Jackson State University retains the No. 1 slot in Black College Nines’ (BCN) 2021 Historically Black College and University (HBCU) regular season baseball poll announced on March 25, 2021.
The Tigers, 11-5 overall and 3-0 in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), received the most first-place votes and one vote shy of receiving the unanimous pick in the “large school” Top 10 poll.
Major changes occurred throughout the entire large school rankings this week. Besides North Carolina Central maintaining the No. 2 ranked team, Alabama State climbed four spots from its previous poll position to No. 3, Alcorn State moved up one spot to No. 4, North Carolina A&T slipped one spot to No. 5, and Florida A&M leap frogged four spots to No. 6.
Entering HBCU baseball’s top 10 large school poll for the first time this season, Delaware State comes in at No. 7. The remaining large school top 10 teams include Southern University dropping five spots to No. 8, Coppin State slipped to No. 9 and rounding out the large school poll for week two, Prairie View A&M re-enters at No. 10.
In the small school 2021 BCN HBCU Top 10 Baseball Poll – Week Two, West Virginia State comes in as the No. 1 ranked small school team. The Yellow Jackets are 7-3 overall and 4-0 in the Mountain East Conference (MEC). Albany State remained at No. 2.
Noteworthy changes took place from the previous poll rankings. Xavier of Louisiana leaps four spots to No. 3, Savannah State falls to No. 4, Rust College moves up to No. 5, and Bluefield State (who received votes in the preseason poll) re-enters at No. 6. The rest of the small school poll includes Kentucky State, which slipped from the previous top spot down to No. 7 and Florida Memorial which dropped to No. 8. Re-entering the poll for the second time this season and rounding out the Top 10 are MilesCollege at No. 9 and Edward Waters (after upsetting previous No. 3 Savannah State in non-conference action) at No. 10.
The two divisional polls are as follows…
Large School Poll
| Rank | School | Won | Lost | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama State (SWAC) Record Since Last Poll: 5-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 7 Current RPI: 243 | 6 | 10 | 3 | |
| Alcorn State (SWAC) Record Since Last Poll: 2-5 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 5 Current RPI: 268 | 5 | 5 | 4 | |
| Coppin State University (MEAC) Record Since Last Poll: 2-4 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 8 Current RPI: 285 | 4 | 10 | 9 | |
| Delaware State University (MEAC) Record Since Last Poll: 4-3 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current RPI: 286 | 4 | 7 | 7 | |
| Florida A&M University (MEAC) Record Since Last Poll: 5-5 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 10 Current RPI: 246 | 5 | 16 | 6 | |
| Jackson State University (SWAC) Record Since Last Poll: 5-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 1 Current RPI: 182 | 11 | 5 | 1 | |
| North Carolina A&T University (MEAC) Record Since Last Poll: 3-6 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 4 Current RPI: 234 | 7 | 13 | 5 | |
| North Carolina Central University (MEAC) Record Since Last Poll: 3-5 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 2 Current RPI: 236 | 10 | 8 | 2 | |
| Prairie View A&M (SWAC) Record Since Last Poll: 3-3 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current RPI: 282 | 3 | 11 | 10 | |
| Southern University (SWAC) Record Since Last Poll: 2-6 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 3 Current RPI: 270 | 6 | 12 | 8 |
Norfolk State, Texas Southern
Small School Poll
| Rank | School | Won | Lost | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany State University (SIAC) Record Since Last Poll: 3-3 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 2 Current ISR: 176 | 10 | 5 | 2 | |
| Bluefield State College (USCAA) Record Since Last Poll: 4-3 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current ISR: 236 | 7 | 7 | 6 | |
| Edward Waters College (GCAC) Record Since Last Poll: 8-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current ISR: 274 | 10 | 19 | 10 | |
| Florida Memorial University (SUN) Record Since Last Poll: 2-4 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 5 Current ISR: 228 | 10 | 12 | 8 | |
| Kentucky State University (SIAC) Record Since Last Poll: 2-5 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 1 Current ISR: Not Indicated | 6 | 5 | 7 | |
| Miles College (SIAC) Record Since Last Poll: 3-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current ISR: 321 | 6 | 6 | 9 | |
| Rust College (AII) Record Since Last Poll: 4-4 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 6 Current ISR: 323 | 10 | 7 | 5 | |
| Savannah State (SIAC) Record Since Last Poll: 5-4 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 3 Current ISR: 277 | 7 | 4 | 4 | |
| West Virginia State University (MEC) Record Since Last Poll: 5-1 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 9 Current ISR: 44 | 7 | 3 | 1 | |
| Xavier Univ of LA (GCAC) Record Since Last Poll: 3-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 7 Current ISR: Not Indicated | 8 | 3 | 3 |
Harris-Stowe State, Talladega College, Virginia State
- 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.