Coaches and Media Split.
boxtorow.com
It doesn’t happen often but this week, both North Carolina Central and Florida A&M are No. 1 in HBCU football as The HBCU Coaches and Media Polls presented by BOXTOROW were released on Monday. NCCU is coming off a loss to nationally ranked UCLA, while FAMU defeated West Florida.
The Eagles received 13 of the 18 first place votes in the coaches poll. Florida A&M received the other five first place votes and finished five points behind the Eagles. Jackson State also lost to an FBS opponent in Texas State, but remained at No. 3. No. 4 Tennessee State moved up five spots from last week after its win over Gardner-Webb, while Hampton, who was not in the top 10 last week, is No. 5 this week after its come-from-behind victory over Howard.
In the media poll, NCCU also received more first place votes, but was outpointed by five points by FAMU who is No. 1 for the first time since at least 2019. Benedict remains at No. 3 having received two first place votes. No. 4 Virginia Union and No. 5 Jackson State swapped positions from last week.
The HBCU FCS coaches and 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 3
(Records through September 16, 2023)
| No. | Team | W-L | Pts | Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina Central (13) | 2-1 | 171 | 1 |
| 2 | Florida A&M (5) | 2-1 | 166 | 2 |
| 3 | Jackson State | 2-2 | 112 | 5 |
| 4 | Tennessee State | 2-1 | 89 | 9 |
| 5 | Hampton | 2-1 | 79 | NR |
| 6 | Prairie View A&M | 1-2 | 71 | 5 |
| 7 | Howard | 1-2 | 70 | 4 |
| 8 | Morgan State | 1-2 | 49 | 6 |
| 9 | Alcorn State | 1-2 | 47 | NR |
| 10 | Alabama State | 1-1 | 40 | 8 |
Others receiving votes: Southern (1-2) 31, Alabama A&M (1-2) 23, Grambling (1-2) 16, Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-2) 8, Texas Southern (0-3) 7, North Carolina A&T (0-3) 7, Bethune-Cookman (1-2) 3, Norfolk State (1-2) 1.
(1st place votes in parentheses)
2023 HBCU Football Media Top 10 Poll
Week 3
(Records through September 16, 2023)
| No. | Team | W-L | Pts | Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida A&M (8) | 2-1 | 204 | 2 |
| 2 | North Carolina Central (11) | 2-1 | 199 | 1 |
| 3 | Benedict (2) | 3-0 | 179 | 3 |
| 4 | Virginia Union | 3-0 | 129 | 5 |
| 5 | Jackson State | 2-2 | 119 | 4 |
| 6 | Tuskegee | 3-0 | 89 | 9 |
| 7 | Virginia State | 3-0 | 72 | 10 |
| 8 | Morgan State (1) | 1-2 | 61 | 6 |
| 9 | Hampton | 2-1 | 41 | NR |
| 10 | Prairie View A&M | 1-2 | 27 | NR |
Others receiving votes: Alcorn State (1-2) 25, Tennessee State (2-1) 22, Howard (1-2) 19, Bowie State (2-1) 8, Southern (1-2) 4, Allen (3-0) 4, North Carolina A&T (0-3) 3, Fayetteville State (1-2) 3, Grambling (1-2) 1.
(1st place votes in parentheses)
Coaches and Media Split.