Eddie George led a list of HBCU coaches who earned votes for the Eddie Robinson Award, given annually to the top NCAA Football Championship Subdivision coach.
George finished second overall to Montana State’s Brent Vigen, earning six first-place votes and 115 points overall.
In his fourth season leading Tennessee State, George guided the team to a 9-4 overall record and a share of their first OVC conference championship since 1999. TSU also made the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2013, giving 2023 FCS runner-up Montana a scare before falling 41-27.
Chennis Berry finished sixth in total voting with 63 total points. Berry, who took over for the retiring Buddy Pough last December, led South Carolina State to the MEAC championship with a 9-2 overall record and a perfect 5-0 mark in conference play.
The Bulldogs will play in their second Celebration Bowl next Saturday, Dec. 14, against the winner of the SWAC championship game.
Jackson State, under second-year head coach T.C. Taylor, could win that game. Taylor, a standout wide receiver for the Tigers, replaced Deion Sanders after he departed for Colorado in the winter of 2023. Taylor, named SWAC Coach of the Year earlier this month, also earned votes for the Eddie Robinson Award, finishing 12th overall.
Taylor has quickly replenished the JSU roster, guiding the team to a 10-2 record so far and a spotless 8-0 record in SWAC play.
Jackson State hosts Southern in Saturday’s SWAC championship game, which begins at 2 p.m. EST on ESPN+.
