THIS WEEK INSIDE OF HBCU CFB (SIX)

📻 KRSB Network HBCU Football Poll - Week Five

DIVISION I (FCS) TOP 10

Rank	Team	Record	Conference	Massey	Move
1	Jackson State	3-1	SWAC (1-0)	#191	➡
2	NC Central	4-2	MEAC (0-0)	#193	⬆4
3	Alabama State	3-1	SWAC (1-0)	#208	⬆2
4	Howard	3-2	MEAC (0-0)	#245	⬆3
5	South Carolina State	2-3	MEAC (0-0)	#216	⬇3
6	Delaware State	3-2	MEAC (0-0)	#294	⬆2
7	Alabama A&M	3-2	SWAC (0-1)	#272	⬆2
8	Prairie View A&M	3-2	SWAC (2-0)	#278	⬇2
9	Bethune-Cookman	2-3	SWAC (1-0)	#300	⬆3
10	Grambling State	3-2	SWAC (0-1)	#325	⬇3

Week Five Highlights

Jackson State dominated Southern 38-13, maintains #1 with best Massey ranking (#191)
NC Central rises to #2 after 50-42 thriller vs East Texas A&M, strong #193 Massey
Alabama State crushed Florida A&M 42-14, jumps to #3 with statement win
Howard climbs to #4 despite 12-13 heartbreaker to Richmond, #245 Massey validates strength
Bethune-Cookman upset Alabama A&M 41-34, enters top 10 at #9

KRSB Network Ranking System

Our comprehensive rankings combine computer analysis (Massey ratings), conference performance, overall record, strength of schedule, and weekly performance. Division I (FCS) schools compete in SWAC, MEAC, CAA, and OVC conferences. We weight both traditional metrics and advanced analytics to provide the most accurate HBCU rankings.

DIVISION II TOP 10

Rank	Team	Record	Conference	Massey	Move
1	Benedict	4-0	SIAC (3-0)	#326	➡
2	Edward Waters	4-1	SIAC (3-0)	#399	⬆2
3	Virginia Union	3-1	CIAA (1-0)	#301	➡
4	Johnson C. Smith	4-1	CIAA (1-1)	#355	⬆3
5	Albany State	3-1	SIAC (2-0)	#319	⬇1
6	Livingstone	3-1	CIAA (2-0)	#456	⬆4
7	Winston-Salem State	3-2	CIAA (1-2)	#386	➡
8	Virginia State	2-2	CIAA (0-1)	#369	➡
9	Fayetteville State	2-3	CIAA (2-0)	#374	⬆1
10	Kentucky State	3-2	SIAC (3-1)	#468	⬆5

Division II Spotlight

Benedict remains perfect at 4-0, dominated Clark Atlanta 59-24
Edward Waters moves to #2 with narrow 27-24 win over Morehouse
Virginia Union's Curtis Allen rushed for 216 yards and 2 TDs in 59-7 rout of Shaw
Johnson C. Smith exploded for 69 points against Bluefield State
Fayetteville State upset Virginia State 34-14, perfect in CIAA play

Player of the Week Spotlight

Curtis Allen (Virginia Union): 14 carries, 216 yards (15.4 avg), 2 TDs vs Shaw. Leads D2 in total TDs and averages 173 rushing yards per game.

Christian Peters (Arkansas-Pine Bluff): HBCU National Player of the Week - 323 passing yards, 30 rushing yards, 2 total TDs in comeback win over Alcorn State.

SWAC East

Team	Conf	Overall
Jackson State	1-0	3-1
Alabama State	1-0	3-1
Bethune-Cookman	1-0	2-3
Florida A&M	0-1	1-3
Alabama A&M	0-1	3-2
Miss. Valley State	0-1	0-4

SWAC West

Team	Conf	Overall
Prairie View A&M	2-0	3-2
Texas Southern	1-1	1-3
Arkansas-Pine Bluff	1-0	2-2
Grambling State	0-1	3-2
Southern	0-1	1-4
Alcorn State	0-2	0-4

MEAC

Team	Conf	Overall
NC Central	0-0	4-2
Howard	0-0	3-2
Delaware State	0-0	3-2
S. Carolina State	0-0	2-3
Morgan State	0-0	2-3
Norfolk State	0-0	1-4

*MEAC conference play begins Week 6

CIAA

Team	Conf	Overall
Livingstone	2-0	3-1
Fayetteville State	2-0	2-3
Virginia Union	1-0	3-1
Johnson C. Smith	1-1	4-1
Winston-Salem State	1-2	3-2
Shaw	1-1	1-3
Virginia State	1-1	2-2
Bowie State	0-2	1-3
Lincoln (PA)	0-2	0-5
Elizabeth City State	0-3	0-4

SIAC

Team	Conf	Overall
Benedict	3-0	4-0
Edward Waters	3-0	4-1
Kentucky State	3-1	3-2
Albany State	2-0	3-1
Allen	2-1	2-3
Fort Valley State	1-1	1-3
Savannah State	1-2	2-2
Clark Atlanta	1-2	2-3
Tuskegee	1-2	2-3
Central State	1-3	1-4
Morehouse	0-2	0-4
Lane	0-2	0-4
Miles	0-2	0-5

