As the start of the 2025 college football season is less than three weeks away, only one HBCU checks in with a national poll.
To the surprise of no one, it’s the HBCU national champions; Jackson State is ranked 17th by Stats Perform in the FCS preseason Top 25 poll.
The Tigers went 12-2 in 2024, winning the SWAC East title and defeating Western Division champion Southern 41-13 in the conference championship game.
JSU went on to pick up their first Celebration Bowl victory with a 28-7 triumph over MEAC champion South Carolina State. The Tigers finished 2024 ranked 15th in the FCS Coaches’ Poll and 18th in the STATS poll.
Other HBCUs earning votes were South Carolina State (35 votes), Big South-OVC co-champion Tennessee State (21) and MEAC runner-up North Carolina Central (18).
