Jackson State in the “large school” division and Talladega College in the “small school” division head Black College Nines’ first regular season top 10 polls of 2025.
Jackson State University tops the rankings in the first edition of the Black College Nines Historically Black College and University regular season Top 10 baseball poll for the large school division, as announced on March 5, 2025.
The Tigers, who began the year ranked third in the BCN Preseason Top 10 Poll, have demonstrated exemplary abilities both on the mound and at the plate. Following a successful 5-0 week, Jackson State University is currently on a five-game winning streak, having swept Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) rival Alcorn State in a three-game weekend series, and improving its record to 9-2. They secured the highest number of first-place votes and total points within the “large school” division, which consists of NCAA Division I baseball programs.
Bethune-Cookman University ranks second in the initial poll, with Southern University at third place. Alabama State University holds the fourth position, while Florida A&M University completes the top five. The rankings also feature the defending champion Grambling State University at sixth, Texas Southern University at seventh, North Carolina A&T State University at eighth, Prairie View A&M University at ninth, and Alabama A&M University rounding out the top ten.
In the “small school” division, which includes NCAA Division II schools as well as those affiliated with the NAIA and NCCAA, Talladega College has claimed the top spot. The Tornadoes, representing the HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC), have displayed consistent pitching and hitting prowess, achieving a 15-4 record and a thirteen-game winning streak to secure the No. 1 ranking.
The small school Top 10 poll features Albany State University at second, Miles College at third, Edward Waters University at fourth, and Savannah State University fifth. The remaining positions are held by Wiley University at sixth, West Virginia State University at seventh—marking its debut in the poll—Dillard University at eighth, Morehouse College at ninth, and Paine College at tenth.
The small school Top 10 poll will have national implications throughout the 2025 regular season which will lead to HBCU baseball programs competing for a national title in the fifth annual Black College World Series scheduled for May 7-10, 2025, at Rockabillys Stadium (home of the Jackson Rockabillys) in Jackson, Tennessee.
Black College Nines HBCU Baseball Ranking Committee determines the Top 10 rankings for both large schools and small schools.
Records indicated are through March 2nd.
The two divisional polls are as follows…
Large School Poll
| Rank | School | Current Record | Winning Pct. | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama A&M | 2-9 | 0.182 | 10 | |
| Alabama State University | 5-7 | 0.417 | 4 | |
| Bethune Cookman University | 6-6 | 0.500 | 2 | |
| Florida A&M University | 4-7 | 0.364 | 5 | |
| Grambling State University | 4-7 | 0.364 | 6 | |
| Jackson State University | 9-2 | 0.818 | 1 | |
| North Carolina A&T University | 3-6 | 0.333 | 8 | |
| Prairie View A&M | 4-8 | 0.333 | 9 | |
| Southern University | 6-4 | 0.600 | 3 | |
| Texas Southern University | 4-8 | 0.333 | 7 |
Receiving Votes: Coppin State
Small School Poll
| Rank | School | Current Record | Winning Pct. | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany State University | 11-6 | 0.647 | 2 | |
| Dillard University | 9-8 | 0.529 | 8 | |
| Edward Waters University | 11-8 | 0.579 | 4 | |
| Miles College | 11-5 | 0.687 | 3 | |
| Morehouse College | 7-5 | 0.583 | 9 | |
| Paine College | 6-2 | 0.750 | 10 | |
| Savannah State | 8-5 | 0.615 | 5 | |
| Talladega College | 15-4 | 0.789 | 1 | |
| West Virginia State University | 5-5 | 0.500 | 7 | |
| Wiley College | 13-8 | 0.619 | 6 |
Receiving Votes: Benedict College, Clark Atlanta University, Florida Memorial University, Rust College, Xavier of LA
2025 Poll Dates (with links to poll results):
Pre-Season
Week 1 (March 5, 2025)
Week 2 (March 19, 2025)
Week 3 (April 2, 2025)
Week 4 (April 16, 2025)
Week 5 (April 23, 2025)
Week 6 (April 30, 2025)
Week 7 (May 14, 2025)
Week 8 (May 23, 2025)
Final Poll (May 28, 2025)
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 are named in two divisions… the “large school” division will is composed of the 17 HBCU schools representing NCAA Division I and a “small school” division made up of the 37 HBCU schools with NCAA Division II, NAIA and NCCAA status.