Jackson State University’s football program has cracked the top three of the nation’s first‑ever Black College Football Poll, landing at No. 3 with 149 total votes, four of which came from first‑place ballots.
The Tigers capped the previous season as SWAC East champions and finished with a 9‑3 record, a performance that helped cement their reputation as a rising force in HBCU football.
A New Benchmark for HBCU Competition
The poll is endorsed by four NCAA‑affiliated conferences — the Mid‑Eastern Athletic Conference, the Southwestern Athletic Conference, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association and the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference — and will be released weekly throughout the regular season. Voters submit a Top 10 ballot using a 10‑point scoring system, ensuring a dynamic and community‑driven ranking.
Coach Deion Sanders praised the recognition as a testament to the players’ hard work and the program’s growing visibility, noting that the weekly updates will give recruits and fans alike a clear gauge of where the team stands as the season progresses.