---
"title": "HBCU national champs lone Black College in FCS top 25 preseason poll"
"description": "As the start of the 2026 college football season is weeks away, only one HBCU is ranked in a national FCS poll. To the surprise of no one, it’s the HBCU national champions; South Carolina State is ranked No. 24 by Stats Perform in the FCS preseason Top 25 poll. The Bulldogs went 10-3 in […]"
"date": "2026-08-04"
"authors":
  -
    "name": "HBCU Sports"
"url": "https://hbcusports.com/2026/08/04/hbcu-national-champs-lone-black-college-in-fcs-top-25-preseason-poll/"
"categories":
  - "Football"
---

# HBCU national champs lone Black College in FCS top 25 preseason poll

As the start of the 2026 college football season is weeks away, only one HBCU is ranked in a national FCS poll.

To the surprise of no one, it’s the HBCU national champions; [South Carolina State](https://hbcusports.com/?s=South+Carolina+State) is ranked No. 24 by Stats Perform in the [FCS preseason Top 25 poll](https://theanalyst.com/articles/fcs-top-25-preseason-poll-montana-state-football-2026).

The Bulldogs went 10-3 in 2025, winning the MEAC title with another unbeaten conference regular season total.

[![MEAC](http://hbcusports.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2025/12/cberrybowl.jpg)](http://hbcusports.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2025/12/cberrybowl.jpg)
_Photo: Celebration Bowl/Facebook_

SC State went on to pick up their second Celebration Bowl victory with a four-overtime win over SWAC champion Prairie View A&M.

Other HBCUs earning votes were Alabama State (59 votes), Jackson State (48), Prairie View (25) and Delaware State (7) to round out the poll.