Hartly, DE — Despite their season-ending loss, North Carolina A&T barely holds on to their top spot in the Heritage Sports Radio Network (HSRN) FCS-Division 1 football poll after week thirteen of the 2014 season.
After a spate of losses by top teams in the final regular season games, the Aggies of North Carolina A&T (9-3) barely retained the lead (118-113) over Bethune-Cookman in the HSRN football poll. Bethune-Cookman (9-3), who pulled out a 19-18 double OT win over rival Florida A&M jumped from fifth to second in this week poll. Southern (8-3), idle this week, retained their number three position ahead of South Carolina State (8-4) and Alcorn State (8-4) an upset loser to Jackson State, dropped from second to fifth.
Morgan State (7-5) crushed Delaware State 69-7 and moved up one spot to sixth followed by North Carolina Central (7-5), Grambling State (7-4), Alabama State (7-5) and Tennessee State (6-6).
In Division 2, Virginia State (10-2) defeated Long Island University 28-17 and will advance to play at Bloomsburg (PA) on November 29th. Tuskegee (9-3) dropped a 20-17 decision to West Georgia and their season ends.
FCS – Division I
| School (First Place Votes) | Record | Pts | Prev | |
| 1 | North Carolina A&T Aggies (3) | 9-3 | 118 | 1 |
| 2 | Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (4) | 9-3 | 113 | 5 |
| 3 | Southern Jaguars (2) | 8-3 | 98 | 3 |
| 4 | South Carolina State Bulldogs (1) | 8-4 | 96 | 4 |
| 5 | Alcorn State Braves (2) | 8-4 | 83 | 2 |
| 6 | Morgan State Bears | 7-5 | 80 | 7 |
| 7 | North Carolina Central Eagles | 7-5 | 69 | 8 |
| 8 | Grambling State Tigers | 7-4 | 65 | 6 |
| 9 | Alabama State Hornets | 7-5 | 42 | 9 |
| 10 | Tennessee State Tigers | 6-6 | 35 | NR |
| Others: Texas Southern-22; |
Division II
| School |
Record | Pts | Prev | |
| 1 | Virginia State Trojans | 10-2 | 1 | |
| 2 | Tuskegee Golden Tigers | 9-3 | X | |
| 3 | Winston-Salem State Rams | 9-2 | X | |
| 4 | Albany State Golden Rams | 7-4 | X | |
| 5 | Virginia Union Panthers | 7-3 | X | |
| 6 | Miles Golden Bears | 6-4 | X | |
| 7 | Ft. Valley State Wildcats | 6-4 | X | |
| 8 | Bowie State Bulldogs | 5-5 | X | |
| 9 | Fayetteville State Broncos | 5-5 | X | |
| 10 | Morehouse Maroon Tigers | 6-4 | X |
N.C. A&T falls from top spot in BOXTOROW Polls; Bethune-Cookman, Southern No. 1
Boxtorow.com
Bethune-Cookman ascended to the top of the BOXTOROW Coaches Poll, while Southern is the new No. 1 in the Media Poll.
Losses by North Carolina A&T to archrival North Carolina Central and Alcorn State to Jackson State caused major shakeups in the polls.
Despite a close call but a 19-18 double overtime victory over Florida A&M in the Florida Classic in Orlando, Bethune-Cookman regained the top spot amongst the coaches. The Wildcats were last atop the poll five weeks ago.
The Wildcats received eight of 17 first-place votes. North Carolina A&T moved down to No. 3, while Southern moved up to No. 2 and received six first-place votes. Alcorn State now sits at No. 4 and received three first-place votes. Southern Carolina State remained No. 5, rounding out the top five.
North Carolina Central, who upset the No. 1 Aggies 21-14, moved up to No. 6 and finished the season as MEAC co-champions with Morgan State, Bethune-Cookman, N.C. A&T and South Carolina State. Each team was 6-2 in the MEAC, but because Morgan State had a better head-to-head record against the other four teams, they received the conferences automatic berth to the NCAA FCS Playoffs.
The Jaguars were off this week but despite that rose to No. 1 in the media poll. This is the first time the Jaguars have been No. 1 in the eight-year history of the poll. SU received seven of 17 first-place votes.
Virginia State continues it rise, moving to the No. 2 spot after a 28-17 victory over LIU-Post in the first round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs. The Trojans also received three first-place votes. Bethune-Cookman, Alcorn State, South Carolina State and Morgan State all received first-place votes. The Wildcats moved up to No. 3, while North Carolina A&T and Alcorn State round out the top five at No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.
The SWAC’s Western Division will be decided this Saturday when Southern and Grambling meet for the right to take on East champ Alcorn State in the SWAC Championship game in Houston on December 6.
Morgan State will play at Richmond in the first found of the NCAA FCS Playoffs. Virginia State heads to the second round of the Division II Playoffs and will play at Bloomsburg.
The final 2014 BOXTOROW Coaches and Media Polls will be released on Monday, December 8.
