TheAnalyst.com released its 2023 strength of schedule rankings for FCS football programs and the HBCU programs at the D-1 level have varying degrees of difficulty heading into the coming season.
Mississippi Valley State is the HBCU with the strongest schedule, as their 2023 opponents had a combined record of 57-45 (55.9 win percentage) in 2022, good enough for a tie for No. 13 in the FCS.
Valley’s opponents have a win percentage at 65.2, also the highest among HBCUs.
North Carolina A&T, which makes its Colonial Athletic Association debut on the gridiron this fall, is next up with a 55.8 opponent win percentage (72-57 in 2022).
Defending MEAC and Celebration Bowl champion North Carolina Central will face opponents with a 44.2 win percentage (50-63) this season while SWAC defending champion Jackson State has the second lowest opponents’ win percentage at 40.7 (50-73).
Howard, the 2022 MEAC co-champion, has the lowest strength of schedule for 2023, with their opponents registering a 38.9 win percentage in 2022 (44-69 overall).
Florida A&M’s opponents have a 33.3 win percentage on the road and Delaware State’s opponents have a 30.3 percentage at home, the lowest among all HBCUs.
Here is the entire list of D-1 HBCU football teams’ strength of schedule for the 2023 season:
T-13. Mississippi Valley State (SWAC), 57-45, 55.9%
15. North Carolina A&T (CAA), 72-57, 55.8%
34. Bethune-Cookman (SWAC), 60-56, 51.7%
35. Texas Southern (SWAC), 61-57, 51.7%
43. Hampton (CAA), 65-63, 50.8%
54. Southern (SWAC), 55-57, 49.1%
55. Alabama State (SWAC), 50-52, 49.0%
63. Alcorn State (SWAC), 61-65, 48.4%
71. Alabama A&M (SWAC), 49-54, 47.6%
T-75. South Carolina State (MEAC), 54-61, 47.0%
T-79. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (SWAC), 53-61, 46.5%
90. Grambling State (SWAC), 52-62, 45.6%
92. Norfolk State (MEAC), 51-61, 45.5%
95. Prairie View A&M (SWAC), 56-68, 45.2%
96. Delaware State (MEAC), 47-58, 44.8%
98. Morgan State (MEAC), 55-69, 44.4%
100. North Carolina Central (MEAC), 50-63, 44.2%
106. Florida A&M (SWAC), 45-58, 43.7%
113. Tennessee State (Big South-OVC), 48-64, 42.9%
120. Jackson State (SWAC), 50-73, 40.7%
122. Howard (MEAC), 44-69, 38.9%