Week 5 Key Results

Jackson State 38, Southern 13- Tigers dominate at Mumford Stadium
Alabama State 42, Florida A&M 14- Hornets make SWAC East statement
Prairie View A&M 28, Grambling 13- Panthers win State Fair Classic
Bethune-Cookman 41, Alabama A&M 34- Wildcats upset Bulldogs
Virginia Union 59, Shaw 7- Panthers demolish Bears
Benedict 59, Clark Atlanta 24- Tigers stay perfect
Johnson C. Smith 69, Bluefield State 13- Golden Bulls explode

Top Performances - Week 5

Passing Leaders

Xzavier Jackson, Clark Atlanta: 28-47, 388 yards, 3 TDs
Raequan Beal, Tuskegee: 29-45, 380 yards, 2 TDs
Eric Handley, Alabama A&M: 27-40, 355 yards, 3 TDs
Jacobian Morgan, Jackson State: 21-31, 337 yards, 2 TDs
Christian Peters, Ark-Pine Bluff: 20-32, 323 yards, 1 TD

Rushing Leaders

Secorian Seawell, Alcorn State: 23 carries, 225 yards, 2 TDs
Curtis Allen, Virginia Union: 14 carries, 216 yards, 2 TDs
Jamarie Hostzclaw, Alabama State: 22 carries, 135 yards
Anthony Reagan Jr., Howard: 20 carries, 129 yards, 1 TD
Marquis Gillis, Delaware State: 13 carries, 123 yards, 2 TDs

Computer Rankings vs Poll Analysis

Computer Loves (Higher Massey)

NC Central:#193 Massey, #2 Poll - Computer validates rise
Howard:#245 Massey, #4 Poll - Quality losses showing
Alabama A&M:#272 Massey, #7 Poll - Better than record

Computer Questions (Lower Massey)

SC State:#216 Massey, #5 Poll - 2-3 record showing
Prairie View:#278 Massey, #8 Poll - Conference record carries
Bethune-Cookman:#300 Massey, #9 Poll - Recent upset helps

Conference Players of the Week

SWAC Offense: Secorian Seawell, RB, Alcorn State (225 rushing yards)

SWAC Defense: Antwone Watts, S, Bethune-Cookman (14 tackles, 1 FF)

MEAC Offense: Walker Harris, QB, NC Central (288 passing yards, 2 TDs)

CIAA QB: Kelvin Durham, Johnson C. Smith (297 yards, 4 TDs)

CIAA RB: Curtis Allen, Virginia Union (216 yards, 2 TDs)

SIAC Offense: Tristan Morgan, RB, Benedict (112 yards, 1 TD)

SIAC Defense: Tymetrious Patterson, LB, Benedict (8 tackles, 3 sacks)

Week 5 Upset Alert

Bethune-Cookman 41, Alabama A&M 34- Wildcats stun Bulldogs in SWAC play
Fayetteville State 34, Virginia State 14- Broncos dominate Trojans
Texas Southern 23, Miss. Valley State 20- Tigers rally after coaching mistakes
Sacred Heart 35, Delaware State 31- Hornets blow double-digit lead
Charleston Southern 31, SC State 24- Bulldogs drop second straight

Advanced Metrics Integration

KRSB Network combines traditional polling with Massey computer rankings to provide comprehensive analysis. Our system weights conference performance (35%), computer rankings (25%), overall record (20%), strength of schedule (15%), and momentum (5%) to deliver the most accurate HBCU football rankings available.

Conference Championship Races

SWAC Championship Picture

East Division: Three-way tie at 1-0 (Jackson State, Alabama State, Bethune-Cookman)

West Division: Prairie View A&M controls destiny at 2-0

Key Games: Jackson State @ Alabama State will likely decide East

SIAC Title Race

Undefeated in Conference: Benedict (3-0), Edward Waters (3-0)

Head-to-Head: Benedict holds advantage from earlier victory

Wildcards: Kentucky State (3-1) still in contention

CIAA Contenders

Perfect Records: Livingstone (2-0), Fayetteville State (2-0)

Strong Contenders: Virginia Union (1-0), Johnson C. Smith (1-1)

Dark Horse: Winston-Salem State despite 1-2 conference record

Week 6 Games to Watch

Championship Implications

Jackson State @ Alabama State- SWAC East showdown
Prairie View A&M @ Texas Southern- West race continues
Benedict @ Edward Waters- SIAC undefeated clash
Virginia Union @ Livingstone- CIAA leaders meet

Upset Opportunities

Grambling State looking to bounce back
Alabama A&M seeking redemption
Southern desperate for conference win
Johnson C. Smith with explosive offense

Programs on the Rise

NC Central: Computer rankings validate #2 position, explosive offense
Howard: Quality losses show true strength, Massey #245 impressive
Bethune-Cookman: Playing spoiler role, upset potential every week
Johnson C. Smith: Explosive offense capable of 60+ points
Fayetteville State: Perfect in CIAA play despite overall record

Programs Under Pressure

Florida A&M: QB struggles continue, fans growing restless
Southern: Offensive woes persist, need conference wins
Norfolk State: Multiple blown leads, coaching decisions questioned
Alcorn State: Winless season, untimely penalties hurting team