The Aggies defeated Delaware State 34-6 and Tennessee State fell to Austin Peay 49-34, and the combination of the two propelled N.C. A&T to the top of both the BOXTOROW Coaches and Media Polls.
In the coaches poll, Prairie View A&M had a bye week, but managed to move up to the No. 2 spot and received two first-place votes. TSU fell to No. 3. The most significant jump was made by Florida A&M who moved up four spots to No. 4. Grambling rounds out the top five and Alabama A&M enters the poll for the first time this year, winners of two straight including Saturday’s 42-21 win over Texas Southern.
In the media poll, Morehouse jumped all the way from No. 8 to No. 2 after its 30-24 three-overtime victory over Tuskegee. Tennessee State received two-first place votes and finished No. 3, one point behind the Maroon Tigers. Florida A&M makes its debut in the poll at No. 7.
A MEAC showdown is sure to have poll implications next week when FAMU travels to Greensboro, N.C. to take on the Aggies on Saturday.
The BOXTOROW HBCU FCS coaches’ poll and the media poll are administered by From the Press Box to Press Row. The coaches’ poll is voted on by the HBCU Football Championship Subdivision coaches and the media poll is voted on by media members around the country who cover HBCU football.
2018 BOXTOROW FCS HBCU Football Coaches Poll-Week 6
(Records through October 6, 2018)
| No. | Team | W-L | Pts. | Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | North Carolina A&T (19) | 5-1 | 207 | 2 |
| 2. | Prairie View A&M (2) | 3-3 | 168 | 3 |
| 3. | Tennessee State | 2-2 | 158 | 1 |
| 4. | Florida A&M | 3-2 | 144 | 8 |
| 5. | Grambling | 2-3 | 105 | 7 |
| 6. | Alcorn State | 4-2 | 100 | 4 |
| 7. | Bethune-Cookman | 3-3 | 86 | 9 |
| 8. | Norfolk State | 3-2 | 58 | 6 |
| 9. | Howard | 1-3 | 44 | 5 |
| 10. | Alabama A&M | 3-3 | 36 | NR |
Others receiving votes: Southern (2-3) 22, Alabama State (2-3) 11, Savannah State (1-4) 6, Jackson State (2-3) 4, North Carolina Central (2-3) 4, South Carolina State (2-3) 2. (1st place votes in parentheses)
2018 BOXTOROW HBCU Football Media Top 10 Poll-Week 6
(Records through October 6, 2018)
| No. | Team | W-L | Pts. | Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | North Carolina A&T (12) | 5-1 | 138 | 2 |
| 2. | Morehouse | 6-0 | 99 | 8 |
| 3. | Tennessee State (2) | 2-2 | 98 | 1 |
| 4. | Prairie View A&M | 3-3 | 84 | 4 |
| 5. | Grambling | 2-3 | 65 | 7 |
| 6. | Alcorn State | 4-2 | 63 | 3 |
| 7. | Florida A&M | 4-2 | 54 | NR |
| 8. | Benedict | 4-1 | 29 | NR |
| 9. | Howard | 1-3 | 28 | 5 |
| 10. | Bowie State | 4-2 | 25 | 6 |
2. Morehouse 6-0 99 8 3. Tennessee State (2) 2-2 98 1 4. Prairie View A&M 3-3 84 4 5. Grambling 2-3 65 7 6. Alcorn State 4-2 63 3 7. Florida A&M 4-2 54 NR 8. Benedict 4-1 29 NR 9. Howard 1-3 28 5 10. Bowie State 4-2 25 6Others receiving votes: Virginia Union (4-1) 18, Alabama State (2-3) 10, Alabama A&M (3-3) 9, Norfolk State (3-2) 9, Langston (4-1) 8, North Carolina Central (2-3) 8, Tuskegee (3-3) 6, Virginia State (3-2) 6, Bethune-Cookman (3-3) 5, Fayetteville State (3-1) 5, Albany State (3-3) 4, Southern (2-3) 4. (1st place votes in parentheses)
Stephen A. Smith calls NABJ award a ‘personal hit job’