Alabama State moves up to number one and Savannah State retains top spot in this week’s polls.
Alabama State University moved into the No. 1 ranking in our Black College Nines 2022 Historically Black College and University (HBCU) regular season baseball poll announced on March 23, 2022.
The Hornets, in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), received the most first-place votes and total points in the “large school” division made up of NCAA Division I baseball programs. Right behind Alabama State moving up four spots from the previous poll to the No. 2 ranking is SWAC rival Texas Southern University.
Significant movement occurred throughout the rest of the poll. Bethune-Cookman University moved up to the No. 3 position. Jackson State University fell from the top spot to No. 4, North Carolina A&T University dropped two spots to No. 5, Mississippi Valley State University climbed four spots from No. 10 to No. 6. Both Coppin State University and Grambling State University received votes in the previous poll, enter the top 10 for the first time this season climbing in at No. 7 and No. 8, respectively while Florida A&M University tumbles four spots to No. 9 and closing out the top ten large school poll Norfolk State University at No. 10.
In the “small school” division, Savannah State University and Albany State University remain the No. 1 and No. 2 ranking in this week’s Black College Nines Top 10 poll.
There were major changes from the previous poll rankings. Paine College moved up from No. 5 to No. 3, West Virginia State University moved up four slots to No. 4, Miles College leaps from previous No. 9 to No. 5, Harris-Stowe State University fell from the No. 3 position to No. 6. Talladega College remained at No. 7, Tuskegee University moved up to No. 8 as Florida Memorial University falls from No. 6 to No. 9 as unranked Xavier University of Louisiana round out the Top 10.
The small school Top 10 poll will have national implications throughout the 2022 regular season which will lead to HBCU baseball programs competing for a national title in the second annual Black College World Series scheduled for May 10-15, 2022, at Riverwalk Stadium (home of the Tampa Bay Rays Double-A affiliate Montgomery Biscuits) in Montgomery, Alabama.
Black College Nines HBCU Baseball Ranking Committee determines the Top 10 rankings for both large schools and small schools. Records indicated are through March 20th.
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: 2 Current RPI: 199 | 11 | 9 | 1 | |
| Bethune Cookman University (MEAC) Record Since Last Poll: 3-5 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 4 Current RPI: 208 | 8 | 11 | 3 | |
| Coppin State University (MEAC) Record Since Last Poll: 5-3 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current RPI: 285 | 7 | 12 | 7 | |
| Florida A&M University (MEAC) Record Since Last Poll: 0-7 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 5 Current RPI: 273 | 6 | 14 | 9 | |
| Grambling State University (SWAC) Record Since Last Poll: 5-5 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current RPI: 267 | 7 | 13 | 8 | |
| Jackson State University (SWAC) Record Since Last Poll: 2-5 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 1 Current RPI: 276 | 10 | 10 | 4 | |
| Mississippi Valley State University (SWAC) Record Since Last Poll: 2-1 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 10 Current RPI: 294 | 6 | 6 | 6 | |
| Norfolk State University (MEAC) Record Since Last Poll: 2-6 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 9 Current RPI: 287 | 5 | 12 | 10 | |
| North Carolina A&T University (MEAC) Record Since Last Poll: 3-4 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 3 Current RPI: 214 | 9 | 10 | 5 | |
| Texas Southern University (SWAC) Record Since Last Poll: 5-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 6 Current RPI: 268 | 11 | 7 | 2 |
Also receiving multiple votes: Delaware State, Prairie View A&M, Southern University
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: N/A | 12 | 7 | 2 | |
| Florida Memorial University (SUN) Record Since Last Poll: 2-6 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 6 Current ISR: N/A | 11 | 12 | 9 | |
| Harris Stowe State University (AWC) Record Since Last Poll: 2-6 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 3 Current ISR: N/A | 11 | 10 | 6 | |
| Miles College (SIAC) Record Since Last Poll: 7-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 9 Current ISR: N/A | 15 | 9 | 5 | |
| Paine College (SIAC) Record Since Last Poll: 2-1 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 5 Current ISR: N/A | 10 | 3 | 3 | |
| Savannah State (SIAC) Record Since Last Poll: 6-1 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 1 Current ISR: N/A | 18 | 6 | 1 | |
| Talladega College (GCAC) Record Since Last Poll: 3-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 7 Current ISR: N/A | 13 | 12 | 7 | |
| Tuskegee University (SIAC) Record Since Last Poll: 2-0 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 10 Current ISR: N/A | 8 | 7 | 8 | |
| West Virginia State University (MEC) Record Since Last Poll: 4-2 Previous BCN Poll Rank: 8 Current ISR: N/A | 8 | 4 | 4 | |
| Xavier Univ of LA (GCAC) Record Since Last Poll: 5-3 Previous BCN Poll Rank: N/A Current ISR: N/A | 11 | 13 | 10 |
Also receiving multiple votes: Bluefield State, Kentucky State, Lincoln (PA) University
- 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.
2022 Poll Dates (with links to poll results):
Pre-Season
Week 1 (March 9, 2022)
Week 2 (March 23, 2022)
Week 3 (April 6, 2022)
Week 4 (April 20, 2022)
Week 5 (April 27, 2022)
Week 6 (May 4, 2022)
Week 7 (May 11, 2022)
Week 8 (May 18, 2022)
Week 9 (May 25, 2021)
Week 10 (June 1, 2022)
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 17 HBCU schools representing NCAA Division I and a “small school” division made up of the 30 HBCU schools with NCAA Division II, NAIA and NCCAA status.