HBCU media poll: Red Lobster Band of The Year (D2) 2026

The Red Lobster Band of the Year competition is heading into its fourth year, and some familiar HBCU marching bands are starting the 2026 season near the top.

For the second consecutive year, the Red Lobster Band of the Year is kicking things off with a preseason media poll, voted on by media outlets that cover HBCUs and HBCU marching bands. A total of 22 media outlets participated in the 2026 poll, ranking bands overall and across five categories: musicality; pictures, drill and design; percussion; drum majors; and auxiliaries.

The Division II poll features three programs that already know what it is like to perform on the championship stage.

The Virginia State University Trojan Explosion enters the season ranked No. 1 overall. Virginia State represented the CIAA in each of the first two Red Lobster Band of the Year competitions, finishing as the Division II runner-up in both 2023 and 2024.

Right behind VSU is the Miles College Purple Marching Machine, the two-time defending Division II Band of the Year champion. Miles won the title in 2024 and repeated in 2025.

Florida Memorial University, winner of the inaugural Division II championship in 2023, starts the season ranked third.

That gives the top of the preseason media poll a championship-round feel before the first major HBCU halftime performance of the fall. The complete preseason rankings place Fayetteville State and Benedict College inside the top five, followed by Winston-Salem State, Albany State, Tuskegee, Fort Valley State and Langston.

Red Lobster Band of the Year Division II Preseason Top 10

1. Virginia State University — Trojan Explosion
2. Miles College — Purple Marching Machine
3. Florida Memorial University — The ROAR Marching Band
4. Fayetteville State University — Marching Bronco eXpress (MBX)
5. Benedict College — Band of Distinction
6. Winston-Salem State University — Red Sea of Sound
7. Albany State University — Marching Rams Show Band
8. Tuskegee University — Marching Crimson Pipers
9. Fort Valley State University — Blue Machine Marching Band
10. Langston University — Marching Pride

Virginia State and Miles occupy the top two spots overall, but the category rankings show just how close the competition could be.

Miles starts the year No. 1 in musicality, while Virginia State leads pictures, drill and design, percussion and auxiliaries. Miles also earned the top preseason ranking for drum majors.

Florida Memorial is another program that consistently appears near the top, ranking third in musicality and pictures, drill and design while sitting second in percussion, drum majors and auxiliaries.

Musicality

1. Miles College
2. Virginia State University
3. Florida Memorial University
4. Fayetteville State University
5. Benedict College
6. Winston-Salem State University
7. Tuskegee University
8. Albany State University
9. Virginia Union University
10. Savannah State University

Pictures, Drill & Design

1. Virginia State University
2. Miles College
3. Florida Memorial University
4. Fayetteville State University
5. Albany State University
6. Winston-Salem State University
7. Benedict College
8. Langston University
9. Savannah State University
10. Virginia Union University

Percussion

1. Virginia State University — Trojan Explosion
2. Florida Memorial University
3. Miles College — Purple Marching Machine
4. Fort Valley State University
5. Benedict College
6. Tuskegee University
7. Fayetteville State University
8. Winston-Salem State University
9. Talladega College
10. Albany State University

Drum Majors

1. Miles College — Purple Marching Machine
2. Florida Memorial University
3. Virginia State University — Trojan Explosion
4. Benedict College
5. Fayetteville State University
6. Winston-Salem State University
7. Tuskegee University
8. Albany State University
9. Langston University
10. Fort Valley State University

Auxiliaries

1. Virginia State University — Trojan Explosion
2. Florida Memorial University
3. Miles College — Purple Marching Machine
4. Fayetteville State University
5. Winston-Salem State University
6. Albany State University
7. Benedict College
8. Fort Valley State University
9. Tuskegee University
10. Talladega College

The preseason media poll provides the first snapshot of how the HBCU band landscape is viewed heading into the season. Once the season begins, performances will determine which programs remain in the hunt for the Red Lobster Band of the Year championship.

The ultimate destination is Atlanta.

The 2026 Red Lobster Band of the Year competition is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 11, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, one night before the Cricket Celebration Bowl. The season-long competition will ultimately send the top Division I and Division II bands to Atlanta to compete for national championships.

For now, Virginia State owns the preseason No. 1 spot, Miles remains the two-time defending champion and Florida Memorial remains firmly in the championship conversation. The rankings will start changing once the bands hit the field — and every performance begins to count.