The Road to Atlanta: 2024 Preseason HBCU football power rankings (2024)

The 2024 HBCU football season is rapidly approaching. It's time to take a look at the first HBCU football power rankings from NCAA Digital's Stan Becton.

These are the first rankings of the season. The rankings will be done weekly throughout the regular season, sorting each HBCU football team at the FCS level based on their performances this season. Nicknamed "The Road to Atlanta," the weekly power rankings lead to the annual meeting of HBCU football's two best teams at this year's Celebration Bowl held in Atlanta, GA.

See the preseason power rankings below.

The Road to Atlanta: 2024 preseason HBCU football power rankings

1. Alabama State

Alabama State is my No. 1 team entering the 2024 HBCU football season. I'm 95 percent confident that the Hornets will again have a top-five defense in the SWAC and a top-25 defense nationally. Head coach Eddie Robinson Jr. has consistently made sure his defense performs, and the addition of Rico Dozier should lessen the loss of Colton Adams.

The biggest question mark for Alabama State lies with the offense, but transfer quarterback Andrew Body proved his ability to hold his own in the SWAC while at Texas Southern. I think Body can provide a steady hand with just enough playmaking to keep Alabama State in contention all season long.

The Hornets also get Florida A&M, Jackson State and Prairie View A&M at home while playing Alcorn State in Mobile, Alabama. With that schedule, expectations should be high for Alabama State in 2024.

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2. North Carolina Central

They say the eye in the sky doesn't lie and what Walker Harris put on film against Mississippi Valley State last fall in his lone start was impressive. Harris replaces Davius Richard under center for a North Carolina Central team that is now two years removed from a Celebration Bowl.

I think Harris is set up better than any new starting HBCU quarterback because of weapons like running back J'Mari Taylor and wide receiver Joaquin Davis and an always solid offensive line. With Trei Oliver as head coach, the defense should be good again, too. North Carolina Central is rightfully the favorite in the MEAC to open the year.

My preseason top-two ranking means we'll see No. 1 vs. No. 2 in the Orange Blossom Classic to open the season in Week 1.

3. Jackson State

Jackson State opens the season ranked No. 3 in my rankings. Head coach T.C. Taylor enters year two at the helm, and I like what he's building. I think late 2023 proved Taylor has found his quarterback in JaCobian Morgan, who completed 67 percent of his passes for 842 yards and 10 touchdowns to just one interception in his six games played. He also ran for 150 yards and six touchdowns. With a full offseason, Morgan could be in the discussion for one of the best quarterbacks in HBCU football by season's end.

Morgan will be joined on offense by a staple of running backs in Irv Mulligan and JD Martin, who can balance the attack. Fabian McCray and Rico Powers Jr. also form a great tandem on the outside for Taylor — who's retaking the reigns as offensive coordinator — to dial up plays.

Jackson State's defense should again hold its own against some of the better SWAC competition with preseason All-SWAC defensive lineman Jeremiah Williams and defensive back Esaias Guthrie on the field. Last year, the secondary made 17 interceptions to lead the SWAC.

4. Howard

Howard is the defending MEAC champion and made its first Celebration Bowl appearance last season. Gone is the talented, yet inconsistent, quarterback Quinton Williams, but whoever replaces him can lean on a good offensive line and the best group of running backs in HBCU football led by Jarett Hunter and Eden James. On defense, Kenny Gallop Jr. is a top-10 safety in the FCS and Carson Hinton excels at nickel.

Howard also has a favorable nonconference schedule getting Tennessee State — the only FCS team on the slate that won more games than it lost — for homecoming. The Bison could be set up nicely by the time it enters conference play.

5. Florida A&M

The defending Celebration Bowl champions open 2024's preseason rankings at No. 4. Florida A&M lost head coach Willie Simmons and conference players of the year quarterback Jeremy Moussa and linebacker Isaiah Major. The trenches took a hit defensively with the loss of Anthony Dunn Jr. and Gentle Hunt, while the skill group will look different without wide receivers Jah'Marae Sheread and Marcus Riley. That's simply too many losses for the Rattlers to rank in the top three.

