The North Carolina A&T Aggies remained No. 1 in both the BOXTOROW Coaches and Media Polls for the third straight week and distanced themselves from No. 2 Tennessee State. The Aggies became the third team in as many weeks to knock off an FBS opponent, taking down Charlotte 35-31.
In the coaches poll, the Aggies received 12 first-place votes. Also receiving first-place votes were both Tennessee State and No. 3 Grambling, receiving four and two, respectively. Both Tigers’ won Saturday; TSU defeating Florida A&M 24-13 in Tampa, while GSU defeated Jackson State 36-21.
South Carolina State won and moved up four spots to No. 6 this week after defeating Johnson C. Smith 41-0, while Hampton was the only other team ranked in the coaches poll to win and re-entered the poll after downing Livingstone 59-0.
In the media poll, winners either moved up or re-entered the poll. Bowie State is one of three teams off to 3-0 starts and made the most significant jump, up three spots to No. 5. The Bulldogs defeated Saint Augustine’s 66-20. Tuskegee re-entered the poll at No. 10 after defeating Clark Atlanta 30-16.
The BOXTOROW HBCU FCS coaches poll and the media poll 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.
2017 BOXTOROW HBCU FCS Football Coaches Top 10 Poll
Week 3
(Records through September 16, 2017)
| No. | Team | W-L | Pts | Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina A&T (12) | 3-0 | 173 | 1 |
| 2 | Tennessee State (4) | 3-0 | 152 | 2 |
| 3 | Grambling (2) | 2-1 | 147 | 3 |
| 4 | North Carolina Central | 1-1 | 126 | 4 |
| 5 | Bethune-Cookman | 1-2 | 70 | 6 |
| 6 | South Carolina State | 1-1 | 63 | 10 |
| 7 | Southern | 1-2 | 62 | 7 |
| 8 | Howard | 1-2 | 60 | 5 |
| 9 | Alcorn State | 1-2 | 57 | 8 |
| 10 | Hampton | 2-1 | 40 | NR |
Other receiving votes: Prairie View A&M (0-2) 27, Florida A&M (1-2) 4
.(1st place votes in parentheses)
2017 BOXTOROW HBCU Media Top 10 Poll
Week 3
(Records through September 16, 2017)
| No. | Team | W-L | Pts. | Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina A&T (15) | 3-0 | 167 | 1 |
| 2 | Tennessee State (1) | 3-0 | 153 | 2 |
| 3 | Grambling (1) | 2-1 | 137 | 3 |
| 4 | North Carolina Central | 1-1 | 104 | 5 |
| 5 | Bowie State | 3-0 | 80 | 8 |
| 6 | Southern | 1-2 | 60 | 4 |
| 7 | Howard | 1-2 | 37 | 6 |
| 8 | Alcorn State | 1-2 | 36 | 10 |
| 9 | Virginia State | 2-0 | 30 | NR |
| 10 | Tuskegee | 2-1 | 26 | NR |
Other receiving votes: Bethune-Cookman (1-2) 25, Albany State (2-1) 24, South Carolina State (1-1) 23, Winston-Salem State (2-1) 15, Hampton (2-1) 10, Florida A&M (1-2) 5, Prairie View A&M (0-2) 5.
(1st place votes in parentheses)
Dr. Cavil’s 2017 HBCU Major Division Poll Rankings – Week 3
| Rank | Team & Mascot | Record | FPV | Points | PWR |
| 1 | North Carolina A&T Aggies | (3-0, 0-0) | 6 | 109 | 1 |
| 2 | Tennessee State Tigers | (3-0, 0-0) | 3 | 100 | 2 |
| 3 | @-Grambling State Tigers | (2-1, 0-0) | 2 | 93 | 3 |
| 4 | North Carolina Central Eagles | (1-1, 0-0) | 1 | 85 | 4 |
| 5 | Hampton Pirates | (2-1, 1-0) | 71 | NR | |
| 6 | Alcorn State Braves | (1-2, 0-0) | 68 | 7 | |
| 7 | Howard Bison | (1-2, 0-0) | 48 | 5 | |
| 8 | Southern Jaguars | (1-2, 0-0) | 33 | 8 | |
| 9 | South Carolina State Bulldogs | (1-1, 0-0) | 26 | 9 | |
| 10 | Prairie View A&M Panthers | (0-2, 0-0) | 22 | 6 |
Dr. Cavil’s 2017 HBCU Mid-Major Division Poll Rankings – Week 3
| Rank | Team & Mascot | Record | FPV | Points | PWR |
| 1 | Bowie State Bulldogs | (3-0, 0-0) | 5 | 103 | 1 |
| 2 | Virginia State Trojans | (2-0, 0-0) | 4 | 100 | 2 |
| 3 | Langston Lions | (2-0, 1-0) | 1 | 92 | 3 |
| 4 | @-Winston-Salem State Rams | (2-1, 1-0) | 74 | 7 | |
| 5 | Albany State Golden Rams | (2-1, 1-0) | 65 | 4 | |
| 6 | Tuskegee Golden Tigers | (1-1, 0-1) | 51 | 6 | |
| 7 | Elizabeth City State Vikings | (1-1, 0-0) | 47 | 8 | |
| 8 | Clark-Atlanta Panthers | (2-0, 1-0) | 38 | 5 | |
| 9 | Benedict Tigers | (1-1, 0-1) | 19 | NR | |
| 10 | Morehouse Maroon Tigers | (1-1, 0-0) | 16 | NR |
HAhaha TSU won’t be #2 next week and NCA&T you next, now you finally playing somebody