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There weren’t many surprises in Week 12 of HBCU football and thus not much movement in either the BOXTOROW Coaches or Media Polls which were released on Monday. The Jackson State Tigers remain a unanimous No. 1 selection in both polls.
A lot was settled in terms of postseason play in HBCU football. By virtue of Alcorn State’s loss to the Tigers, No. 3. Prairie View A&M wrapped up the SWAC Western Division and will play Jackson State in the SWAC championship game on December 4. Despite the loss, the Braves remained at No. 6. No. 2 Florida A&M defeated Bethune-Cookman in the Florida Classic and with its 9-2 record received an at-large berth to the FCS playoffs. The Rattlers will play at Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday. It’s the first time the SWAC has had a team make the playoffs since Jackson State made the field in 1997.
No. 5 South Carolina State, who also reentered the media poll at No. 10, defeated Norfolk State and wrapped up the MEAC title outright. The Bulldogs will play the winner of Prairie View A&M/Jackson State in the Celebration Bowl.
In the media poll, the top six remained the same. No. 3 Bowie State defeated Lenoir-Rhyne in the first round of the Division II playoffs and will host Newberry this Saturday. No. 5 Albany State’s season came to an end after its loss to West Georgia in the Division II playoffs.
The BOXTOROW HBCU FCS coaches and media polls are 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 and the media poll, in its 14th year, is voted on by media members around the country who cover HBCU football.
2021 BOXTOROW HBCU Football Coaches Poll
Week 12
(Records through November 20, 2021)
| No. | Team | W-L | Pts | Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jackson State (14) | 10-1 | 140 | 1 |
| 2 | Florida A&M | 9-2 | 125 | 2 |
| 3 | Prairie View A&M | 7-3 | 108 | 3 |
| 4 | Alabama A&M | 7-3 | 97 | 4 |
| 5 | South Carolina State | 6-5 | 89 | 5 |
| 6 | Alcorn State | 6-5 | 57 | 6 |
| 7 | North Carolina Central | 6-5 | 56 | 9 |
| 8 | Norfolk State | 6-5 | 40 | 8 |
| 9 | North Carolina A&T | 5-6 | 33 | 7 |
| 10 | Tennessee State | 5-6 | 12 | 10 |
Others receiving votes: Hampton (5-6) 9, Delaware State (5-6) 4.
(1st place votes in parentheses)
2021 BOXTOROW HBCU Football Media Poll
Week 12
(Records through November 20, 2021)
| No. | Team | W-L | Pts | Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jackson State (16) | 10-1 | 160 | 1 |
| 2 | Florida A&M | 9-2 | 143 | 2 |
| 3 | Bowie State | 11-1 | 124 | 3 |
| 4 | Prairie View A&M | 7-3 | 103 | 4 |
| 5 | Albany State | 10-2 | 76 | 5 |
| 6 | Savannah State | 8-2 | 63 | T-6 |
| 7 | Alabama A&M | 7-3 | 61 | 10 |
| 8 | Alcorn State | 6-5 | 56 | T-6 |
| 9 | Fayetteville State | 8-2 | 39 | 8 |
| 10 | South Carolina State | 6-5 | 30 | NR |
Others receiving votes: North Carolina Central (6-5) 7, Langston (7-3) 5, Southern (4-6) 5, Norfolk State (6-5) 3, Tennessee State (5-6) 2, Kentucky State (7-4) 2.
(1st place votes in parentheses)