Yet, I do think Florida A&M's offense can lessen the transition to new players thanks to a strong offensive line returning and standout running back Kelvin Dean. The secondary is talented with Kendall Bohler and crew, but the Rattlers may have to spend more time in coverage this year after losing so much up front.

Nonetheless, I still have FAMU in my top five to open the year because since joining the SWAC, the Rattlers have shown the ability to adapt and remain a top-five team in HBCU football.

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6. Tennessee State

Tennessee State ranks sixth in my preseason rankings. There's plenty of talent back in Nashville, even after Buck Buchanan Award winner Terrell Allen left for the FBS. Quarterback Draylen Ellis should be more consistent with yet another year starting, and Freshman All-American running back Jordan Gant and defensive lineman Eriq George should be even better with a full collegiate offseason under their belts.

The Tigers were FCS playoff contenders entering November last year before losing their final three games. The road will be a bit harder this fall as TSU visits North Dakota State in Week 2, but an upset there could change how we look at Eddie George leading this program.

7. Prairie View A&M

Prairie View A&M won the SWAC West last year and returned its head coach, which is why they are my top team from the SWAC West in my rankings.

PVAMU lost quarterback Trazon Connley and running backs Ahmad Antoine, and Caleb Johnson — i.e. 60 percent of the rushing offense. That's a lot of production to replace, but I still think the Panthers will be a top-10 HBCU football team this year because of its stability at the top with Bubba McDowell.

8. Morgan State

If Morgan State won the MEAC, I would not be surprised. The defense in Baltimore is that good. The offense on the other hand... well it has left a lot to be desired in recent years. However, I have confidence in head coach Damon Wilson that his offense will finally get right.

Quarterback Taj Smith has a full offseason under his belt after starting the final four games as a true freshman last season going 3-1. If he can be a game manager, the Bears can contend for a conference title. If Smith were one of the top three quarterbacks in HBCU football, Morgan State could run the table. Yes, I said it.

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9. Alcorn State

Unlike the SWAC preseason poll, I ranked Alcorn State behind Prairie View A&M. The Braves won't have running back Jarveon Howard nor quarterback Aaron Allen this fall. They also have a new head coach Cedric Thomas. The amount of missing offensive production plus a new coach leaves me in "Wait and See" mode with the Braves, even with pass rusher Malachi Bailey returning to wreak havoc.

10. Grambling State

Grambling State makes the top 10 because of quarterback Myles Crawley. The Preseason SWAC Offensive Player of the Year gives the Tigers one of the few known commodities as a signal caller in the conference. As Crawley goes, so will Grambling this fall.

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11. Southern

Southern has a new head coach this fall in Terrence Graves. Graves earned the job after winning the Bayou Classic in an interim role and brings plenty of experience as an assistant to the job. While Southern has the best player in the SWAC in Ckelby Givens, the Jaguars are the fourth-best team in the SWAC because they have to improve an offense that was in the bottom half of the conference in every category last season.

12. Norfolk State

Norfolk State has a major test when it opens the season with the defending Celebration Bowl champion Florida A&M in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge. It'll be a great litmus test for head coach Dawson Odums in year four. I think this could be a year Norfolk State returns to MEAC title contention.

The Spartans return preseason First-Team All-MEAC quarterback Otto Kuhns and four other second-team offensive players. Norfolk State has the best cornerback duo in HBCU football in Terron Mallory and Devon Allen, so don't be surprised if the Spartans see an increase in coverage sacks this fall. If everything finally clicks in the 757, this NSU team could be good.

13. South Carolina State

Chennis Berry built a powerhouse program at Benedict before taking the head coaching job at South Carolina State following the retirement of the legendary Buddy Pough. Berry will now look to bring that success with him, which will be made easier after numerous Benedict players followed him to Orangeburg.

