Jackson State University, with its unanimous selection holds on to its No. 1 ranking for the sixth 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 6, 2021.
The Tigers of Jackson State, 28-8 overall and boosting a 21-0 record in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), continue to receive votes in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Division I Poll for the seventh week.
Major changes occurred in the “large school” top 10 poll. Alabama State moved up from No. 3 to No. 2, North Carolina Central fell a spot to No. 3, Norfolk State remained at No. 4 from last week’s poll. Prairie View A&M moved from No. 7 to No. 5. Florida A&M had the biggest leap, up to three spots from the previous weeks’ No. 9 to No. 6. The remaining poll shapes out as Grambling State fell from No. 5 to No. 7, North Carolina A&T jumped from No. 10 to 8, Delaware State dropped one spot to No. 9 while Southern University reenters the poll for the second time this season.
In thrilling fashion, after defeating previous No. 1 Xavier University of Louisiana, Bluefield State College rightfully claimed the HBCU Baseball inaugural Black College World Series and the No. 1 ranking in the small school Black College Nines (BCN) Top 10 poll.
Big Blue was undefeated in the tournament going into the final round before losing to top seed Xavier by the score of16-2 which forced a winner-take-all second championship game. Big Blue defeated Xavier University 7-2 to call themselves Black College World Series winners.
Many teams saw changes in the final 2021 “small school” top 10 poll, and these included West Virginia State from No. 2 to 3, Albany State from No. 3 to 4, Savannah State from No. 4 to 5. Miles moved up one to No. 6, Benedict College slipped one spot to No. 7, Florida Memorial University from No. 10 last week down to No. 8, Rust College stayed at No. 9 for the second week in a row and Kentucky State round out the final poll at No. 10.
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: 3-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 3 Current RPI: 210 | 19 | 17 | 2 | |
| Delaware State University (MEAC) Record Since Last Poll: 1-3 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 8 Current RPI: 285 | 13 | 20 | 9 | |
| Florida A&M University (MEAC) Record Since Last Poll: 3-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 9 Current RPI: 238 | 18 | 27 | 6 | |
| Grambling State University (SWAC) Record Since Last Poll: 2-4 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 5 Current RPI: 275 | 15 | 22 | 7 | |
| Jackson State University (SWAC) Record Since Last Poll: 3-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 1 Current RPI: 110 | 27 | 8 | 1 | |
| Norfolk State University (MEAC) Record Since Last Poll: 1-3 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 4 Current RPI: 278 | 19 | 24 | 4 | |
| North Carolina A&T University (MEAC) Record Since Last Poll: 2-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 10 Current RPI: 259 | 17 | 29 | 8 | |
| North Carolina Central University (MEAC) Record Since Last Poll: 2-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 2 Current RPI: 248 | 18 | 17 | 3 | |
| Prairie View A&M (SWAC) Record Since Last Poll: 3-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 7 Current RPI: 272 | 12 | 16 | 5 | |
| Southern University (SWAC) Record Since Last Poll: 2-1 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current RPI: 279 | 13 | 25 | 10 |
Small School Poll
| Rank | School | Won | Lost | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany State University (SIAC) Record Since Last Poll: 0-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 3 Current ISR: 152 | 12 | 7 | 4 | |
| Benedict College (SIAC) Record Since Last Poll: 0-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 6 Current ISR: Not Indicated | 4 | 4 | 7 | |
| Bluefield State College (USCAA) Record Since Last Poll: 4-1 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 5 Current ISR: 419 | 15 | 12 | 1 | |
| Florida Memorial University (SUN) Record Since Last Poll: 2-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 10 Current ISR: 397 | 15 | 25 | 8 | |
| Kentucky State University (SIAC) Record Since Last Poll: 0-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 8 Current ISR: 598 | 6 | 8 | 10 | |
| Miles College (SIAC) Record Since Last Poll: 0-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 7 Current ISR: 407 | 8 | 9 | 6 | |
| Rust College (AII) Record Since Last Poll: 0-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 9 Current ISR: 662 | 13 | 20 | 9 | |
| Savannah State (SIAC) Record Since Last Poll: 1-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 4 Current ISR: 391 | 14 | 7 | 5 | |
| West Virginia State University (MEC) Record Since Last Poll: 7-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 2 Current ISR: 121 | 28 | 7 | 3 | |
| Xavier Univ of LA (GCAC) Record Since Last Poll: 3-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 1 Current ISR: 334 | 26 | 9 | 2 |
- 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.