 |
| 6 | Tennessee State | 7-4 | 94 | 7 |
| 7 | Alcorn State | 5-5 | 70 | 8 |
| 8 | Bethune-Cookman | 4-5 | 53 | 9 |
| 9 | Hampton | 5-5 | 33 | 5 |
| 10 | South Carolina State | 4-6 | 20 | NR |
Other receiving votes: Florida A&M (4-7) 4, Texas Southern (4-7) 4, Norfolk State (4-7) 1, Alabama State (3-7) 1.
(1st place votes in parentheses)
2016 BOXTOROW HBCU Media Top 10 Poll
Week 12
(Records through November 19, 2016)
| No. | Team | W-L | Pts. | Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grambling (8) | 8-1 | 13 | 2 |
| 2 | North Carolina Central (6) | 9-2 | 132 | 3 |
| 3 | North Carolina A&T | 9-2 | 111 | 1 |
| 4 | Southern | 8-2 | 104 | 4 |
| 5 | Winston-Salem State | 9-3 | 66 | 5 |
| 6 | Tuskegee | 9-2 | 62 | 8 |
| 7 | Prairie View A&M | 7-4 | 58 | 7 |
| 8 | Virginia State | 9-2 | 52 | 6 |
| 9 | Tennessee State | 7-4 | 33 | 9 |
| 10 | Bowie State | 7-4 | 17 | 10 |
Other receiving votes: Hampton (5-5) 3, Alcorn State (5-5) 3.
(1st place votes in parentheses)