Previous top five North Carolina Central fell to Norfolk State and Grambling overwhelmed Alcorn, which created a shakeup in both the BOXTOROW Coaches and Media Polls.
In the coaches poll, the Tigers did more than solidify their No. 2 ranking, receiving four first-place votes, closing the gap on top-ranked North Carolina A&T. The Aggies came from behind to defeat Bethune-Cookman 24-20 in Greensboro. The Wildcats dropped two spots but remain in the poll.
Hampton defeated Florida A&M, winning its third straight game and surged to No. 3 in the rankings. NCCU remained in the top five, dropping two spots to No. 5. Norfolk State entered the poll at No. 10, tied with Prairie View A&M.
Meanwhile, in the media poll, undefeated Virginia State jumped to No. 3. NCCU only dropped one spot to No. 4. Bowie State moved back into the top five at No. 5, while Alcorn State dropped three spots to No. 7.
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.
Courtesy: BoxToRow
2017 BOXTOROW HBCU FCS Football Coaches Top 10 Poll
Week 8
(Records through October 21, 2017)
| No. | Team | W-L | Pts | Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina A&T (14) | 8-0 | 197 | 1 |
| 2 | Grambling (4) | 6-1 | 184 | 2 |
| 3 | Hampton | 5-2 | 139 | 5 |
| 4 | Tennessee State | 4-3 | 113 | 6 |
| 5 | North Carolina Central | 5-2 | 111 | 3 |
| T-6 | Alcorn State | 4-3 | 94 | 4 |
| T-6 | Southern | 4-3 | 94 | T-7 |
| 8 | Howard | 4-3 | 89 | 9 |
| 9 | Bethune-Cookman | 3-4 | 31 | T-7 |
| T-10 | Prairie View A&M | 2-4 | 22 | 10 |
| T-10 | Norfolk State | 3-4 | 22 | NR |
Others receiving votes: Alabama A&M (3-4) 7.
(1st place votes in parentheses)
2017 BOXTOROW HBCU Media Top 10 Poll
Week 8
(Records through October 21, 2017)
| No. | Team | W-L | Pts. | Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina A&T (16) | 8-0 | 169 | 1 |
| 2 | Grambling (1) | 6-1 | 152 | 2 |
| 3 | Virginia State | 7-0 | 120 | 5 |
| 4 | North Carolina Central | 5-2 | 93 | 3 |
| 5 | Bowie State | 7-1 | 92 | 6 |
| 6 | Tennessee State | 4-3 | 65 | 7 |
| 7 | Alcorn State | 5-3 | 64 | 4 |
| 8 | Southern | 4-3 | 62 | 8 |
| 9 | Hampton | 5-2 | 39 | NR |
| 10 | Howard | 4-3 | 31 | 10 |
Others receiving votes: Tuskegee (6-2) 18, Langston (7-0) 16, Albany State (5-3) 5, Fort Valley State (4-3) 1, Virginia Union (5-3) 1.
(1st place votes in parentheses)
Dr. Cavil’s 2017 HBCU Major Division Poll Rankings – Week 8
| Rank | Team & Mascot | Record | FPV | Points | PWR |
| 1 | North Carolina A&T Aggies | (8-0, 5-0) | 7 | 110 | 1 |
| 2 | @-Grambling State Tigers | (6-1, 3-0) | 5 | 103 | 2 |
| 3 | Hampton Pirates | (5-2, 4-0) | 91 | 5 | |
| 4 | Southern Jaguars | (4-3, 2-1) | 87 | 6 | |
| 5 | Howard Bison | (4-3, 3-2) | 74 | 7 | |
| 6 | North Carolina Central Eagles | (5-2, 3-1) | 62 | 3 | |
| 7 | Alcorn State Braves | (5-3, 3-1) | 60 | 4 | |
| 8 | Tennessee State Tigers | (4-3, 1-3) | 35 | 9 | |
| 9 | Alabama A&M Bulldogs | (3-4, 3-1) | 24 | 10 | |
| 10 | Norfolk State Spartans | (3-4, 3-1) | 13 | NR |
FPV = First Place Votes;
PWR = Previous Week Ranking;
NR = Not Ranked
@ = Dr. Cavil’s 2016 HBCU Football Major Division National Champion
Dropped Out: Bethune-Cookman Wildcats-(3-3, 2-1)
Receiving Votes: Prairie View A&M Panthers-(2-4, 2-2)-7, Bethune-Cookman Wildcats-(3-3, 2-1)-4
Dr. Cavil’s 2017 HBCU Mid-Major Division Poll Rankings – Week 8
| Rank | Team & Mascot | Record | FPV | Points | PWR |
| 1 | Virginia State Trojans | (7-0, 5-0) | 6 | 104 | 1 |
| 2 | Langston Lions | (7-0, 5-0) | 4 | 102 | 2 |
| 3 | Bowie State Bulldogs | (7-1, 4-1) | 94 | 3 | |
| 4 | Tuskegee Golden Tigers | (6-2, 4-0) | 82 | 5 | |
| 5 | Benedict Tigers | (5-2, 3-1) | 67 | 7 | |
| 6 | Albany State Golden Rams | (5-3, 3-1) | 50 | 4 | |
| 7 | Miles Golden Bears | (5-3, 3-1) | 43 | 8 | |
| 8 | Virginia Union Panthers | (5-3, 4-1) | 37 | 6 | |
| 9 | @-Winston-Salem State Rams | (5-3, 3-2) | 21 | 9 | |
| 10 | Fort Valley State Wildcats | (4-3, 4-0) | 13 | NR |
FPV = First Place Votes;
PWR = Previous Week Ranking;
NR = Not Ranked
@ Winston-Salem State Rams
@ = Dr. Cavil’s 2016 HBCU Football Mid-Major Division National Champion
Dropped Out: Elizabeth City State Vikings-(4-4, 2-3)
Receiving Votes: Clark-Atlanta Panthers-(4-4, 2-2)-8, Fayetteville State Broncos-(4-4, 3-1)-2
