By// Donal Ware
The Tennessee State Tigers again showed why they are the top team in HBCU football.
With their 40-13 victory over last week’s No. 5 Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Nashville on Saturday, the Tigers keep the top spot in both the Boxtorow national media and coaches polls.
The Tigers received 19 of 21 first place votes from the media and were once again a unanimous selection of the coaches.
In the coaches’ poll, the Alabama A&M Bulldogs who are also undefeated remained at No. 2 this week after defeating Grambling State 38-17 on Saturday.
Bethune-Cookman and Howard remained at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively after big wins this past Saturday. Arkansas-Pine Bluff dropped to No. 6.
With Morgan State’s 21-18 victory over North Carolina A&T, the Bears re-entered the top 10 at No. 8, tied with the Aggies, who fell two spots from No. 6 last week.
In the media poll, the top four spots – Tennessee State, Alabama A&M, last year’s champion Winston-Salem State, and Bethune-Cookman – remained the same. Howard, Alabama State and defending SIAC champion Miles each moved up two spots from last week and are Nos. 5, 6, and 7 this week.
UAPB dropped to No. 8, one point behind Miles.
The Tuskegee Golden Tigers moved into the poll for the first time in two years at No.10, while the defending MEAC champion Norfolk State Spartans dropped out of the poll.
| Rank | School | W-L | Pts | LW |
| 1 | Tennessee State (19) | 5-0 | 208 | 1 |
| 2 | Alabama A&M (1) | 5-0 | 187 | 2 |
| 3 | Winston-Salem State (1)* | 5-0 | 156 | 3 |
| 4 | Bethune-Cookman | 3-2 | 141 | 4 |
| 5 | Howard | 3-1 | 106 | 7 |
| 6 | Alabama State | 3-2 | 90 | 8 |
| 7 | Miles | 4-1 | 68 | 9 |
| 8 | Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 3-2 | 67 | 5 |
| 9 | South Carolina State | 2-3 | 54 | 10 |
| 10 | Tuskegee | 3-1 | 30 | NR |
Other receiving votes: Norfolk State (2-3) 19, Fort Valley State (3-2) 6, Saint Augustine’s (3-2) 5, Southern (2-2) 5, Jackson State (2-3) 4, Bowie State (3-2) 3, North Carolina Central (2-2) 3, Morgan State (2-2) 3.
| Rank | School | W-L | Pts | LW |
| 1 | Tennessee State (13) | 5-0 | 130 | 1 |
| 2 | Alabama A&M | 5-0 | 115 | 2 |
| 3 | Bethune-Cookman | 3-2 | 103 | 3 |
| 4 | Howard | 3-1 | 91 | 4 |
| 5 | Alabama State | 3-2 | 69 | 8 |
| 6 | Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 3-2 | 53 | 5 |
| 7 | South Carolina State | 2-3 | 40 | 10 |
| 8 | Morgan State | 2-2 | 27 | NR |
| 9 | North Carolina A&T | 2-2 | 27 | 6 |
| 10 | Norfolk State** | 2-3 | 20 | 7 |
Others receiving votes: Southern (2-2) 17, North Carolina Central (2-2) 8, Jackson State (2-3) 7, Florida A&M (2-3) 5.
*Defending HBCU National Champion (Media)
**Defending HBCU National Champion (Coaches)
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The Boxtorow HBCU FCS Coaches’ poll is administered by FROM THE PRESS BOX TO PRESS ROW and is voted on by the HBCU Football Championship Subdivision coaches. The Media poll is voted on by top media members around the country who cover HBCU sports.
