JSU HBCU national champions.
boxtorow.com
The final HBCU Coaches and Media Polls are out, fresh off of Jackson State’s victory over South Carolina State in the Celebration Bowl. The Tigers are crowned HBCU national champions, finishing No. 1 in both polls, giving the Tigers their first HBCU national championship since AURN (American Urban Radio Networks) named the Tigers champions in 1986.
“I’m just proud of my football team, proud of the fans, my coaching staff and everybody that made this happen,” said Jackson State head football coach T.C. Taylor. “To be a national champ right now feels awesome.”
The vote was unanimous in the Media Poll. JSU received all but one first place votes in the Coaches Poll; the one vote went to Big South-OVC champ Tennessee State. The Bulldogs finished second.
In the Coaches Poll, TSU finished No. 3 with MEAC runner-up North Carolina Central finishing No. 4 and SWAC runner-up Southern rounding out the top five.
In the Media Poll, Virginia Union’s 10-win, CIAA championship season and quarterfinal finish in the NCAA Division II playoffs earned it a No. 6 finish. Miles won the SIAC championship, won a game in the first round of the D2 playoffs and finished with 10 wins to earn a No. 7 finish.
Last year’s champion Florida A&M finished seventh in the final Coaches Poll and eighth in the Media Poll.
The HBCU FCS coaches and HBCU media polls are administered by BOXTOROW. The coaches poll, in its 16th year is voted on by the HBCU Football Championship Subdivision coaches and the media poll, in its 18th year, is voted on by media members around the country who cover HBCU football.
BOXTOROW HBCU National Football Champions (Coaches) Year-by-Year
2024 Jackson State
2023 Florida A&M
2022 North Carolina Central
2021 South Carolina State
2019 North Carolina A&T
2018 North Carolina A&T
2017 North Carolina A&T
2016 Grambling
2015 North Carolina A&T
2014 Alcorn State
2013 Bethune-Cookman
2012 Arkansas-Pine Bluff
2011 Norfolk State
2010 Bethune-Cookman
2009 South Carolina State
BOXTOROW HBCU National Football Champions (Media) Year-by-Year
2024 Jackson State
2023 Florida A&M
2022 North Carolina Central
2021 Bowie State
2019 North Carolina A&T
2018 North Carolina A&T
2017 North Carolina A&T
2016 Grambling
2015 North Carolina A&T
2014 Alcorn State
2013 Bethune-Cookman
2012 Winston-Salem State
2011 Winston-Salem State
2010 Bethune-Cookman
2009 South Carolina State
2008 Grambling
2007 Tuskegee
2024 HBCU FCS Coaches Poll
Final
(Records through December 14, 2024)
| No. | Team | W-L | Pts | Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jackson State (17) | 12-2 | 179 | 1 |
| 2 | South Carolina State | 9-3 | 158 | 2 |
| 3 | Tennessee State (1) | 9-4 | 149 | 3 |
| 4 | North Carolina Central | 8-3 | 124 | 4 |
| 5 | Southern | 8-5 | 110 | 5 |
| 6 | Alabama State | 7-5 | 87 | 6 |
| 7 | Florida A&M | 7-5 | 72 | 7 |
| 8 | Alabama A&M | 6-3 | 43 | 8 |
| 9 | Alcorn State | 6-6 | 35 | 9 |
| 10 | Morgan State | 6-6 | 21 | 10 |
Others receiving votes: Hampton (5-7) 9, Prairie View A&M (5-7) 2, Howard (4-8) 1.
(1st place votes in parentheses)
2024 HBCU Football Media Poll
Final
(Records through December 14, 2024)
| No. | Team | W-L | Pts | Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jackson State (22) | 12-2 | 220 | 1 |
| 2 | South Carolina State (3) | 9-3 | 188 | 2 |
| 3 | Tennessee State | 9-4 | 178 | 3 |
| 4 | North Carolina Central | 8-3 | 152 | 4 |
| 5 | Southern | 8-5 | 122 | 5 |
| 6 | Virginia Union | 10-4 | 116 | 7 |
| 7 | Miles | 10-3 | 82 | 6 |
| 8 | Florida A&M | 7-5 | 58 | 8 |
| 9 | Johnson C. Smith | 8-2 | 42 | 9 |
| 10 | Virginia State | 7-4 | 21 | 10 |
Others receiving votes: Alabama State (7-5) 19, Morgan State (6-6) 8, Hampton (5-7) 2, Clark Atlanta (7-3-1) 1, Winston-Salem State (7-3) 1, Alabama A&M (6-6) 1.
(1st place votes in parentheses)
JSU HBCU national champions.