No. 1 Tennessee State Wins, No. 2 Alabama A&M and Three Other Top 10 Teams Lose at Home

As collegiate football steers into the eighth week of the season, HBCU teams are still vying to be a top competitor in their respected conferences. This week, the Tennessee State Tigers, a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, is the only team in Dr. Cavil’s Major Division poll that remains undefeated. The rankings have shifted, as there is now room for any team to challenge for the top ranking.

By Dr. J. Kenyatta Cavil and guest Jasmine Oliver
Inside the HBCU Huddle Columnist
College Sporting News

There were three major upsets this week and four programs that lost which were ranked among the Top 10. This does not include the loss by Grambling State to the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils as the Tigers slip to 0-6 on the season. The No. 1 Tennessee State Tigers are now the lone undefeated (7-0) team at the HBCU Major Division level after defeating the SE Missouri State Redhawks, 40-28. The Tigers remain at the top of the polls for the fifth consecutive week and will travel to face Jacksonville State as they look stay unbeaten against the Gamecocks.

Ultimately switching positions are the No. 4 Alabama A&M Bulldogs, with an open date this weekend, and the No. 2 Bethune-Cookman Wildcats. Dropping two spots, the Bulldogs are no longer undefeated as they were the first major upset of the weekend while also suffering their first loss of the season against the unranked Alcorn Braves 21-10. The Braves are the topped vote receiving team not in the top 10 poll rankings. The Wildcats were open this past weekend and will host the reeling MEAC Conference Champs of last season, the Norfolk State Spartans, who’re the loser of five straight.

In the No. 3 spot is the North Carolina Central Eagles. The Eagles had the largest movement in the poll this week as they moved up four positions after defeating the now No. 10 ranked Morgan State Bears in a thriller, 24-20. The Eagles will face the Hampton Pirates next, while the ranked Bears, for the second consecutive week, will line up against the No. 6 Howard Bison for a top 10 match-up in the poll rankings. The Bison gave us our second major upset of the weekend with a stunning loss to the North Carolina A&T State Aggies, 38-10.

With an open date this past weekend, the No. 5 Arkansas Pine Bluff Golden Lions will face the No. 9 Southern Jaguars leading to the second top 10 match-up this weekend. The Jaguars crushed Texas Southern over the weekend, 34-7. In the No. 7 position is the Alabama State Hornets, who suffered the third major upset of the weekend as they lost to the Jackson State Tigers, 37-34 by a late field goal. The No. 8 position belongs to the Delaware State Hornets, who were winners against the struggling South Carolina State Bulldogs, 31-17. The Hornets will welcome the North Carolina A&T State Aggies to Delaware this weekend as they continue to strengthen their position in the MEAC race.

This week on Dr. Cavil’s “HBCU Sports Top 10 Countdown” show on KCOH 1430AM radio (www.kcohradio.com) announced the Week 7 Poll Rankings.

The 10th Anniversary (2002-2012) of Dr. Cavil's HBCU Major Division Football Top 10 Poll Rankings
(Presented by Bert Simmons - State Farm Agent, 281.485.5572; powered by THG Agency, LLC - (The Heritage Group, www.thg-agency.com) & TSPNSports.com)

Name-Record-1PV-Points-PWR-Last Game-Next Game-(October 4-6)
1. Tennessee State Tigers(7-0)-(11)--1071-(Beat SE Missouri State Redhawks,(40-28), at-Jacksonville State Gamecocks)
2. Bethune-Cookman Wildcats-(4-2)-94-4-(Did Not Play, vs-Norfolk State Spartans)
3. N. C. Central Eagles--(4-2)-93-7-(Beat Morgan State Bears,(24-20), vs-Hampton Pirates)
4. Alabama A & M Bulldogs(6-1)-(1)89-2-(Lost to Alcorn State Braves,(21-20), Open)
5. Arkansas at P. B. Golden Lions-(4-2)-76-5-(Did Not Play, at-Southern Jaguars)
6. Howard Bison-(4-2)-65-3-(Lost to N. C. A&T State Aggies,(38-10), vs-Morgan State Bears)
7. #-Alabama State Hornets--(4-3)-41-6-(Lost to Jackson State Tigers,(37-34), Open)
8. Delaware State Hornets(3-3)-30-9-(Beat S. C. State Bulldogs,(31-17), vs-N. C. A&T State Aggies)
9. Southern Jaguars(3-3)-12-10(Beat Texas Southern Tigers,(34-7), vs-Arkansas at P. B. Golden Lions)
10. Morgan State Bears-(3-3)-11-8-(Lost to N. C. Central Eagles,(24-20), at-Howard Bison)

Dropped Out: N/A
Receiving Votes: Alcorn State Braves-(3-4)-7, Florida A&M-(3-4)-5, Jackson State Tigers-(3-4)-3, N. C. A&T Aggies-(3-4)-2
PWR = Previous Week Ranking, 1PV = 1st Place Votes, LG = Last Game
# = 2011 Dr. Cavil’s HBCU Mid-Major Division Football Champion

Listen to Dr. Cavil’s “HBCU Sports Top 10 Countdown” show on KCOH 1430AM radio (www.kcohradio.com) announcing Dr. Cavil’s Top 10 Major Division weekly poll rankings at 6:00 p.m. and Dr. Cavil’s “Inside the HBCU Sports Lab” with Ryan McGinty and Mike Washington from 9-10:00 p.m. every Sunday also on KCOH.