The 2022 HBCU Football Season is over and it’s time to take a look at the final HBCU Football Power Rankings of NCAA Digital’s Stan Becton.
These rankings were done weekly throughout the regular season as I sort every HBCU football team at the FCS level based on their performance. Dubbed The Road to Atlanta, the weekly power rankings lead to the annual meeting of the top two HBCU football teams at this year’s Celebration Bowl in Atlanta.
All previous rankings are from before the last week of the regular season (week 12).
See the final power rankings below.
The Road to Atlanta: The Final 2022 HBCU Football Power Rankings
1. Central North Carolina | CAEM | 10-2 (4-1) | Previous: 3
Your 2022 Celebration Bowl champion and the No. 1 team in the final HBCU Football Power Rankings is North Carolina Central. The Eagles held off Jackson State in overtime in an all-time classic HBCU football game. Quarterback Davius Richard, DB Khalil Baker and the North Carolina Central offensive line have led the way for the Eagles all season, leading to a magical season.
CHAMPIONS: How North Carolina Central won the 2022 Celebration Bowl
2. Jackson State | SWAC | 12-1 (9-0) | Previous: 1
In the words of Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan, “it means nothing without a ring.” In Jackson State coach Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders’ final game at JSU before heading to Colorado, the Tigers failed in the Celebration Bowl for the second straight year.
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Jackson State was undefeated in the regular season and off to its best start in program history after its second straight SWAC championship, but none of this can be quite as enjoyable without a victory at the Celebration Bowl. Nonetheless, the Tigers had one of the most talented teams in HBCU football and 12 wins is still 12 wins.
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3. Florida A&M | SWAC | 9-2 (7-1) | Previous: 2
Florida A&M finished the season 9-2, losing only to an FBS Division Champion in North Carolina and the SWAC Champion in Jackson State. The Rattlers missed the FCS playoffs despite their regular season success as one of the top four teams. Without an additional playoff win, there’s no way Florida A&M can claim to be on top of the HBCU football world in 2022. That said, a third-place finish for a non-conference champion isn’t bad at all.
STRIKE AGAIN: How Florida A&M topped the 2021 season-ending power rankings
4. North Carolina A&T | Great South | 7-4 (4-1) | Previous: 4
North Carolina A&T ends the season ranked fourth in the final HBCU football powerhouse rankings. The Aggies moved up the standings after winning seven straight after an 0-3 start. Still, North Carolina A&T ended the season with a loss to Gardner-Webb, missing out on the Big South title and an FCS playoff berth. Everyone quickly realized how good this Gardner-Webb team was after winning an FCS playoff game.
North Carolina A&T’s only FCS losses have come against the MEAC champion, an FCS National Championship game participant, and a second-round FCS playoff team. This gives the Aggies a better resume than Southern and keeps them at the top of the leaderboard.
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5. South | SWAC | 7-5 (5-3) | Previous: 6
Southern ended the season with a loss in the SWAC Championship game, his second against Jackson State in 2022. However, Southern won SWAC West with a win over Grambling State in the Bayou Classic to reach the seven-win mark. Although the Jaguars couldn’t beat any of my top five teams this year, they only suffered one other FCS loss to Texas Southern. Southern finishes as the fifth-best team in FCS HBCU football.
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6. State of Alabama | SWAC | 6-5 (4-4) | Previous: 5
In Eddie Robinson Jr.’s first year as head coach at all levels, he led Alabama State to No. 6 in the Final Power Rankings. The Alabama State defense finished second in the SWAC in points per game and is moving in the right direction. The Hornets also hold a head-to-head win over the next-ranked team after winning the MEAC/SWAC challenge to open the season.
SWARM: 2022 MEAC/SWAC Challenge Recap
7.Howard | CAEM | 5-6 (4-1) | Previous: 9
Howard ends the season as the seventh-best HBCU football team in FCS. The Bisons finished the season with a share of the MEAC title, their first since 1993. Howard lost just one conference game, finishing with a 4-1 record.
Still, I’m sure some are wondering, “Why is Howard with a losing record ranked on Prairie View A&M with a winning record?”
Well, both teams have five FCS losses. Additionally, Howard finished the season winning four of his last five games. The Bisons finished the season strong and a conference title gives them the necessary edge in the final power standings.
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8. Prairie View A&M | SWAC | 6-5 (5-3) | Previous: 7
Prairie View A&M controlled its fate entering the final week of the regular season. The Panthers folded under the pressure, losing to Mississippi Valley State and missing out on the SWAC West title. Prairie View ended the season losing two of its last three games. A poor end to the season puts Prairie View A&M in 8th place.
