MEAC Dominates Inaugural Black College Football Poll
The newly released 2026 Preseason Black College Football Poll has made history by featuring three Mid‑Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) programs among its early rankings, signaling a watershed moment for HBCU football.
South Carolina State, the recent MEAC champion and Celebration Bowl victor, captured the No. 1 position with 185 points, including 36 first‑place votes, underscoring the team’s dominant off‑season momentum.
Points and Votes Reveal Conference Strength
North Carolina Central and Delaware State followed at No. 5 and No. 6 respectively, earning 107 and 98 points, a testament to the conference’s depth and competitiveness.
The poll, a collaborative effort among the MEAC, SWAC, Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association and Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association, provides the first unified national ranking of Division I and II HBCU programs, offering a benchmark that stretches beyond traditional conference boundaries.
Beyond the numbers, the rankings reflect a broader surge in visibility for historically Black colleges and universities, as athletic departments, sponsors and fans increasingly recognize the talent and tradition that define the sport at these institutions.