Poll Overview
South Carolina State University has claimed the top spot in the 2026 Black College Football Poll after a decisive 31‑13 victory over Florida A&M, a win that earned the Bulldogs 23 of the 25 first‑place votes.
The poll, which evaluates HBCU programs across NCAA Division I (FCS) and Division II, listed Delaware State University at No. 5, Howard University at No. 7 and North Carolina Central University at No. 8, while Morgan State University and several other MEAC members also received votes.
This poll represents the first officially endorsed national ranking devoted solely to HBCU football, a collaborative effort sanctioned by the Mid‑Eastern Athletic Conference, the Southwestern Athletic Conference, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association and the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
The MEAC, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia and founded in 1970, brings together eight historically Black institutions committed to academic excellence, sportsmanship and the holistic growth of its student‑athletes.