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.
| Rank | School | W-L | Pts. | Last Week |
| 1. | Bethune-Cookman (8) * | 9-3 | 145 | 4 |
| 2. | Southern (6) | 8-3 | 133 | 3 |
| 3. | North Carolina A&T | 9-3 | 127 | 1 |
| 4. | Alcorn State (3) | 9-3 | 117 | 2 |
| 5. | South Carolina State | 8-4 | 98 | 5 |
| 6. | North Carolina Central | 7-5 | 85 | 9 |
| 7. | Morgan State | 7-5 | 82 | 8 |
| 8. | Grambling State | 7-4 | 70 | 7 |
| 9. | Alabama State | 7-5 | 50 | 6 |
| 10. | Tennessee State | 6-6 | 15 | NR |
Others receiving votes: Prairie View A&M (5-5) 11.
2014 BOXTOROW HBCU Football Media Top 10 Poll
Week 13
(Records through November 22, 2014)
| Rank | School | W-L | Pts. | Last Week |
| 1. | Southern (7) | 8-3 | 129 | 3 |
| 2. | Virginia State (3) | 10-2 | 117 | 4 |
| 3. | Bethune-Cookman (2)* | 9-3 | 114 | 5 |
| 4. | North Carolina A&T | 9-3 | 108 | 1 |
| 5. | Alcorn State (3) | 9-3 | 100 | 2 |
| 6. | South Carolina State (1) | 8-4 | 85 | 7 |
| 7. | Morgan State (1) | 7-5 | 74 | T-10 |
| 8. | North Carolina Central | 7-5 | 62 | T-10 |
| 9. | Grambling State | 7-4 | 55 | 8 |
| 10. | Winston-Salem State | 9-2 | 44 | 9 |
Others receiving votes: Tuskegee (9-3) 29, Alabama State (7-5) 11, Albany State (7-3) 4, Tennessee State (6-6) 1.
*2013 BOXTOROW National Champion
Dr. Cavil’s HBCU Major Division Football Top 10 Poll Rankings – Week 13
Released 11/24/14
| Rank | Team & Mascot | Record | FPV | Points | PWR |
| 1 | Southern Jaguars | (8-3, 7-1) | 4 | 89 | 3 |
| 2 | Grambling State Tigers | (7-4, 7-1) | 2 | 88 | 6 |
| 3 | South Carolina State Bulldogs | (8-4, 6-2) | 1 | 86 | 4 |
| 4 | North Carolina A&T Aggies | (9-3, 6-2) | 2 | 85 | 1 |
| 5 | Alcorn State Braves | (9-3, 7-2) | 1 | 84 | 2 |
| 6 | @-Bethune-Cookman Wildcats | (9-3, 6-2) | 1 | 83 | 5 |
| 7 | Morgan State Bears | (7-5, 6-2) | 47 | 7 | |
| 8 | North Carolina Central Eagles | (7-5, 6-2) | 42 | 9 | |
| 9 | Alabama State Hornets | (7-5, 6-4) | 21 | 8 | |
| 10 | Prairie View A&M Panthers | (5-5, 5-4) | 10 | 10 |
FPV = First Place Votes; PWR = Previous Week Ranking; NR = Not Ranked
@ Bethune-Cookman Wildcats
@ = 3C 2013 HBCU Football Major Division National Champion
Dropped Out: N/A
Receiving Votes: Tennessee State Tigers-(6-6, 3-5)-8
Dr. Cavil’s HBCU Mid-Major Division Football Top 10 Poll Rankings – Week 13
Released 11/24/14
| Rank | Team & Mascot | Record | FPV | Points | PWR |
| 1 | Virginia State Trojans | (10-2, 7-0) | 9 | 107 | 1 |
| 2 | @ Winston-Salem State Rams | (9-2, 7-0) | 1 | 101 | 2 |
| 3 | Tuskegee Golden Tigers | (9-3, 7-0) | 1 | 96 | 3 |
| 4 | Langston Lions | (7-4, 5-0) | 81 | 4 | |
| 5 | Albany State Golden Rams | (7-3, 7-0) | 80 | 5 | |
| 6 | Virginia Union Panthers | (7-3, 5-2) | 39 | 6 | |
| 7 | Miles Golden Bears | (6-4, 5-2) | 26 | 7 | |
| 8 | Morehouse Maroon Tigers | (6-4, 4-3) | 21 | 8 | |
| 9 | Fort Valley State Wildcats | (6-4, 4-3) | 13 | 9 | |
| 10 | Fayetteville State Broncos | (5-5, 5-2) | 9 | 10 |
FPV = First Place Votes; PWR = Previous Week Ranking; NR = Not Ranked
@ Winston-Salem State Rams
@ = 3C 2013 HBCU Football Mid-Major Division National Champion
Dropped Out: N/A
Receiving Votes: Livingstone Blue Bears (5-5, 2-5)-2, Bowie State Bulldogs (5-5, 5-2)-1
