The 2021 HBCU marching band season bounced back after being sidelined in 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak. And we’ve highlighted the performances we believed were the very best weekly throughout the season.
However, the marching bands from Alabama State, Florida A&M, Jackson State, North Carolina A&T, and Southern University are bands we believe were consistently the best throughout the season based on an internal scoring system determined from our season-long polls.
As a result, the Mighty Marching Hornets, the Marching 100, the Sonic Boom of the South, the Blue and Gold Marching Machine, and the Human Jukebox are our five finalists for HBCU Sports Band of the Year with a chance to win $2,500.
Below is a detailed look at the body of work of each finalist.
Alabama State (Mighty Marching Hornets)
Ranked No. 3 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 1
Ranked No. 1 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 4
Ranked No. 2 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 6
Ranked No. 4 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 9
Ranked No. 7 and No. 17 on the list of top cover songs of 2021 by HBCU bands
Ranked No. 2 and No. 9 on the list of top 10 HBCU band halftime shows of 2021
Florida A&M (Marching 100)
Ranked No. 1 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 1
Ranked No. 2 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 5
Ranked No. 2 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 9
Ranked No. 1 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 12
Ranked No. 21 on the list of top cover songs of 2021 by HBCU bands
Ranked No. 4 on the list of top 10 HBCU band halftime shows of 2021
Jackson State (Sonic Boom of the South)
Ranked No. 4 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 2
Ranked No. 3 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 4
Ranked No. 5 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 5
Ranked No. 1 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 7
Ranked No. 3 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 8
Ranked No. 2 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 10
Ranked No. 3 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 11
Ranked No. 2 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 12
Ranked No. 4 and No. 14 on the list of top cover songs of 2021 by HBCU bands
Ranked No. 3 on the list of top 10 HBCU band halftime shows of 2021
North Carolina A&T (Blue and Gold Marching Machine)
Ranked No. 2 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 2
Ranked No. 1 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 6
Ranked No. 1 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 9
Ranked No. 6 and No. 12 on the list of top cover songs of 2021 by HBCU bands
Ranked No. 8 on the list of top 10 HBCU band halftime shows of 2021
Southern (Human Jukebox)
Ranked No. 1 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 2
Ranked No. 2 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 3
Ranked No. 5 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 6
Ranked No. 2 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 8
Ranked No. 5 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 9
Ranked No. 1 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 10
Ranked No. 1 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 11
Ranked No. 4 on the list of top five halftime shows from Week 12
Ranked No. 1, No. 3, and No. 16 on the list of top cover songs of 2021 by HBCU bands
Ranked No. 1 on the list of top 10 HBCU band halftime shows of 2021
It’s time to select a winner. Cast your vote below.
Voting ends Friday, Jan. 21 at 11:59 p.m. (CT)
Disclaimer: This poll is not scientific. You are encouraged to come back and vote often. However, please note that the poll will view rapid-fire voting coming from a single IP address as an attack and will trigger a timeout. In this case, your vote will not be counted. Poll results reflect only the views of the readers who choose to participate and not the public as a whole.
Southern
Marching 100- FAMU
Where’s PV?
We already know who the top band is.
NSU Spartan Legion #Behold
https://theundefeated.com/features/norfolk-state-kentucky-state-hold-top-spots-in-final-hbcu-band-rankings/
Let’s get one thing straight… get your facts right!! No band get a 100 like the FAMU MARCHING 💯
I am an ASU (Hornet) Graduate, and proud of it! Alabama State’s Band has ALWAYS been a top MARCHING BAND. Even back in the 70’s, they were strong and fierce. They took much pride in being ‘The Best’ HBCU MARCHING band in the country. The band still has a lot of that same ‘School Pride!’ ASU…..Go Hornets MARCHING BAND!!! We’re Proud of you!!! 🐝
sorry but NCAT should not be listed. Are they even in an all HBCU league?? They don’t see or feel the thunder of a true HBCU band weekly. Sorry but NCAT should not even be listed. The other colleges/universities listed are in an HBCU league SWAC. Get it together….
But here we are on the list. Look at that. 🤔 Let’s go BGMM. 💙💛
NCA&T
Yet and still. We MANAGED to be an HBCU and is on the list!!! It’s ok to be bitter. That AGGIE PRIDE is something!!!!
A S U. Marching Hornets are always great.
The A S U Hornets create an atmosphere
that encourages the audiences to look,
listen, appreciate and participate the
performances.
One word: Southern! There is no greater band than the Southern University marching band!
Southern university all the way
A&T ain’t got no business in here at al. Thin is a vote for my band only. Half of these people don’t know anything about a band except did they play my favorite song. The Marching 💯🐍 is definitely ABOVE all the rest. Known world wide. “ALWAYS IMITATED BUT NEVER DUPLICATED”. Like Joe said, “The difference is CLEAR!🎶🐍💯🦾
Don’t be mad Twan! Aggies don’t care who’s on the list. Why are people so bothered? hmmmm inquiring minds want to know.