Alabama State is, without question, one of the top teams in Black College Football.
The Hornets (8-2, 6-1 SWAC) are tied with Jackson State for first-place in the SWAC East (though JSU holds the tiebreaker) and could – if the Tigers lose their season finale versus Alcorn State – take the division by winning out.
They are either ranked No. 1(surprisingly) or No. 2 in major HBCU football polls heading into the final weeks of the regular season.
Despite Alabama State having won seven of its last eight games, including four straight, the Hornets were not ranked in the latest FCS Top 25 polls.
The Hornets, lingering in the “receiving votes” section of the major FCS polls, find themselves in the middle of a social media debate about whether they belong among the ranked.
HBCU Premier Sports & More summed up the sentiment in a recent post on X: “The Shenanigans continue. Alabama State, 8-1 in FCS play, remains unranked in the FCS Top 25 while five teams with four losses continue to be ranked.”
So, should Alabama State be ranked? The answer depends on how one values performance versus perception.
The case for Alabama State
On the field, the Hornets have done nearly everything asked of them. They’ve rattled off eight wins, including key SWAC victories that keep them in the hunt for a conference title.
Their defense ranks among the stingiest in the league, and their only true setback came in a four-point loss at Jackson State.
Voters supporting Alabama State’s inclusion point to one undeniable fact: wins matter.
“As a voter, I’ve put ASU in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 rankings for a few weeks,” wrote The Underdawg in a response on X. “I can’t speak for others, but there are 2 key reasons: weak non-conf FCS record (SWAC) & poor exposure across the FCS landscape. If ppl dont follow SWAC &/or HBCU fball, they won’t vote for you.”
Another poll, the Redshirt Sports FCS Top 25, does include Alabama State. “Ranked in the Redshirt Sports FCS Top 25, said the website’s owner, James Singleton.
The case against Alabama State
However, arguments against Alabama State’s ranking center on schedule strength and quality of wins. Critics point to the SWAC’s collective record against non-conference competition, calling it too weak to gauge how a top SWAC team might fare against ranked FCS powers from the Big Sky, Missouri Valley, or CAA.
Alabama State is 1-1 in non-conference play this season, with a loss at FBS Alabama-Birmingham and a win over Division II Miles College. The Hornets lost their only game against a ranked FCS opponent, Jackson State, on Oct. 11.
The Hornets’ best win to date is a 31-28 victory over SWAC West champion Prairie View.
How Alabama State stacks up against everybody else
Ultimately, Alabama State’s non-inclusion in the top 25 is primarily based on the fact that they do not have the body of work, despite the Hornets having more wins and fewer losses than several teams inside the poll.
Compare Alabama State to four-loss South Dakota, which is ranked at No. 16 in the STATS Perform FCS Top 25 Poll. The Coyotes lost to multiple unranked and ranked teams during the regular season.
However, South Dakota also defeated ranked North Dakota, South Dakota State, and Southern Illinois to conclude the season.
Another four-loss team — 17th-ranked Abilene Christian — dropped four of its six road games this season. But, Abilene Christian has ranked wins over Stephen F. Austin, Austin Peay, West Georgia, and handed 10-win Tarleton State their only loss.
As good as Alabama State has been, they don’t have resumes that impressive.
Alabama State’s case for a Top 25 ranking is statistically solid just on record alone. However, they haven’t performed quite well enough against strong competition to validate their place in the poll.
“Alabama State at No. 26 – one spot outside the Top 25,” wrote “Opta FCS Football on X, “is hardly “shenanigans.”
