Bethune-Cookman in the large school division retains top spots for fourth straight poll while Talladega College knocks Albany State off the top in the small school division in Black College Nines’ top 10 polls of 2026.
Defending large school champion Bethune-Cookman University tops the rankings in the fourth edition of the Black College Nines’ Historically Black College and University regular season Top 10 baseball poll as announced on April 22, 2026. The large school classification is made up of NCAA Division I institutions.
Bethune-Cookman’s former MEAC rival, Florida A&M, jumps one spot to number two, while the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff continues to climb the ladder landing at number three. Texas Southern drops to number four and Alabama State rounds out the top five.
The last five in the large school division Top 10 all remain the same with just a little jockeying around.
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 passes Albany State University (which had held the top spot on all three previous Top 10 editions) claiming this edition’s number one spot. The Golden Rams of Albany State get barely nudged to number two.
Edward Waters University continues to hold down the number three spot with Huston-Tillotson University leapfrogging Savannah State into its highest ranking ever in a Black College Nines poll at number four. The Tigers of Savannah State University complete the top five in this week’s small school Top 10.
Similar to the last five in the large school division, the final five in the small school division all remain ranked with a little jockeying for position.
Black College Nines HBCU Baseball Ranking Committee determines the Top 10 rankings for both large schools and small schools.
Records indicated are through April 19th.
The two divisional polls are as follows…
Large School Poll
| Rank | School | Current Record | Winning Pct. | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama State University (SWAC) | 20-18 | 0.526 | 5 | |
| Univ of Arkansas Pine Bluff (SWAC) | 19-23 | 0.452 | 3 | |
| Bethune Cookman University (SWAC) | 29-11 | 0.725 | 1 | |
| Florida A&M University (SWAC) | 20-17 | 0.541 | 2 | |
| Grambling State University (SWAC) | 14-24 | 0.368 | 8 | |
| Jackson State University (SWAC) | 17-22 | 0.436 | 7 | |
| Norfolk State University (NEC) | 14-22 | 0.389 | 9 | |
| North Carolina A&T University (CAA) | 10-28 | 0.263 | 10 | |
| Southern University (SWAC) | 18-20 | 0.474 | 6 | |
| Texas Southern University (SWAC) | 18-15 | 0.545 | 4 |
Receiving Votes: Mississippi Valley State University
Small School Poll
| Rank | School | Current Record | Winning Pct. | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany State University (SIAC) | 25-15 | 0.625 | 2 | |
| Benedict College (SIAC) | 19-10 | 0.655 | 8 | |
| Edward Waters University (SIAC) | 25-19 | 0.568 | 3 | |
| Florida Memorial University (SUN) | 21-23 | 0.477 | 6 | |
| Huston-Tillotson University (HBCUAC) | 27-19 | 0.587 | 4 | |
| Morehouse College (SIAC) | 19-18 | 0.514 | 10 | |
| Savannah State (SIAC) | 23-18 | 0.561 | 5 | |
| Stillman College (HBCUAC) | 20-16 | 0.556 | 9 | |
| Talladega College (HBCUAC) | 28-17 | 0.622 | 1 | |
| Wiley University (HBCUAC) | 21-17 | 0.553 | 7 |
Receiving Votes: Bluefield 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)
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.