A year after ending the 2015 season with the number one poll ranking, Alabama State University opens the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Black College Nines’ 2016 Large School Preseason Baseball Poll again ranked number one.
Alabama State, one of six Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) teams in the top ten, is joined by No. 2 Texas Southern University, No. 4 Jackson State University, No. 5 Alabama A&M University, No. 6 Southern University and No. 8 University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
Norfolk State University, the 2015 final poll runner-up, opens the season ranked No. 3 and is one of four Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) teams in the preseason top 10 poll. Other conference members include No. 7 Florida A&M University, No. 9 Bethune-Cookman University and No. 10 Savannah State University rounds out the BCN large School division representing NCAA Division I baseball programs.
Winston-Salem State University concluded last season with the number one ranking and sits atop the HBCU preseason poll this year. The defending small school division champion Rams ballclub was both the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association(CIAA) regular season and conference tournament champions and then competed in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Tournament.
Winston-Salem State University, one of two CIAA teams in the preseason poll, is joined by No. 4 Virginia State University. A tie determined the number two spot, which is shared by West Virginia State University and Edward Waters College.
The rest of the small school poll, made up of NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA schools, is No. 5 Selma University, No. 6 Jarvis Christian University, No. 7 Benedict College, No. 8 Talladega College, No. 9 Wiley College and No. 10 Paine College.
For a preview of all the large school baseball programs, please click here and for all the small school baseball programs, please click here.
| 2016 HBCU Large School Preseason Poll | ||||
| No. | School | Conference | Points * | 2015 W-L |
| 1 | Alabama State University | SWAC | 173 (12) | 31-19 |
| 2 | Texas Southern University | SWAC | 154 (2) | 26-14 |
| 3 | Norfolk State University | MEAC | 127 (4) | 27-16 |
| 4 | Jackson State University | SWAC | 118 | 32-25 |
| 5 | Alabama A&M University | SWAC | 96 | 26-31 |
| 6 | Southern University | SWAC | 94 (1) | 20-23 |
| 7 | Florida A&M University | MEAC | 88 | 23-25 |
| 8 | University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff | SWAC | 83 | 25-16 |
| 9 | Bethune-Cookman University | MEAC | 79 (1) | 19-40 |
| 10 | Savannah State University | MEAC | 43 (1) | 21-33 |
* Indicates number of first place votes
| 2016 HBCU Small School Preseason Poll | ||||
| No. | School | Conference | Points * | 2015 W-L |
| 1 | Winston Salem State University | CIAA | 164 (15) | 42-15 |
| 2(t) | West Virginia State University | MEC | 125 | 35-16 |
| 2(t) | Edward Waters College | GCAC | 125 | 34-22 |
| 4 | Virginia State University | CIAA | 78 | 25-18 |
| 5 | Selma University | Independent | 75 (1) | 17-10 |
| 6 | Jarvis Christian University | RRAC | 69 | 30-23 |
| 7 | Benedict College | SIAC | 59 | 23-17 |
| 8 | Talladega College | GCAC | 57 | 30-25 |
| 9 | Wiley College | RRAC | 31 | 23-25 |
| 10 | Paine College | SIAC | 29 | 19-25 |
* Indicates number of first place votes
I agree with Mosley210. The SWAC tournament is the only way to determine who truly has the best team and are deserving to be crowned No. !!
Alabama State has a great regular season resume over the last 2-3 yrs however they haven’t proved that they can win the swac until then let’s back off of giving them so much preseason hype!!! & give it to the schools who’ve been doing it for yrs ie Jackson State & Southern University.
Norfolk State is loaded should be a No. 1 Alabama State No. 2.