Yet, immediate success isn't my expectation for Berry and crew. I expect South Carolina State to be competitive this fall, but I'll need to see it come together on the field before moving the Bulldogs up the rankings.

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14. Alabama A&M

Can Alabama A&M head coach Connell Maynor finally figure out the quarterback position? It's a question fans have been asking since Aqeel Glass left. In what may be a make-or-break year for the head coach, the answer to this question will go a long way in determining the team success of the Bulldogs. It looks like returnee Xavier Lankford is the frontrunner in the competition entering fall camp, but he only completed 54 percent of his passes with a 9:6 touchdown to interception ratio.

With Auburn followed by two non-DI opponents to open the season, Alabama A&M should have plenty of opportunities to figure out the QB situation before SWAC play.

15. North Carolina A&T

I think year two of the Vincent Brown era will be an improvement on the 1-10 season seen in 2023. Have the Aggies figured out their quarterback situation? We'll find out on the gridiron if sophom*ore QB Kevin White has better command of the offense or if a transfer like Justin Fomby from Houston Christian or Noah Sanders from Delaware can unseat him.

I think Brown's defense will see significant improvement in year two, which will keep North Carolina A&T in closer contests this fall. The Aggies aren't ready to compete for a CAA title yet, but I think they can finish higher than their projected 14th place finish in the conference.

16. Texas Southern

New head coach Cris Dishman has a "Welcome to the SWAC" schedule. Not only does Texas Southern play in the no-weeks-off SWAC West, but the Tigers drew the last two SWAC champions from the SWAC East on its schedule, Jackson State and Florida A&M. While the schedule does Texas Southern no favors, I think a defense led by Jacob Williams off the edge and an offense captained by emerging quarterback Jace Wilson should keep the Tigers competitive and even knock off some SWAC West teams that are in the division hunt.

17. Mississippi Valley State

Mississippi Valley State could be better than expected this season. Quarterback Ty'Jarian Williams is back after his freshman season and should take on a larger role in year two. Nonconference games against Lamar and Murray State are winnable, and Bethune-Cookman and Arkansas-Pine Bluff are also on the schedule. Throw in one of the hardest places to play in the SWAC in Itta Bena, and the Delta Devils could be near .500 entering November.

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18. Hampton

Hampton has one of the best running backs in HBCU football, Elijah Burris, but he's not enough to raise the Pirates higher in these preseason rankings. Hampton was the last FCS school to make a coaching change in the offseason, firing Robert Prunty and elevating Trent Boykin on April 30. Against a tough CAA schedule and a nonconference slate that features two top-10 HBCU teams, it'll be an uphill battle for the Pirates.

19. Arkansas Pine-Bluff

Arkansas-Pine Bluff has finished last in the SWAC West every year since it won the division title in the Spring 2021 season. After finishing 2-9 last season, head coach Alonzo Hampton hopes to change the tide in his second year at the helm. I think the addition of offensive coordinator Tony Hull will help, but at the end of the day, it's about the players on the field. Punter Jeremy Baker was the only Golden Lion to earn any preseason all-conference recognition, making them the only SWAC team without an offensive or defensive player on the list.

20. Bethune-Cookman

Bethune-Cookman opens the season with two FBS opponents and an FCS playoff team from last season when Mercer comes to town. While the Wildcats get DII's Clark Atlanta at home this fall, the rest of their home slate is treacherous. Alabama State, Jackson State and Grambling State all visit Daytona.

Home-field advantage matters in college football, but so does talent, and Bethune-Cookman will only be the more talented team in one of its home games this fall. I think the Wildcats will be in for a rough stretch.

21. Delaware State

Delaware State finished last in last year's HBCU football power rankings after finishing 1-10 with zero Division I wins. The Hornets were the only MEAC team to not receive a first-place vote in the preseason and they had zero players on any first-team preseason all-conference lists. Delaware State will have to start from the bottom.