boxtorow.com
After one of the most memorable seasons in HBCU football and FCS for that matter, there is no surprise that the Grambling State Tigers sit atop the BOXTOROW Coaches Poll, which was released on Monday.
All 22 coaches voted and the Tigers received 18 first-place votes. The Tigers opened the 2016 season with a heartbreaking 31-21 loss to Pac-12 opponent Arizona after taking a 21-3 into halftime. The Tigers then reeled off 11-straight wins, including a 9-0 record in SWAC play and a victory over Alcorn State in the SWAC championship game before capping the season off with a 10-9 victory over North Carolina Central in the Celebration
Bowl before a nationally televised audience on ABC.
The aforementioned Eagles have been picked second and received two first-place votes. North Carolina A&T (one first-place vote), Southern (one first-place vote) and Tennessee State round out the top five.
Texas Southern and Florida A&M kick off the 2017 HBCU FCS football season on Saturday August 26 in Tallahassee, Fla.
In its ninth year, the BOXTOROW HBCU FCS coaches poll is administered by
FROM THE PRESS BOX TO PRESS ROW and is voted on by the HBCU Football Championship Subdivision coaches.
2017 BOXTOROW HBCU FCS Preseason Coaches Poll
| No. | Team | W-L | Pts. | 2016 Final Poll |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grambling (18) | 11-1 | 206 | 1 |
| 2 | North Carolina Central (2) | 9-3 | 193 | 2 |
| 3 | North Carolina A&T (1) | 9-3 | 164 | 3 |
| 4 | Southern (1) | 8-3 | 135 | 4 |
| 5 | Tennessee State | 7-4 | 130 | 6 |
| 6 | Prairie View A&M | 7-4 | 100 | 5 |
| 7 | Alcorn State | 5-6 | 79 | 7 |
| 8 | South Carolina State | 5-6 | 69 | 8 |
| 9 | Bethune-Cookman | 4-6 | 50 | 10 |
| 10 | Hampton | 5-6 | 43 | 9 |
Other receiving votes:
Alabama State (4-7) 13, Florida A&M (4-7) 6, Alabama A&M (4-7) 6, Jackson State (3-8) 6, Morgan (3-8) 3, Texas Southern (4-7) 1.
(1st place votes in parentheses)