Football | 7/10/2026 10:29:20 AM
NORFOLK, Va. – Headlined by top-ranked South Carolina State, three Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) football programs were recognized in the inaugural 2026 Preseason Black College Football Poll. North Carolina Central (No. 5) and Delaware State (No. 6) joined the Bulldogs in the rankings, while Howard also received votes in the first-ever poll.
The historic preseason rankings mark the debut of the first officially endorsed national poll dedicated exclusively to HBCU football programs competing at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and NCAA Division II levels.
The Black College Football Poll is jointly sanctioned by the MEAC, Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) and Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAC), providing a unified national ranking of HBCU football programs across both divisions.
Coming off a historic 2025 season, South Carolina State claimed the No. 1 spot in the poll after capturing its second consecutive MEAC championship and winning the Celebration Bowl. The Bulldogs received 185 points, including 36 first-place votes.
North Carolina Central was ranked No. 5 after finishing 8-4 overall in 2025, including a 3-2 mark in MEAC play. The Eagles totaled 107 points in the preseason poll.
Delaware State earned the No. 6 ranking after finishing second in the MEAC standings during the 2025 season. The Hornets enter their second season under head coach DeSean Jackson, who guided the program to a runner-up conference finish in his first year at the helm.
2026 Preseason Black College Football Poll
NCAA Division I (FCS)
| Rank |
Institution |
Conference |
Record* |
Points (FPV**) |
| 1. |
South Carolina State |
MEAC |
(10-3, 5-0) |
185 (36) |
| 2. |
Prairie View A&M |
SWAC |
(10-4, 7-1) |
165 (2) |
| 3. |
Jackson State |
SWAC |
(9-3, 7-1) |
149 (4) |
| 4. |
Alabama State |
SWAC |
(10-2, 7-1) |
141 (6) |
| 5. |
North Carolina Central |
MEAC |
(8-4, 3-2) |
107 |
| 6. |
Delaware State |
MEAC |
(8-4, 4-1) |
98 |
| 7. |
Grambling State |
SWAC |
(7-5, 4-4) |
63 |
| 8. |
Bethune-Cookman |
SWAC |
(6-6, 5-3) |
46 |
| 9. |
Texas Southern |
SWAC |
(6-5, 5-3) |
42 |
| 10. |
Florida A&M |
SWAC |
(5-7, 4-4) |
32 |
*2025 Record
**(First-Place Votes)
Others Receiving Votes: Alcorn State (5-7, 4-4) – 15,
Howard (5-7, 2-3) – 13, Alabama A&M (4-8, 1-7) – 13
About the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) enters its 56th year of intercollegiate competition with the 2026–27 academic year. Headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, the MEAC is comprised of eight distinguished Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) along the Atlantic seaboard: Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina Central University, and South Carolina State University. Since its founding in 1970, the MEAC has been dedicated to promoting academic excellence, sportsmanship, and the personal growth of student athletes. For more information, visit
www.MEACSports.com.