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Only one HBCU featured in FCS top 25 poll appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
As the 2026 football season nears, only one HBCU is featured in the FCS top 25 poll. Reigning MEAC and HBCU national champion South Carolina State was the lone HBCU featured in the poll. South Carolina State was ranked 24th in the poll with 107 points overall after finishing the 2025 season at 21.
Although South Carolina was the only institution ranked, Alabama State, Jackson State, and Prairie View A&M received points: Alabama State 61, Jackson State 59, and Prairie View A&M 27.
The full rankings are below:
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| Rank | Team | 2025 Record | Conference | Points | Final 2025 Ranking | 2026 Season Opener |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montana State | 14-2, 8-0 | Big Sky | 1,425 | 1 | Aug. 29 at Utah Tech |
| 2 | Montana | 13-2, 7-1 | Big Sky | 1,328 | 3 | Aug. 29 vs. Southern Utah |
| 3 | South Dakota State | 9-5, 4-4 | MVFC | 1,266 | 13 | Aug. 29 vs. Stetson |
| 4 | Illinois State | 12-5, 5-3 | MVFC | 1,231 | 2 | Aug. 29 vs. St. Francis (IL) |
| 5 | Tarleton State | 12-2, 7-1 | UAC | 1,100 | 6 | Aug. 29 vs. Prairie View A&M |
| 6 | UC Davis | 9-4, 6-2 | Big Sky | 1,063 | 8 | Aug. 29 at Portland State |
| 7 | Rhode Island | 11-3, 8-0 | CAA | 1,048 | 11 | Aug. 28 at Merrimack |
| 8 | Villanova | 12-3, 7-1 | CAA (Patriot in 2026) | 1,008 | 4 (tie) | Aug. 28 vs. William & Mary |
| 9 | Youngstown State | 8-5, 5-3 | MVFC | 946 | 18 | Aug. 27 vs. Mercyhurst |
| 10 | North Dakota | 8-6, 5-3 | MVFC | 945 | 14 | Aug. 27 vs. LIU |
| 11 | Lehigh | 12-1, 7-0 | Patriot | 826 | 10 | Aug. 29 at Holy Cross |
| 12 | South Dakota | 10-5, 6-2 | MVFC | 783 | 9 | Aug. 29 vs. Central Connecticut State |
| 13 | Stephen F. Austin | 11-3, 8-0 | Southland | 773 | 7 | Aug. 29 at McNeese |
| 14 | Tennessee Tech | 11-2, 8-0 | OVC (SoCon in 2026) | 594 | 16 | Aug. 29 vs. Monmouth |
| 15 | Abilene Christian | 9-5, 7-1 | UAC | 579 | 12 | Aug. 29 at Lamar |
| 16 | Southern Illinois | 7-5, 4-4 | MVFC | 509 | 25 | Aug. 27 at West Florida |
| 17 | Austin Peay | 7-5, 4-4 | UAC | 440 | NR | Aug. 27 vs. Gardner-Webb |
| 18 | Yale | 9-3, 6-1 | Ivy | 418 | 15 | Sept. 19 at Holy Cross |
| 19 | Southeastern Louisiana | 9-4, 7-1 | Southland | 392 | 19 | Aug. 27 vs. HCU |
| 20 | Lamar | 8-5, 5-3 | Southland | 380 | 24 | Aug. 29 vs. Abilene Christian |
| 21 | Mercer | 11-3, 7-1 | SoCon | 306 | 17 | Aug. 29 vs. East Texas A&M |
| 22 | Monmouth | 9-3, 6-2 | CAA | 200 | 22 | Aug. 29 at Tennessee Tech |
| 23 | UT Martin | 6-6, 6-2 | OVC-Big South (now OVC) | 144 | NR | Aug. 27 vs. Central Arkansas |
| 24 | South Carolina State | 10-3, 5-0 | MEAC | 107 | 21 | Aug. 29 vs. Savannah State |
| 25 | Northern Arizona | 7-5, 4-4 | Big Sky | 103 | NR | Aug. 29 vs. Eastern Washington |
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