Defending HBCU national champion Florida A&M University (FAMU) has undergone a lot of change, but at least one coach thinks it will be very good.
The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Football Championship Subdivision released its annual pre-season poll on Monday, and Florida A&M came in at no. 25. While that is notable, what is even more notable is the fact that it received one first-place vote. All other first-place votes went to reigning FCS champion South Dakota State. FCS stalwarts like North Dakota State and Montana did not receive a single no. 1 vote.
Florida A&M (FAMU) is the reigning SWAC champion and Celebration Bowl winner, making it the HBCU national champion for 2023. The program went 12-1 in 2023 under head coach Willie Simmons, who left following the season to take over as running backs coach at Duke University. James Colzie III was hired to take over the Florida A&M program – which was predicted to finish second in the SWAC East division at the conference’s media day last month.
FAMU was the lone HBCU program ranked in the top 25 on that list – but others did receive votes.
North Carolina Central, a program that has won 25 games over the past three seasons, came in just shy of the top 25 at no. 27.
Reigning MEAC champion Howard University received 20 votes while SWAC East favorite Alabama State received 19. Alcorn State, the favorite to win the SWAC West, received nine votes.
North Carolina A&T received six votes despite a 1-10 season in 2023.