Stats Perform released its FCS preseason rankings ahead of the start of the 2024 season, and no HBCU teams were ranked among the top 25.
But HBCU national championship contenders were found on the outer edges of the poll.
Reigning Celebration Bowl champion Florida A&M received 65 votes for a spot in the poll. North Carolina Central got 52 votes and Alabama State received 17.
NC Central is coming off a season in which it finished with a 9-3 record and earned an FCS postseason berth despite not winning the MEAC title. Howard, which won the conference in 2023, did not receive any votes.
Meanwhile, Florida A&M, which won the SWAC and first-ever Celebration Bowl in 2023, was not favored to win the SWAC in the conference preseason rankings. The Tigers recorded a third straight nine-win season, finishing 9-2 overall.
The conference preseason predicted order of finish had the Hornets as the team to claim the SWAC East Division title.
