Big Wins by Prairie View, North Carolina A&T Shake HBCU Polls
Special to College Sports Journal
PHILADELPHIA, PA. — An exciting finish between two top 10 teams and a mild upset provided a little shakeup in the BOXTOROW Coaches and Media Polls.
North Carolina A&T remained atop the coaches poll, although it was not unanimous as it had been the previous two weeks, losing a first-place vote to Grambling who remained at No. 2.
The Aggies rallied from down 6-2 late in the fourth quarter scoring a touchdown with 1:39 remaining to hold off South Carolina State in Orangeburg for the 9-6 victory.
The Bulldogs missed a 32-yard field goal that would have tied the game as time expired.
South Carolina State dropped one spot to No. 7 with the loss.
Defending BOXTOROW champion Alcorn State fell to Prairie View A&M 40-34 and dropped three spots to its lowest ranking this season at No. 6.
The Panthers rose one spot to No. 4.
Tennessee State lost to Murray State and dropped out of the poll, while Hampton defeated Florida A&M and reentered the poll at No. 10.
In the media poll, the 10 teams from last week remained the same, but the order is different.
N.C. A&T and Grambling remained the top two teams. Alcorn dropped two spots to No. 5.
Tuskegee took the biggest tumble falling four spots to No. 9 after its 26-23 loss to Miles, a game which gave the Golden Bears the Western Division championship.
The Golden Bears will face Albany State in the SIAC championship game.
Bowie State rose one spot to No. 7, attaining its highest ranking ever after defeating Elizabeth City State 63-42 to solidify its spot in the CIAA championship game against Winston-Salem State.
Looking ahead, Alabama State looks to keep its SWAC Eastern Division hopes alive as it hosts Prairie View A&M, which is looking to keep pace with Grambling in the West.
The BOXTOROW HBCU FCS coaches and media polls are administered by FROM THE PRESS BOX TO PRESS ROW. The coaches poll is voted on by the HBCU Football Championship Subdivision coaches and the media poll is voted on by media members around the country who cover HBCU football.
2015 BOXTOROW FCS HBCU Football Coaches Poll
Week 10
(Records through November 7, 2015)
School W-L Points Last Week
1. North Carolina A&T (20) 8-1 209 1
2. Grambling State (1) 7-2 186 2
3. Bethune-Cookman 8-2 167 4
4. Prairie View A&M 6-2 144 5
5. North Carolina Central 6-3 108 7
6. Alcorn State* 5-3 100 3
7. South Carolina State 5-4 84 6
8. Southern 5-4 78 8
9. Alabama State 5-4 48 10
10. Hampton 5-5 18 NR
Others receiving votes: Tennessee State (4-5) 12, Norfolk State (3-6) 1.
2015 BOXTOROW HBCU Football Media Top 10 Poll
Week 10
(Records through November 7, 2015)
School W-L Points Last Week
1. North Carolina A&T (13) 8-1 166 1
2. Grambling State (4) 7-2 156 2
3. Bethune-Cookman 8-2 131 4
4. Prairie View A&M 6-2 116 T-6
5. Alcorn State* 5-3 84 3
6. South Carolina State 5-4 68 T-6
7. Bowie State 9-1 64 8
8. North Carolina Central 6-3 58 9
9. Tuskegee 8-2 45 5
10. Virginia Union 8-2 30 10
Others receiving votes: Southern (5-4) 9, Albany State (6-3) 6, Hampton
(5-5) 1, Miles (6-4) 1.
*Defending BOXTOROW National Champion
