When it comes to fan polls, like this one, there’s no rhyme or reason why fans vote the way they do. However, whenever one exercises his or her right to vote, as history has shown us time and time again, change is often imminent.
The fans who participated in this week’s HBCU Sports FCS and Division II fan polls voted for change in naming FCS Grambling and Division II Albany State as the No.1 HBCU football teams in the country.
The Tigers (5-3) coming off an open week last Saturday, secured the top spot receiving 482 points and 19 first-place votes. Alcorn State (7-2) moved to the No.2 spot with 15 first place votes, followed by North Carolina A&T who garnered eight first-place votes.
Bethune-Cookman (6-2), ranked No. 1 last week, fell to the No. 4 spot this week after losing Saturday to South Carolina State 20-14. Southern University (5-3) moved to the No.5 spot, followed by South Carolina State (5-3), Alabama State (4-4), Alabama A&M (3-5), Texas Southern (5-3) and Tennessee State (4-5).
Albany State’s 34-12 win over Clark Atlanta Saturday apparently was enough to give the Rams (5-2) the No.1 spot in the Division II poll over Winston-Salem State (7-1), who fell to the No.3 spot with 11 first-place votes after beating Livingston 34-17. Tuskegee (7-2) held steady at the No. 2 spot.
Virginia State (6-2) was fourth, followed by Virginia Union (6-2), Fort Valley State (6-2), Miles (5-3), Livingstone (5-3), Fayetteville State (4-4) and Bowie State (3-5).
HBCU Sports FCS Fan Poll
| Rank | School | Record | Points | Previous |
| 1 | Grambling (19) | 5-3 | 482 | 2 |
| 2 | Alcorn State (15) | 7-2 | 357 | 3 |
| 3 | North Carolina A&T (8) | 7-2 | 278 | 4 |
| 4 | Bethune-Cookman (2) | 6-2 | 275 | 1 |
| 5 | Southern (2) | 5-3 | 257 | 9 |
| 6 | South Carolina State (2) | 5-3 | 192 | 5 |
| 7 | Alabama State | 4-4 | 124 | 6 |
| 8 | Alabama A&M | 3-5 | 104 | NR |
| 9 | Texas Southern | 5-3 | 81 | 10 |
| 10 | Tennessee State | 4-5 | 75 | 8 |
| Others receiving votes: Prairie View A&M 60, Florida A&M 57, Morgan State 48, North Carolina Central 45, Hampton 44 | ||||
HBCU Sports Division II Fan Poll
| Rank | School | Record | Points | Previous |
| 1 | Albany State (1) | 5-2 | 163 | 5 |
| 2 | Tuskegee (3) | 7-2 | 150 | 2 |
| 3 | Winston-Salem State (11) | 7-1 | 149 | 1 |
| 4 | Virginia State (2) | 6-2 | 115 | 3 |
| 5 | Virginia Union | 6-2 | 86 | 4 |
| 6 | Fort Valley State | 6-2 | 77 | 5 |
| 7 | Miles | 5-3 | 61 | 8 |
| 8 | Livingstone | 5-3 | 32 | 7 |
| 9 | Fayetteville State | 4-4 | 30 | NR |
| 10 | Bowie State | 3-5 | 23 | NR |
| Others receiving votes: Stillman 14, Morehouse 14, Central State 12, Langston 11, Clark Atlanta 10 | ||||
