The favorites to win the SWAC East Alabama State received votes in the first preseason FCS Coaches Poll.
The Hornets, who open the season in less than a month, garnered six points in the poll released this week even though they’re not ranked in the top 25.
Alcorn State, the only other SWAC school to get any points, also received received 16 points in the poll.
Tennessee State, picked to a be a challenger in the Ohio Valley Conference in 2014, is preseason No. 17 to start the season.
Defending MEAC champion Bethune-Cookman was slotted by the coaches at No. 23 in the poll.