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There were very few changes in the BOXTOROW Coaches and Media Polls as the teams that were expected to win did.
In the coaches poll, North Carolina A&T’s convincing win over No. 7 Bethune-Cookman put the Aggies in a position that should they win against North Carolina Central Saturday, would gain at least a share of the MEAC title and a trip to the Celebration Bowl. Despite South Carolina State’s win over North Carolina Central and keeping pace with the Aggies for first place in the MEAC, the Bulldogs fell one spot, swapping places with A&T.
In the media poll, the top six teams remained the same. Bowie State remained undefeated by beating Fayetteville State in the CIAA championship game, winning the championship game for the second straight season. B-CU dropped out of the poll, while Grambling remained hot, defeating Mississippi Valley State and moving up three spots to No. 7. Miles reenters the poll at No. 10 after defeating Albany State in the SIAC championship game.
A win by N.C. A&T over NCCU and an SCSU win over Norfolk State on Saturday means both share the MEAC title, but means the Aggies go back to the Celebration Bowl by virtue of a head-to-head victory over the Bulldogs.
A&T can win outright with a win and SCSU loss and South Carolina State can win the MEAC championship outright and earn a trip to the Celebration Bowl with a win on Saturday and a North Carolina A&T loss.
If both the Aggies and Bulldogs lose on Saturday, North Carolina A&T would be declared co-champions with South Carolina State and Norfolk State at 5-3 and clinch a berth to the Celebration Bowl. In this scenario, North Carolina A&T would have the best record (2-0) amongst the three tied teams, giving the Aggies the bowl bid.
In the event that Bethune-Cookman defeats Florida A&M and both North Carolina A&T and South Carolina State lose, the Wildcats would then share the title with N.C. A&T, SCSU and Norfolk State and the Aggies would get the Celebration Bowl berth because N.C. A&T would have the best record (3-0) among the four tied teams.
The BOXTOROW HBCU FCS coaches poll and media poll is administered by FROM THE PRESS BOX TO PRESS ROW. The coaches poll, in its 11th year is voted on by the HBCU Football Championship Subdivision coaches and the media poll, in its 13th year, is voted on by media members around the country who cover HBCU football.
2019 BOXTOROW HBCU FCS Football Coaches Top 10 Poll
Week 12
(Records through November 16, 2019)
| No. | Team | W-L | Pts | Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida A&M (20) | 9-1 | 200 | 1 |
| 2 | Alcorn State | 7-3 | 177 | 2 |
| 3 | North Carolina A&T | 7-3 | 151 | 4 |
| 4 | South Carolina State | 7-3 | 143 | 3 |
| 5 | Southern | 7-4 | 125 | 5 |
| 6 | Grambling | 6-4 | 103 | 6 |
| 7 | Bethune-Cookman | 6-4 | 59 | 7 |
| 8 | Alabama A&M | 6-5 | 54 | 8 |
| 9 | Prairie View A&M | 5-5 | 35 | 10 |
| 10 | Alabama State | 5-5 | 34 | 9 |
Other receiving votes: Norfolk State (5-6) 7, Arkansas-Pine Bluff (5-5) 7, Jackson State (4-7) 1, Hampton (5-6) 1.
(1st place votes in parentheses)
2019 BOXTOROW HBCU Media Top 10 Poll
Week 12
(Records through November 16, 2019)
| No. | Team | W-L | Pts. | Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida A&M (15) | 9-1 | 150 | 1 |
| 2 | Bowie State | 11-0 | 118 | 2 |
| 3 | South Carolina State | 7-3 | 109 | 3 |
| 4 | North Carolina A&T | 7-3 | 107 | 4 |
| 5 | Alcorn State | 7-3 | 89 | 5 |
| 6 | Southern | 7-4 | 75 | 6 |
| 7 | Grambling | 6-4 | 53 | 10 |
| 8 | Savannah State | 7-3 | 40 | T-7 |
| 9 | Virginia State | 8-2 | 27 | 9 |
| 10 | Miles | 9-2 | 22 | NR |
Other receiving votes: Bethune-Cookman (6-4) 14, Alabama A&M (6-5) 7, Albany State (7-4) 7, Prairie View A&M (5-5) 3, Fayetteville State (8-3) 1, Alabama State (5-5) 1, West Virginia State (7-4) 1.
(1st place votes in parentheses)