A big week for FCS HBCU Football just got even bigger as both Jackson State football and FAMU are now ranked in the top 25.
The latest American Football Association Poll came out on Monday and Jackson State tagged in at no. 25 in the country. Florida A&M, JSU’s opponent for Saturday, is ranked no. 18 in that poll.
A third HBCU, North Carolina Central University, is tied for 21st in the country.
Jackson State enters the poll with a 4-2 record following a bye week. JSU, the 2021 and 2022 SWAC champions, have had back-to-back 40-plus point performances against Texas Southern and Alabama A&M.
Defending HBCU national champion FAMU is ranked 18th in the country after an idle week. It has won all three games against FCS opponents thus far.
North Carolina Central improved its record to 5-2 on Saturday with a 68-0 shellacking of Virginia University of Lynchburg, a non-NCAA football program.
There is a fourth HBCU just outside the top 25 rankings. Tennessee State, fresh off a homecoming win over Eastern Illinois on Saturday, is currently fourth in the receiving votes category in the AFCA poll.
For comparison, NCCU was ranked 20th in the STATS FCS poll on Monday. Florida A&M was tied for 25 in that same poll. Jackson State was not ranked in that poll. Tennessee State finished second among teams receiving votes in that poll.
FAMU and Jackson State are set to meet on Saturday in Jackson, MS at 2:30 PM in a matchup that features the last three SWAC champions — and two ranked teams.