Jackson State University, with its unanimous selection, continues to hold on to the No. 1 ranking for the seventh week in a row in Black College Nines’ 2021 Historically Black College and University (HBCU) regular season baseball poll in the large school division announced on May 13th, 2021.
The Tigers of Jackson State, 31-8 overall and 24-0 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), continues to receive votes in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Division I Poll for the seventh week, and will be the No. 1 seed in the SWAC conference tournament, May 19-23, 2021.
There were only two changes in this week’s “large school” top 10 poll. Alabama State stayed at No. 2, North Carolina Central remained No. 3, Norfolk State maintained its No. 4 spot as Florida A&M moved up one place to No. 5 and Prairie View A&M dropped one to No. 6. There were no changes in the remaining rankings as Grambling State held onto No. 7, North Carolina A&T is No. 8, Delaware State holds on at No. 9 and Southern University stands at No. 10 .
There were several changes in the 2021 “small school” top 10 poll. Savannah State jumped from No. 5 to No. 4 and Albany State moved into the No. 5 spot. Miles College and Benedict College maintained their rankings from the previous week’s poll. Kentucky State jumped two spots to No. 8 and Rust College remained at No. 9. Florida Memorial University fell from No. 8 to 10 to round out the 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 | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama State (SWAC) Record Since Last Poll: 4-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 2 Current RPI: 195 | 23 | 17 | 2 | |
| Delaware State University (MEAC) Record Since Last Poll: 1-3 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 9 Current RPI: 287 | 14 | 23 | 9 | |
| Florida A&M University (MEAC) Record Since Last Poll: 3-1 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 6 Current RPI: 236 | 21 | 28 | 5 | |
| Grambling State University (SWAC) Record Since Last Poll: 0-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 7 Current RPI: 281 | 15 | 24 | 7 | |
| Jackson State University (SWAC) Record Since Last Poll: 4-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 1 Current RPI: 137 | 31 | 8 | 1 | |
| Norfolk State University (MEAC) Record Since Last Poll: 0-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 4 Current RPI: 274 | 19 | 24 | 4 | |
| North Carolina A&T University (MEAC) Record Since Last Poll: 1-3 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 8 Current RPI: 259 | 18 | 32 | 8 | |
| North Carolina Central University (MEAC) Record Since Last Poll: 3-1 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 3 Current RPI: 244 | 21 | 18 | 3 | |
| Prairie View A&M (SWAC) Record Since Last Poll: 0-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 5 Current RPI: 273 | 12 | 16 | 6 | |
| Southern University (SWAC) Record Since Last Poll: 2-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 10 Current RPI: 277 | 15 | 27 | 10 |
None
Small School Poll
| Rank | School | Won | Lost | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany State University (SIAC) Record Since Last Poll: 0-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 4 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: 8 Current ISR: 405 | 15 | 25 | 10 | |
| Kentucky State University (SIAC) Record Since Last Poll: 0-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 10 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: 5 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 | 28 | 7 | 3 | |
| Xavier Univ of LA (GCAC) Record Since Last Poll: 1-2 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.