FAMU’s unanimous top spot.
boxtorow.com
Florida A&M defeated Prairie View A&M in the SWAC championship game this past Saturday and retains its No. 1 spot in HBCU football as the HBCU Coaches and Media Polls were released on Monday. The Rattlers were a unanimous choice for the first time this season.
In the coaches poll, Howard moved up to the No. 2 spot, surging ahead of No. 3 North Carolina Central, who the Bison beat on Nov. 11. The only other change from the poll released two weeks ago is Southern reentering the poll at No. 9 after its victory over Grambling in the Bayou Classic on November 25.
In the media poll, HU remained at No. 4, while No. 2 Benedict and No. 3 North Carolina Central both retained respective spots, despite both teams losing in NCAA Playoff appearances.
FAMU and Howard will face off in the last game of the 2023 HBCU football season on December 16 in the Celebration Bowl. The HBCU national champion will be named on Monday, December 18 with the release of the HBCU Coaches and Media Polls.
The HBCU FCS coaches and HBCU media polls are administered by BOXTOROW. The coaches poll, in its 15th year is voted on by the HBCU Football Championship Subdivision coaches and the media poll, in its 17th year, is voted on by media members around the country who cover HBCU football.
2023 BOXTOROW HBCU FCS Coaches Poll
Week 14
(Records through December 2, 2023)
| No. | Team | W-L | Pts | Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida A&M (18) | 11-1 | 180 | 1 |
| 2 | Howard | 6-5 | 161 | 3 |
| 3 | North Carolina Central | 9-3 | 150 | 2 |
| 4 | Alcorn State | 7-4 | 109 | 4 |
| 5 | Prairie View A&M | 6-6 | 98 | 5 |
| 6 | Jackson State | 7-4 | 93 | 6 |
| 7 | Alabama State | 7-4 | 78 | 7 |
| 8 | Tennessee State | 6-5 | 55 | 8 |
| 9 | Southern | 6-5 | 26 | NR |
| 10 | Morgan State | 4-6 | 15 | 10 |
Others receiving votes: South Carolina State (5-6) 10, Grambling (5-6) 10, Alabama A&M (5-6) 8, Hampton (5-6) 6.
(1st place votes in parentheses)
2023 HBCU Football Media Top 10 Poll
Week 14
(Records through December 2, 2023)
| No. | Team | W-L | Pts | Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida A&M (20) | 11-1 | 200 | 1 |
| 2 | Benedict | 11-1 | 153 | 2 |
| 3 | North Carolina Central | 9-3 | 152 | 3 |
| 4 | Howard | 6-5 | 136 | 4 |
| 5 | Virginia Union | 10-2 | 108 | 5 |
| 6 | Prairie View A&M | 6-6 | 71 | 7 |
| 7 | Alcorn State | 7-4 | 70 | 6 |
| 8 | Jackson State | 7-4 | 61 | 9 |
| 9 | Virginia State | 8-2 | 52 | 8 |
| T-10 | Fayetteville State | 8-3 | 33 | T-8 |
| T-10 Alabama State 7-4 33 NR |
Others receiving votes: Tennessee State (6-5) 12, Southern (6-5) 8, Johnson C. Smith (7-3) 3, Miles (7-3) 3, Tuskegee (7-3) 1.
(1st place votes in parentheses)
FAMU’s unanimous top spot.