Bethune-Cookman in the large school division and Talladega College in the small school division retain top spots in the fifth edition of Black College Nines’ top 10 polls of 2026.
Defending large school champion Bethune-Cookman University tops the rankings in the fifth edition of the Black College Nines’ Historically Black College and University regular season Top 10 baseball poll as announced on May 6, 2026. The large school classification is made up of NCAA Division I institutions.
Southern University jumped from sixth place in the last BCN poll to number two while Alabama State moved up to number three. Florida A&M and Texas Southern round out the top five in the large school division.
The last five in the large school division were all ranked in the top ten in BCN’s fourth edition of its poll.
In the small school division, which includes NCAA Division II schools as well as those affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) and United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA), Talladega College remains on top in the newest poll. Moving into the second spot is Edward Waters University. Both schools won their respective conference tournaments. Next, Talladega with play in the opening round of the NAIA tournament, while Edward Waters will take the field in a Division II regional tournament.
Albany State University did not fare well in the SIAC tournament and dropped to number three. Huston-Tillotson University claims the fourth spot after finishing runner-up to Talladega College in the recent HBCUAC tournament and, like Talladega, earns a spot in the opening round of the NAIA tournament. Savannah State University retains its number five slot that it held in BCN’s last poll.
Bluefield State University replaces Wiley University in the rankings as Wiley had to forfeit numerous game thus dropping its record to 2-37.
Similar to the last five in the large school division, the final five in the small school division were each ranked in the most recent edition of the BCN poll.
Black College Nines HBCU Baseball Ranking Committee determines the Top 10 rankings for both large schools and small schools.
Records indicated are through May 3rd.
The two divisional polls are as follows…
Large School Poll
| Rank | School | Current Record | Winning Pct. | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama State University (SWAC) | 26-19 | 0.578 | 3 | |
| Univ of Arkansas Pine Bluff (SWAC) | 19-29 | 0.396 | 8 | |
| Bethune Cookman University (SWAC) | 33-15 | 0.687 | 1 | |
| Florida A&M University (SWAC) | 21-22 | 0.488 | 4 | |
| Grambling State University (SWAC) | 19-26 | 0.422 | 6 | |
| Jackson State University (SWAC) | 21-23 | 0.477 | 7 | |
| Norfolk State University (NEC) | 18-25 | 0.419 | 9 | |
| North Carolina A&T University (CAA) | 12-34 | 0.261 | 10 | |
| Southern University (SWAC) | 24-21 | 0.533 | 2 | |
| Texas Southern University (SWAC) | 20-19 | 0.513 | 5 |
Receiving Votes: Mississippi Valley State University
Small School Poll
| Rank | School | Current Record | Winning Pct. | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany State University (SIAC) | 31-18 | 0.633 | 3 | |
| Benedict College (SIAC) | 23-13 | 0.639 | 6 | |
| Bluefield State College (Independent) | 20-19 | 0.513 | 10 | |
| Edward Waters University (SIAC) | 32-19 | 0.627 | 2 | |
| Florida Memorial University (SUN) | 21-27 | 0.437 | 8 | |
| Huston-Tillotson University (HBCUAC) | 33-18 | 0.647 | 4 | |
| Morehouse College (SIAC) | 25-20 | 0.556 | 7 | |
| Savannah State (SIAC) | 27-20 | 0.574 | 5 | |
| Stillman College (HBCUAC) | 24-18 | 0.571 | 9 | |
| Talladega College (HBCUAC) | 32-17 | 0.653 | 1 |
Receiving Votes: Miles College, Southern University at New Orleans, West Virginia State University, Wilberforce University
2026 Poll Dates (with links to poll results):
Week 1 (March 11 , 2026)
Week 2 (March 25, 2026)
Week 3 (April 8, 2026)
Week 4 (April 22, 2026)
Week 5 (May 6, 2026)
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 which is composed of the 17 HBCU schools representing NCAA Division I and a “small school” division made up of the 38 HBCU schools with NCAA Division II, NAIA NCCAA and USCAA status.