An unblemished 24-0 run through the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) has contributed to Jackson State University’s unanimous selection as HBCU’s No. 1 “large school” baseball team for the eighth week in a row in Black College Nines’ 2021 regular season baseball poll as announced on May 20, 2021.
The Tigers are the No. 1 seed in the SWAC Conference Tournament with an overall record of 32-8 and retains its perch at the top. Jackson State was ranked No. 2 in Black Collage Nines preseason HBCU “large school” poll and has topped each of the Top 10 regular season polls in 2021.
Teams ranked in the remaining poll include No. 2 Alabama State, No. 3 North Carolina Central, No 4 Norfolk State, and No. 5 Prairie View A&M all retaining the same spots as in last week’s poll.. Moving up two spots to No. 6 is North Carolina A&T, while Florida A&M slips one spot to No. 7 as does this week’s No. 8 team, Grambling State. Both Southern University and Delaware State flip-flopped the No. 9 and No. 10 spots this week.
In the “small school” division, with Black College World Series Champion Bluefield State University and runner-up Xavier University of Louisiana being locked into the No. 1 and No. 2 spots, the only action this week saw West Virginia State University go 4-1 in the Mountain East Conference and win the league crown. With the title in hand, WVSU moves on to the NCAA Division II regional tournament and retains its No. 3 ranking in Black College Nines’ Top 10 poll. The remaining seven ranked teams have concluded their seasons are retain the same rankngs as in last week’s poll.
The Voting Committee of Black College Nines determines the Top 10 rankings. Overall records do not include ties.
The two divisional polls are as follows…
Large School Poll
| Rank | School | Won | Lost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama State (SWAC) Record Since Last Poll: 0-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 2 Current RPI: 189 | 23 | 17 | 2 | |
| Delaware State University (MEAC) Record Since Last Poll: 1-3 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 9 Current RPI: 285 | 15 | 26 | 10 | |
| Florida A&M University (MEAC) Record Since Last Poll: 0-4 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 6 Current RPI: 250 | 21 | 32 | 7 | |
| Grambling State University (SWAC) Record Since Last Poll: 0-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 7 Current RPI: 283 | 15 | 24 | 8 | |
| Jackson State University (SWAC) Record Since Last Poll: 0-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 1 Current RPI: 133 | 31 | 8 | 1 | |
| Norfolk State University (MEAC) Record Since Last Poll: 3-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 4 Current RPI: 274 | 22 | 26 | 4 | |
| North Carolina A&T University (MEAC) Record Since Last Poll: 4-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 8 Current RPI: 244 | 22 | 32 | 6 | |
| North Carolina Central University (MEAC) Record Since Last Poll: 4-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 3 Current RPI: 211 | 25 | 18 | 3 | |
| Prairie View A&M (SWAC) Record Since Last Poll: 0-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 5 Current RPI: 272 | 12 | 16 | 5 | |
| Southern University (SWAC) Record Since Last Poll: 0-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current RPI: 280 | 15 | 27 | 9 |
None
Small School Poll
| Rank | School | Won | Lost | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany State University (SIAC) Record Since Last Poll: 0-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 5 Current ISR: 157 | 12 | 7 | 5 | |
| Benedict College (SIAC) Record Since Last Poll: 0-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 7 Current ISR: Not Indicated | 4 | 4 | 7 | |
| Bluefield State College (USCAA) Record Since Last Poll: 0-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 1 Current ISR: 435 | 15 | 12 | 1 | |
| Florida Memorial University (SUN) Record Since Last Poll: 0-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 10 Current ISR: 405 | 15 | 25 | 10 | |
| Kentucky State University (SIAC) Record Since Last Poll: 0-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 8 Current ISR: 600 | 6 | 8 | 8 | |
| Miles College (SIAC) Record Since Last Poll: 0-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 6 Current ISR: 415 | 8 | 9 | 6 | |
| Rust College (AII) Record Since Last Poll: 0-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 9 Current ISR: 661 | 13 | 20 | 9 | |
| Savannah State (SIAC) Record Since Last Poll: 0-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 4 Current ISR: 399 | 14 | 7 | 4 | |
| West Virginia State University (MEC) Record Since Last Poll: 0-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 3 Current ISR: 131 | 32 | 8 | 3 | |
| Xavier Univ of LA (GCAC) Record Since Last Poll: 0-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 2 Current ISR: 362 | 27 | 11 | 2 |
None
- In the large school division, the “RPI” referenced is Massey’s Composite Rankings which is a blending of a number of trusted ranking services. The entire NCAA Division I rankings can be found at masseyratings.com.
- In the small school division, the “ISR” referenced is Boyd Nation’s Iterative Strength Rating. For an analysis of his ISR, the link can be found at The College Baseball Ratings Page-Frequently Asked Questions. Please note, if a school’s ISR shows as “not indicated”, it is because the school has not played in enough qualifying games to give an accurate rating.
2021 Poll Dates (with links to poll results):
Pre-Season
Week 1 (March 11, 2021)
Week 2 (March 25, 2021)
Week 3 (April 8, 2021)
Week 4 (April 22, 2021)
Week 5 (April 29, 2021)
Week 6 (May 6, 2021)
Week 7 (May 13, 2021)
Week 8 (May 20, 2021)
Week 9 (May 27, 2021)*
*Final Poll
The voting committee is made up of an informed and impartial group of individuals who follow college baseball on all levels, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) baseball. Included in the group are college athletic administrators and educators, college baseball writers and other sports journalists and broadcasters, former HBCU and other college ballplayers and above all else… college baseball enthusiasts who have an interest in promoting HBCU baseball.
As the college baseball season concludes, champions will be named in two divisions… the “large school” division will be composed of the 16 HBCU schools representing NCAA Division I and a “small school” division made up of the 24 HBCU schools with NCAA Division II, NAIA and USCAA status.