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9. South Texas | SWAC | 5-6 (4-4)| Previous: 8
While Texas Southern finished with an overall losing streak in 2022, a 4-4 record in SWAC play is a sign of improvement for the program. The Tigers ended the season with a stunning slump against Alabama A&M, missing out on a SWAC West title shot, but the 2022 season was a success overall. The future is bright at Texas Southern, especially with quarterback Andrew Body coming back as probably the best quarterback in SWAC.
10. Alcorn State | SWAC | 5-6 (4-4) | Previous: 11
Alcorn State ended its season with a Soul Bowl loss, but a late push in SWAC West gives the Braves the final spot in the top 10. Alcorn State has won two of its last three games to stay in contention for one game championship berth SWAC until the last week. A solid finish and a non-conference win over McNeese gives the Braves the green light over Alabama A&M.
PAST RANKINGS: Pre-season | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 | Week 12
11. Alabama A&M | SWAC | 4-7 (4-4) | Previous: 14
Alabama A&M started the season 0-4 with a struggling offense. These struggles have remained throughout the year, despite glimpses of life at certain points in the season. Nonetheless, the Bulldogs move up three spots in the final power rankings after closing out the season with an impressive comeback effort to defeat Texas Southern.
12. Hampton | CAA | 4-7 (1-7) | Previous: 12
It was a tough start for Hampton in the CAA, finishing 1-7. Hampton played much better against HBCUs in 2022, finishing the season 3-0 in that category. Two of those wins came against opponents FCS Howard and Norfolk State. Both Hampton’s FCS HBCU opponents hold wins over Morgan State, which gives the Pirates a higher ranking thanks to common opponents.
13. Morgan State | CAEM | 4-7 (2-3) | Previous: 10
Morgan State finished 2-3 in the MEAC in head coach Damon Wilson’s first season. At times this year, the Bears seemed to be progressing faster than expected, but eventually leveled off by the end of the season. Still, a third-place finish at the MEAC is a positive start to the Damon Wilson era. As for Morgan State’s final standings, a convincing head-to-head win over Delaware State earns it the Bears’ 13th spot.
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14. State of Delaware | CAEM | 5-6 (2-3) | Prev: 13
Delaware State finished the season 5-6, but only beat three FCS teams. Another win came over a Robert Morris side 0-11. The Hornets finished 2-3 in the MEAC, but that fell short of expectations as Delaware State fired head coach Rod Milstead after the season.
15. Grambling State | SWAC | 3-8 (2-6) | Previous: 15
Grambling State won three games in Hue Jackson’s first year as head coach. That’s fewer wins than the season before Jackson arrived. However, the Tigers have gone 2-2 in their last four games, putting the Tigers in the top 15 in the standings.
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16. Tennessee State | OVC | 4-7 (2-3) | Previous: 17
Tennessee State finished the season 4-7, but one of its losses came at a Division II home school. This prevents the four-win Tigers from climbing higher in the final standings.
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17. South Carolina State | CAEM | 3-8 (1-4) | Prev: 16
After winning the 2021 Celebration Bowl, South Carolina State finished last in the MEAC at 1-4. However, wins over Bethune-Cookman and, more importantly, North Carolina Central put the Bulldogs in 17th place.
18. Bethune-Cookman | SWAC | 2-9 (2-6) | Previous: 18
Bethune-Cookman lost its last four games and fired head coach Terry Sims at the end of the season. The Wildcats finished the season ranked 18th due to a head-to-head win over Mississippi Valley State.
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19. Mississippi Valley State | SWAC | 2-9 (2-6) | Previous: 19
Mississippi Valley State closed the season with wins in two of its last three games. The Delta Devils shook up the SWAC West race with their win over Prairie View A&M, preventing them from holding onto the bottom spot in the standings.
20. Norfolk State | CAEM | 2-9 (2-3) | Previous: 20
Norfolk State closed out the season with a win over South Carolina State. This kept the Spartans from finishing last in the MEAC and prevents them from finishing last in the 2022 HBCU Power Rankings.
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21. Arkansas-Pine Bluff | SWAC | 3-9 (1-7) | Prev: 21
Arkansas-Pine Bluff closed out the season with a win over Alabama State on Thanksgiving to end an eight-game losing streak. However, the Golden Lions have just one FCS win this season, the fewest of any FCS HBCU.