HBCU FOOTBALL: TOP-5 POWER RANKINGS | WEEK 2

HBCU football's top-five power rankings ahead of Week 2.

HOUSTON - HBCU football's top-five power rankings ahead of Week 2. Our ranking system will differ this season, where the performances of the coaching staff, quarterbacks, offense, defense, and win/loss quality will play a factor in evaluating the HBCU teams from the SWAC, MEAC, CIAA, SIAC, and independents combined.

HBCU POWER FIVE TEAMS (COMBINED)

1. Benedict (1-0, 0-0 SIAC) | Score= 24 | Coach Berry and the Tigers keep rolling following their SIAC Championship season and the loss of QB Eric Phoenix. New quarterback Aeneas Dennis was 18-of-27 for 243 passing yards and 2 TDs as Benedict "molly whopped" Shaw (CIAA), 52-0. It was the 480 yards of total offense for me.
2. North Carolina Central (1-0, 0-0 MEAC) | Score = 23 | The Eagles knocked off Winston-Salem 47-21 to remain perfect.
3. Florida A&M (1-0, 1-0 SWAC EAST) | Score = 22 | The first quarter set the tone as the Rattlers crushed the Tigers. One concern - no points in the second half for a Willie Simmons offense. Beware of Alabama State's defense in Week 4. The monkey's off Coach Simmons' back - finally!
4. Morgan State (1-0, 0-0 MEAC) | Score = 22 | Coach Wilson had the Bears primed and ready for the road upset of Richmond, 17-10. The defense stymied the Spiders' offensive attack. It was a great win for the program — condolences to Coach Wilson and family for losing his father.
5. Prairie View A&M (1-0, 1-0 SWAC WEST) | Score = 21 | My view from the press box at Shell Energy Stadium was clear on three points: 1. PV made the necessary in the fourth quarter to mount a comeback versus TSU; 2. Trazon Connley gave us his best Tom Brady impression with a clutch final drive in regulation to tie the game at 34 3. Coach Bubba McDowell was right when he told me, "We're much better than what some people ranked us." Yes, coach, I got the message, and I was wrong.

*Sorry, not ties here.  Head-to-head, the Rattlers would beat the Bears...right?

Teams Lurking, Waiting to Rise into the Top 5: Texas Southern, Hampton, Jackson State, Tuskegee, Alabama State, Southern, Virginia Union

• Andrew Body did not lose the game for Texas Southern. Conservative calls and a tenacious Panthers defense played a role.
• Alabama State will be a problem for their SWAC East foes.
• Grambling State's Myles Crawley is a real deal.
• A Rattling Concern: Am I the only one concerned about Jeremy Moussa's second-half performance in the Orange Blossom Classic? Rattlers' defense sealed the win.
• Coach Odum and the Spartans had a tough loss in a close game.
• HBCU Football Parity exists across the conferences.
• You can only keep VA Union's Jada Byers contained for so long - Morehouse didn't stand a chance in the second half.

HBCU POWER FIVE COACHES

1. Trei Oliver - NCCU (CONSISTENT)
2. Chennis Berry - Benedict
3. Willie Simmons - Florida A&M
4. Damon Wilson -  Morgan State
5. Bubba McDowell - Prairie View A&M

HBCU coaches positioned to Rise into the Top 5: Eddie Robinson Jr.- Alabama State; Alvin Parker - VA Union; TC Taylor - Jackson State

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