Bethune-Cookman in the “large school” division and Talladega College in the “small school” division head Black College Nines’ seventh regular season top 10 polls of 2025.
In the “large school” division, Bethune-Cookman University remains at the top for the third straight poll with Florida A&M, now No. 2 and Alabama State, now No. 3 swapping positions since the last poll of April 30th. Southern University, which is enjoying an eight-game winning streak, has moved up three spots into the No. 4 slot with Jackson State maintaining its ranking at No.5.
Rounding out the top ten are Grambling State followed by the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, North Carolina A&T, Texas Southern and Prairie View A&M.
In the “small school” division of the Black College Nines top ten poll, Talladega College continues to lead the pack, but the big news is Albany State jumping from No. 5 to No. 2. The Golden Rams swept the SIAC tournament and garnered a spot in the upcoming NCAA Division II regional tournament. Savannah State, Edward Waters University and Wiley University hold down the remaining spots in the top five.
West Virginia State and Benedict College maintain spots No. 6 and No. 7 since the last poll with Miles College reentering the top ten at No. 8 thanks to a recent crown in the Minority Prospects Final Four tournament. Stillman College and Dillard University continue to round out the top ten as they did on April 30th.
Black College Nines HBCU Baseball Ranking Committee determines the Top 10 rankings for both large schools and small schools using analytics including (but not limited to) strength of schedule, RPI ratings, and records since last poll.
Records indicated are through May 11th.
The two divisional polls are as follows…
Large School Poll
| Rank | School | Current Record | Winning Pct. | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama State University (SWAC) | 26-27 | 0.491 | 3 | |
| University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (SWAC) | 16-32 | 0.333 | 7 | |
| Bethune Cookman University (SWAC) | 31-20 | 0.608 | 1 | |
| Florida A&M University (SWAC) | 27-23 | 0.540 | 2 | |
| Grambling State University (SWAC) | 21-25 | 0.457 | 6 | |
| Jackson State University (SWAC) | 27-19 | 0.587 | 5 | |
| North Carolina A&T University (CAA) | 15-34 | 0.306 | 8 | |
| Prairie View A&M (SWAC) | 17-33 | 0.340 | 10 | |
| Southern University (SWAC) | 23-23 | 0.500 | 4 | |
| Texas Southern University (SWAC) | 21-28 | 0.429 | 9 |
Receiving Votes: Alabama A&M, Coppin State, Mississippi Valley State
Small School Poll
| Rank | School | Current Record | Winning Pct. | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany State University (SIAC) | 30-20 | 0.600 | 2 | |
| Benedict College (SIAC) | 24-18 | 0.571 | 7 | |
| Dillard University (HBCUAC) | 26-23 | 0.531 | 10 | |
| Edward Waters University (SIAC) | 34-19 | 0.642 | 4 | |
| Miles College (SIAC) | 27-25 | 0.519 | 8 | |
| Savannah State (SIAC) | 32-14 | 0.696 | 3 | |
| Stillman College (HBCUAC) | 28-22 | 0.560 | 9 | |
| Talladega College (HBCUAC) | 42-12 | 0.778 | 1 | |
| West Virginia State University (MEC) | 27-23 | 0.540 | 6 | |
| Wiley University (HBCUAC) | 34-17 | 0.667 | 5 |
Receiving Votes: Florida Memorial, Huston-Tillotson University, Paine College, Southern University at New Orleans, Wilberforce University
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 21, 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.