As the twilight of the 2025 college football season is upon us, the SWAC and MEAC conference races have ratcheted up their intensity levels and continue to provide a great sports storyline each week. This weekend, however, was marred by a bench-clearing brawl between Grambling State and Bethune-Cookman at halftime. Despite the causes or provocation involved, my gut tells me that the late great football legend Eddie Robinson would have been turning just a bit in his grave over that altercation. Regardless of that footbrawl, HBCU football was full of great action this week and the Fab Five and Flop Five categories continue to solidify their respective rankings.
HBCU Fab Five (as of November 12)
1. Alabama State (7-2 Overall, 5-1 SWAC)
The Hornets under head coach Eddie Robinson Jr. simply continue to find ways to keep winning and rightfully claim the top spot in the Fab Five this week. Winning with a backup QB this week while starting QB Andrew Body is still out due to injury, Alabama State could be looking at a SWAC conference championship date next month if Jackson State slips up… unless the Hornets stumble these next couple of weeks.
2. Jackson State (7-2 Overall, 5-1 SWAC)
JSU has bounced back nicely after its recent loss to Grambling State and took care of business against Mississippi Valley State while cruising to a 42-3 victory. Jackson State continues to be in the SWAC conversation and remains in a fight for the SWAC East with Alabama State.
3. Delaware State (7-3 Overall, 3-0 MEAC)
Head coach DeSean Jackson pulled off another win on Friday night, live on ESPN, but had to rely on a missed Morgan State field goal with five seconds left to claim the “W” in this game. Football isn’t about scores but about wins and losses, and the Hornets will take this one as they build on their MEAC title hopes for another week.
4. South Carolina State (7-3 Overall, 3-0 MEAC)
South Carolina State is quietly building up its MEAC title claim as well. With a convincing 42-12 win over Howard on Saturday, the Bulldogs are setting their sights on a showdown with Delaware State for the conference crown.
5. North Carolina Central (7-3 Overall, 2-1 MEAC)
While NCCU probably won’t win the MEAC this season, the Eagles have bounced back from a homecoming loss to Delaware State and continue to find ways to win. Despite a close 31-28 victory over Norfolk State on Saturday, North Carolina Central needs to stay in the MEAC conference conversation for just a few weeks more to see what happens because college football is always full of surprises.
HBCU Flop Five
1. Alabama A&M (4-6 Overall, 1-5 SWAC)
The Bulldogs have never recovered from the Magic City Classic blowout against in-state rival Alabama State and their rankings show this steady regression. Alabama A&M isn’t the worst HBCU team in FCS by any stretch of the imagination, but the program is heading in the wrong direction at this point. A win, any win at this point, could help turn around a disappointing season.
2. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (4-6 Overall, 2-4 SWAC)
Again, UAPB isn’t the worst HBCU team in the FCS, but times are tough in Pine Bluff this season. This program is probably already looking ahead to next year since 2025 is almost in the books.
3. Norfolk State (1-9 Overall, 0-3 MEAC)
While the Spartans continue to find themselves on the Flop Five rankings, Norfolk State as a program under first-year head coach Michael Vick hasn’t lost some of their fight. Close losses to both Delaware State and North Carolina Central show that there’s some glimmer of hope for this program, albeit down the road.
4. Mississippi Valley State (1-8 Overall, 0-5 SWAC)
Another week, another big loss means that MVSU continues to rank here at the bottom of the Flop Five. Better luck next season.
5. Southern University (1-9 Overall, 0-6 SWAC)
After losing its head coach at mid-season, the 2025 Southern Jaguars‘ season just seemed to crumble and the losses continue to pile up. All the Jaguar faithful in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, can do is finish out the year with their heads up and rebuild for next season.
Photo Credit to Jackson State University Athletics
