boxtorow.com
COVID-19 forced teams to postpone the 2020 season to spring of 2021 where only 13 HBCU teams participated. The Alabama A&M Bulldogs went undefeated in the spring on their way to winning their second SWAC championship and first ever HBCU national championship after finishing No. 1 in the BOXTOROW Media Poll.
The Bulldogs begin the 2021 (fall) season No. 1 in HBCU football as the BOXTOROW Media Poll was released on Thursday.
“This is great for the program and shows how far we have come in three years,” said Bulldogs head football coach Connell Maynor. “We are the hunted now and we have to work harder than ever before. We now have to prove everyone right and repeat.”
The Bulldogs received six first place votes, compared to the North Carolina A&T Aggies who received the most first place votes (8) and are No. 2 to start the season. The Aggies did not play in the spring. Florida A&M received one first place vote and is No. 3 while SWAC title runner-up Arkansas-Pine Bluff is No. 4 and Southern is No. 5
The BOXTOROW Media Poll is administered by FROM THE PRESS BOX TO PRESS ROW and in its 15th year, is voted on by media members around the country who cover HBCU football.
2021 BOXTOROW Preseason HBCU Football Media Poll
| No. | Team | W-L | Pts | Spring Poll Final Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama A&M (6) | 5-0 | 142 | 1 |
| 2 | North Carolina A&T (8) | 0-0 | 116 | NR |
| 3 | Florida A&M (1) | 0-0 | 107 | NR |
| 4 | Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 4-1 | 94 | 2 |
| 5 | Southern | 4-1 | 84 | 3 |
| 6 | Alcorn State (1) | 0-0 | 76 | NR |
| 7 | South Carolina State | 3-1 | 70 | 5 |
| 8 | Jackson State | 4-3 | 42 | 8 |
| 9 | Bowie State | 0-0 | 37 | NR |
| 10 | Prairie View A&M | 2-1 | 27 | 4 |
Others receiving votes: Bethune-Cookman (0-0) 22, Savannah State (1-1) 12, Tennessee State (2-5) 12, West Virginia State (2-2) 11, Delaware State (2-3) 8, Alabama State (3-3) 8, Miles (0-0) 7, Albany State (0-0) 3, Grambling (0-4) 3, Norfolk State (0-0) 3, Virginia State (0-0) 3, North Carolina Central (0-0) 2, Tuskegee (0-0) 2, Langston (2-3) 1.
(1st place votes in parentheses)