2025 HBCU Football Power Rankings: Preseason Top 10

Written by Lexx Thornton

August is here. College football is back this month, and HBCU football kicks it all off in Week Zero. There’s no better way to get you ready for the season than with the first HBCU football power rankings of 2025 from NCAA Digital’s Stan Becton. 

 These are the first rankings of the season. The rankings will be done weekly throughout the regular season, sorting each HBCU football team at the FCS level based on their performances this season. Nicknamed “The Road to Atlanta,” the weekly power rankings lead to the annual meeting of HBCU football’s two best teams at this year’s Celebration Bowl held in Atlanta, GA. 

The Road to Atlanta: 2025 preseason HBCU football power rankings 

1. Jackson State 

Jackson State is the defending Celebration Bowl champion, and the Tigers rightfully open the year atop my HBCU football power rankings. JSU returns the preseason SWAC Offensive Player of the Year quarterback Jacobian Morgan, and JSU has the best skill corps on offense and defense in the SWAC. They have the talent to go back-to-back. 

2. North Carolina Central 

North Carolina Central brings back the best quarterback in the MEAC in Walker Harris, who will enter year two as the full-time starter under Trei Oliver. The Eagles have the most preseason First-Team All-MEAC players and get to play South Carolina State at home this year. That gets NCCU the nod as the second-best team in HBCU football entering the year. 

3. Southern 

Southern is the favorite in the SWAC West entering the year and the second-highest ranked SWAC team in my preseason rankings. I think the ground attack has the potential to be dominant in Baton Rouge this fall. That’ll provide some balance to a Jaguar defense that should be good yet again, thanks to the return of the best player in HBCU football, defensive lineman Ckelby Givens. 

4. South Carolina State 

South Carolina State won the MEAC last year, but I have the Bulldogs as the second-highest-ranked MEAC team entering the preseason. 

South Carolina State lost quarterback Eric Phoenix after winning the HBCU Player of the Year award. While backup Ryan Stubblefield proved he can hold his own last year against a talented Morgan State defense, it’s not enough to say there won’t be a slight drop off from Phoenix. The Bulldogs lost talent across the board, too, whether it was defensive end Ashaad Hall or others. SC State only has one First-Team All-MEAC player to NC Central’s eight. 

That said, head coach Chennis Berry will have the Bulldogs ready to play each week. I see South Carolina State competing for an MEAC title in the season’s final week. 

5. Alabama State 

The biggest loss for Alabama State this offseason might’ve been the departure of defensive coordinator Ryan Lewis Sr. to UAB. However, head coach Eddie Robinson Jr. has his roots on the defensive side of the football, so that drop-off might not be too drastic. The defense should still live up to the elite standard it has set in recent years. 

On offense, the biggest question is at the quarterback position. Kareem Keye made the transition from wide receiver last fall and went 5-2 as the starter. Andrew Body returns from injury and was an All-SWAC performer prior to getting hurt. FBS transfer Te’Sean Smoot is also in the building from Jacksonville State. 

Whoever takes over the Alabama State quarterback job will have earned it against tough competition. If the Hornets stay healthy at the position, I think they can challenge Jackson State in the SWAC East. 

6. Florida A&M 

Year two of the James Colzie III era begins at Florida A&M, and for the second straight year, Colzie has to name a new starting quarterback. Yet, unlike last year, there isn’t a transfer coming in that threw for over 2,000 yards and double-digit touchdowns a season prior in the FBS like Daniel Richardson did. 

I love the talent throughout the rest of the Rattler roster, specifically on an offensive line that should be one of the best in HBCU football. But Florida A&M will need its new quarterback — whatever it is—to continue playing at the All-SWAC standard set by Jeremy Moussa and Richardson before them. 

7. Tennessee State 

Tennessee State made the FCS playoffs last year, but the head coach from that run, Eddie George, left for Bowling Green. As the new head coach, Reggie Barlow entered, 14 transfers left for the FBS, and 11 transfers left for other FCS schools. 

I’m giving Tennessee State the benefit of the doubt by ranking them in the top-10, but this season can go a multitude of ways. It’s not far-fetched that the Tigers enter their homecoming with only one win on a five-game losing streak. TSU could also have a winning record by homecoming. We’ll have to let it all play out on the field. 

8. Alcorn State 

Alcorn State only lost one SWAC West game in Cedric Thomas’s first year as head coach, finishing the season 6-6. The Braves return All-SWAC running back Jacorian Sewell, who should take on a bigger load this fall. I like the potential that quarterback Jaylon Tolbert showed in stints at Howard, and it’ll be a battle between him and Charlotte transfer Andre Washington this offseason for the starting role. This is a program that is trending upward into 2025. 

9. Morgan State 

Morgan State has the preseason MEAC Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year in 2025, but the team was only picked third in the MEAC preseason poll. That’s because no matter how good the skill position players have been in Baltimore the past three years, the pass game has severely struggled. 

That said, I think the Bears will be a hard out for any team they play this year and should hover around the top-10 teams in HBCU football all season long. 

10. Prairie View A&M 

New head coach Tremaine Jackson drew a ton of headlines this offseason at Prairie View A&M as he arrived after leading Valdosta State to a Division II national title game berth last season. Coming with the head coach is one of the top transfer classes in the SWAC, with 24 FBS transfers and 16 FCS transfers. A good transfer class should allow the Panthers to hit the ground running in the SWAC.