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The BOXTOROW HBCU FCS coaches poll reveals its first top-10 ranking of the 2022 season and the public gets its first glimpse into who could win the HBCU national championship when games kick off in a little more than a month.
It’s been seven months since South Carolina State defeated Jackson State in the Celebration Bowl to claim its first national championship since 2009. Yet JSU will start the season No. 1, receiving four less first place votes than the Bulldogs, but outpacing SCSU by five points in the poll. Jackson State had the No. 1 HBCU recruiting class as ranked by BOXTOROW and returns a multitude of players led by HBCU Rookie of the Year, quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
The cupboard isn’t exactly bare for the Bulldogs who return nine starters on offense and nine on defense. Amongst the many starters includes Celebration Bowl MVP, wide receiver Shaquan Davis.
No. 3 Florida A&M and No. 4 Alabama A&M will also have something to say about who wins the championship. The Rattlers participated in the FCS playoffs last year as an at-large team and the Alabama A&M Bulldogs were the HBCU national champions during the 2021 spring season. Each team received one first place vote. Prairie View A&M with new head coach Bubba McDowell rounds out the top five.
The BOXTOROW HBCU FCS Coaches Poll is administered by FROM THE PRESS BOX TO PRESS ROW, and in its 14th year, is voted on by the HBCU Football Championship Subdivision coaches.
2022 BOXTOROW Preseason HBCU FCS Football Coaches Poll
(1st place votes in parentheses)
| No. | Team | W-L | Pts | 2021 Final Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jackson State (6) | 11-2 | 166 | 2 |
| 2 | South Carolina State (10) | 7-5 | 161 | 1 |
| 3 | Florida A&M (1) | 9-3 | 149 | 3 |
| 4 | Alabama A&M (1) | 7-3 | 92 | 5 |
| 5 | Prairie View A&M | 7-5 | 79 | 4 |
| 6 | Alcorn State | 6-5 | 66 | 6 |
| 7 | North Carolina A&T | 5-6 | 62 | 9 |
| 8 | North Carolina Central | 6-5 | 56 | 7 |
| 9 | Norfolk State | 6-5 | 55 | 8 |
| 10 | Tennessee State | 5-6 | 49 | 10 |
Others receiving votes: Southern (4-7) 33, Grambling (4-7) 5, Alabama State (5-6) 5, Arkansas-Pine Buff (2-9) 5, Hampton (5-6) 3, Mississippi Valley State (4-7) 3, Delaware State (5-6) 2.
(1st place votes in parentheses)