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FCS Power Rankings: MEAC, SWAC Upsets Shake Things Up

1. North Carolina A&T (9-2, 7-1):

As the last one-loss team in the MEAC, A&T’s formula for securing its first conference championship in over a decade is simple: beat NCCU, and they are in. If not, this thing gets a whole lot more complicated.

2. Alcorn State (9-2, 7-1)

With its SWAC East title already in the bank, ASU took care of business with a 56-6 win over UAPB on Saturday. Grambling State’s loss to Alabama State moves it up in our power rankings.

3. Bethune-Cookman (8-3, 5-2)

The two-time defending MEAC Champions were stunned by a struggling Hampton team on national TV on Thursday. BCU will try to turn its focus to in-state rival FAMU in the Florida Classic as it hopes to get a piece of the MEAC title should A&T fall.

4. Southern (8-3, 7-1): 

Southern jumps two spots this week as it handled its business against Mississippi Valley State while Grambling couldn’t do the same against Alabama State. After going down 13-0 against Valley, Southern reeled off 44 unanswered points to roll in to the Bayou Classic on a big high. If you are Southern, you almost want to play the game next week to stay in rhythm. Meanwhile…

5. Grambling State (7-4, 7-1)

The streak is over. Alabama State upset Grambling in the team’s home finale. The G-Men will have two weeks to prepare for rival Southern in a Bayou Classic game that will decide who goes to the SWAC Championship Game. Is that a good or a bad thing? We’ll find out Nov. 24

6. South Carolina State (7-4, 5-2)

We said coming into the final two weeks of the season SCSU had the most control, but the easiest schedule in the MEAC race. That held true as SCSU fell to a Morgan State team that NC A&T shut out the week prior. Now the best SCSU can do is beat Norfolk and hope for the best.

7. Morgan State (6-5, 5-2)

A week after being shut out 45-0 by A&T, Morgan State goes down to Orangeburg and beats SCSU there for the first time since 1972. If A&T wins the MEAC on Saturday, it will want to send Morgan State a “Thank You” card.

8. North Carolina Central (6-5, 5-2)

NCCU never needs a reason to get up for North Carolina A&T; it’s part of their DNA. But this year the best-keep secret among HBCU football rivalries will determine whether or not A&T wins the MEAC outright or if as many as five teams finished tied with a 5-2 conference record.

9. Alabama State (6-5, 5-4)

A month ago, Reggie Barlow signed an extension at his alma mater. Two weeks later, he was reportedly asked to resign his post. After back-to-back wins over JSU and Grambling, who knows what Barlow’s future holds?

10. Norfolk State (4-7, 4-3)

NSU effectively dropped out of the MEAC title race with its 19-14 loss to NCCU on Saturday. It’s a shame such a great defense (NSU has only allowed 89 points in MEAC play) has been negated by such a putrid offense (93 points in MEAC play)

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