BOXTOROW HBCU Coaches Poll: No. 1 Aggies await SWAC championship winner for Celebration Bowl showdown
Michael WallaceNEW ORLEANS – Only three games were played last week, but Grambling State’s big win over Southern in the Bayou Classic caused some movement in this week’s BOXTOROW Coaches Poll.
Grambling once again received two first place votes and remains No. 2 in the poll after knocking off Southern 30-21 in the annual showdown between the in-state rivals. With the victory, Grambling advances to its third straight SWAC championship game and will face No. 5-ranked Alcorn State in Houston on Saturday.
“This was truly a great game,” Grambling coach Broderick Fobbs said after Saturday’s win in front of 66,550 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. “Anytime you have two good teams battling, you know it will be a good game. Southern is a well-coached team. We made some mistakes, and had some key penalties, but overall I am proud of our guys for continuing to battle.”
Southern dropped to No. 5, down from No. 3 last week. The winner of the SWAC championship game will take on No. 1-ranked North Carolina A&T in the Celebration Bowl on Dec. 16 in Atlanta. The Aggies will be well-rested, having completed their undefeated season Nov. 18 with a win over North Carolina Central to become the first team in the history of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference to finish 11-0.
In the lone other SWAC game over the weekend, Prairie View A&M defeated Texas Southern 30-16 in the Labor Day Classic that was rescheduled due to weather. The Panthers remain No. 9 in the poll.
The BOXTOROW HBCU coaches poll is voted on by HBCU Football Championship Subdivision coaches.
2017 BOXTOROW FCS HBCU Football Coaches Poll Week 13
(Records through November 25, 2017)
No. Team W/L Pts Last Week 1. 
North Carolina A&T (16)11-0 168 1 2. 
Grambling (2)10-1 146 2 3. 
Bethune-Cookman 7-4 111 4 4. 
Alcorn State 7-4 108 5 5. 
Southern 7-4 97 3 6. 
Howard 7-4 80 6 7. 
North Carolina Central 7-4 68 7 8. 
Hampton 6-5 44 8 9. 
Prairie View A&M 6-5 39 9 10. 
Tennessee State 6-5 27 10 Others receiving votes: Alabama State (5-6) 1.
Note: (1st place votes in parentheses)
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Published on Nov 28, 2016
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