Media Poll Week 5.
boxtorow.com
The defending HBCU national champion Florida A&M Rattlers had a second-straight week off, this one due to Hurricane Helene, but remained No. 1 in the HBCU Media Poll released on Monday. The Rattlers received a majority of the first place votes.
The North Carolina Central Eagles received the rest of the first place votes to finish second. Jackson State defeated Texas Southern soundly and moved up two spots from last week to No. 3. No. 4 Tennessee State also moved up two spots from last week with its win over fellow Big South-OVC opponent Charleston Southern. Hampton fell to fellow CAA opponent William and Mary and dropped to spots to round out the top five.
Johnson C. Smith remained the only team in HBCU football to have won all of its games and moved up two spots from last week to No. 8 after knocking off Bluefield State. And for the first time in many years, Clark Atlanta has entered the poll, debuting at No. 9. The Panthers remain undefeated on the season.
The HBCU Media Poll is administered by BOXTOROW and in its 18th year, is voted on by media members around the country who cover HBCU football.
2024 HBCU Football Media Poll
Week 5
(Records through September 29, 2024)
| No. | Team | W-L | Pts | Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida A&M (13) | 2-2 | 192 | 1 |
| 2 | North Carolina Central (8) | 3-2 | 184 | 2 |
| 3 | Jackson State | 3-2 | 134 | 5 |
| 4 | Tennessee State | 3-2 | 115 | 6 |
| 5 | Hampton | 3-2 | 90 | 3 |
| 6 | Grambling | 3-2 | 85 | 4 |
| 7 | Alabama State | 2-2 | 80 | 7 |
| 8 | Johnson C. Smith | 5-0 | 71 | 10 |
| 9 | Clark Atlanta | 4-0-1 | 44 | NR |
| 10 | South Carolina State | 2-2 | 34 | NR |
Others receiving votes: Morgan State (2-3) 26, Howard (2-3) 22, Winston-Salem State (4-1) 12, Prairie View A&M (2-3) 8, Alcorn State (2-3) 2, Shaw (3-2) 2, Virginia Union (2-2) 1.
(1st place votes in parentheses)
Media Poll Week 4.