A year after ending the 2016 season with the number one poll ranking, Alabama State University opens the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Black College Nines’ 2017 Large School Preseason Baseball Poll for the second year in a row ranked number one.
Alabama State, one of six Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) teams in the top ten, is joined by No. 4 Jackson State University, No. 6 Grambling State University, No. 7 Texas Southern University, No. 8 University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and No. 10 Southern University.
Florida A&M University, the 2016 final poll third place finisher, opens the season ranked No. 2 and is one of four Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) teams in the preseason top 10 poll. Other conference members include No. 3 Bethune Cookman University, No. 5 Norfolk State University and No.10 North Carolina Central University rounds out the BCN large school division representing NCAA Division I baseball programs.
Edward Waters College concluded last season with the number two ranking and by virtue of one more first place vote, sits atop the HBCU preseason poll this year. The Tigers of EWC was the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) regular season champion and then competed in the Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) tournament.
The rest of the small school poll, made up of NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA schools, includes No. 2 West Virginia State University, No. 3 Winston-Salem State University, No. 4 Benedict College, No. 5 Miles College, No. 6 Claflin University, No. 7 Selma University, No. 8 Paine College, No. 9 Stillman College and No. 10 Jarvis Christian University.
Please note… in cases of a tie, the higer ranking was determined by first place votes
Black College Nines is dedicated to preserving the tradition of baseball at historically black colleges and universities in our coverage of HBCU Baseball.
For a preview of all the large school baseball programs, please click here and for all the small school baseball programs, please click here.
| 2017 HBCU Large School Preseason Poll | ||||
| No. | School | Conference | Points * | 2016 W-L |
| 1 | Alabama State University | SWAC | 216 (16) | 38-15 |
| 2 | Florida A&M University | MEAC | 165 (3) | 31-21 |
| 3 | Bethune-Cookman University | MEAC | 165 (2) | 29-25 |
| 4 | Jackson State University | SWAC | 133 | 34-25 |
| 5 | Norfolk State University | MEAC | 127 | 29-21 |
| 5 | Grambling State University | SWAC | 103 | 22-27 |
| 7 | Texas Southern University | SWAC | 96 (2) | 23-26 |
| 8 | University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff | SWAC | 91 | 22-25 |
| 9 | North Carolina Central | MEAC | 62 | 25-30 |
| 10 | Southern University | SWAC | 45 | 14-32 |
* Indicates number of first place votes
| 2017 HBCU Small School Preseason Poll | ||||
| No. | School | Conference | Points * | 2016 W-L |
| 1 | Edward Waters College | GCAC | 160 (7) | 31-13 |
| 2 | West Virginia State University | MEC | 160 (6) | 32-15 |
| 3 | Winston Salem State University | CIAA | 126 (1) | 31-22 |
| 4 | Benedict College | SIAC | 112 (2) | 27-19 |
| 5 | Miles College | SIAC | 102 (2) | 32-17 |
| 6 | Claflin University | SIAC | 77 (1) | 24-31 |
| 7 | Selma University | Independent | 77 | 27-12 |
| 8 | Paine College | SIAC | 63 | 27-20 |
| 9 | Stillman College | Independent | 61 (1) | 27-24 |
| 10 | Jarvis Christian College | RRAC | 61 | 27-29 |
* Indicates number of first place votes