Bethune-Cookman and Winston-Salem State Top ADD'S HBCU SPORTS REPORT Top Ten Polls

By ADD SEYMOUR JR.

Photo by Garrett Garms/WSSU Photography

Early season Top Ten college football polls usually dont tell much, especially among historically black colleges and universities.  Their first few weeks of the season are usually dotted with goose egg results against schools they play only for money.

But one thing is sure in both the ADD'S HBCU SPORTS REPORT HBCU Top Ten football polls - the perennial powers are still tough.

Winston-Salem State fell last week to Valdosta State in a tough rematch of the 2012 Division II national championship game.  But they've shown little to say that they aren't the best D-II HBCU football team in the land.

The rest of the Division II poll is full of questions and surprises.

For example, Virginia State was part of the CIAA championship game last year, but this season they are already 0-2 after losses to California University (Pa) and Lenoir-Rhyne.  Last year's SIAC champ, Albany State,sits at 0-2 after being routed by Valdosta State and nipped by Tuskegee. 

"There's a whole lot of football left," Albany State quarterback Frank Rivers told the Albany Herald.  "We can't go into the tank. We have to step up right here, the whole team.  We don't need to hang our heads."

Bethune-Cookman has beaten an FBS squad (Florida International) for the second consecutive year and they've shown mettle in holding off a game Grambling squad last week to top the FCS poll.

The preseason number one team, Tennessee State, plastered Edward Waters and Jackson State with suffocating defense in their two wins.  But looked listless against Alabama State in their only loss. Still, the Tigers boast the best HBCU defense in the country.

Here are the ADD'S HBCU SPORTS REPORT FCS and Division II Top Ten Polls for this week:

FCS

1) Bethune-Cookman
2) Tennessee State
3) Alabama State
4) North Carolina A&T
5) Texas Southern
6) Jackson State
7) Alcorn State
8) South Carolina State
9) Prairie View A&M
10) Morgan State

Division II

1) Winston Salem State
2) Livingstone
3) Fort Valley State
4) Tuskegee
5) Miles
6) Virginia State
7) Albany State
8) Kentucky State
9) Johnson C. Smith
10) Stillman