Jackson State University climbed to the No. 1 slot in Black College Nines’ 2017 Historically Black College and University (HBCU) regular season baseball poll announced on April 18, 2017.
The Tigers, 29-11 overall and 14-3 in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), received the most first-place votes and total points in the “large school” Top 10 poll. Jackson State, on an 11 game winning streak, is a winner of 16 of its last 20 ballgames.
Major changes occurred throughout the entire large school poll this week. Bethune Cookman drop down to the No. 2 spot, North Carolina A&T University moved up three spots to No. 3, Florida A&M University tumbled two spots to No. 4 and Norfolk State University climbed two spots to No. 5. The remaining large school top 10 teats include No. 6 Alabama State University, No. 7 North Carolina Central University, No. 8 Grambling State University, No. 9 Texas Southern University and No. 10 Delaware State University.
Winston Salem State University retained the No. 1 ranking in the “small school” Top 10 poll. The Rams, winners of 17 of its last 19 games, are 27-13 overall and 10-0 in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA).
Noteworthy changes took place from the previous poll rankings. Harris-Stowe State University moved up from the No. 4 ranking into the No. 2 spot, Edward Waters College rose from No. 5 to No. 3, Benedict College fell one spot to No. 4 as Talladega College slipped from No. 3 to No. 5. Jarvis Christian College remained at No. 6, Tuskegee University rose from No. 9 to No. 7, Voorhees College held steady at No. 8, Miles College slipped from No. 7 to No. 9 and Paine College rounds out the Top 10.
The crowning of Black College Nines’ National Champions will be announced on Tuesday, May 23rd, 2017 at 10 AM (EST) on the Black College Nines’ website.
The Voting Committee of Black College Nines determines the Top 10 rankings. Overall records do not include ties.
The two divisional polls are as follows…
Large School Division
| No. | School | Conference | W-L | Previous |
| 1 | Jackson State University | SWAC | 29-11 | 3 |
| 2 | Bethune Cookman University | MEAC | 22-17 | 1 |
| 3 | North Carolina A&T University | MEAC | 20-14 | 6 |
| 4 | Florida A&M University | MEAC | 19-16 | 2 |
| 5 | Norfolk State University | MEAC | 18-14 | 7 |
| 6 | Alabama State University | SWAC | 17-19 | 5 |
| 7 | North Carolina Central University | MEAC | 16-21 | 4 |
| 8 | Grambling State University | SWAC | 14-21 | 9 |
| 9 | Texas Southern University | SWAC | 13-23 | 8 |
| 10 | Delaware State University | MEAC | 11-19 | 10 |
Small School Division
| No. | School | Conference | W-L | Previous |
| 1 | Winston Salem State University | CIAA | 27-13 | 1 |
| 2 | Harris-Stowe State University | AMC | 28-17 | 4 |
| 3 | Edward Waters College | GCAC | 29-17 | 5 |
| 4 | Benedict College | SIAC | 20-11 | 3 |
| 5 | Talladega College | GCAC | 27-19 | 2 |
| 6 | Jarvis Christian College | RRAC | 25-22 | 6 |
| 7 | Tuskegee University | SIAC | 22-19 | T9 |
| 8 | Voorhees College | A.I.I. | 18-13 | 8 |
| 9 | Miles College | SIAC | 19-18 | 7 |
| 10 | Paine College | SIAC | 18-16 | T9 |
2017 Poll Dates:
Week 1 (March 14, 2017)
Week 2 (April 4, 2017)
Week 3 (April 18, 2017)
Week 4 (April 25, 2017)
Week 5 (May 2, 2017)
Week 6 (May 9, 2017)
Week 7 (May 16, 2017)
Week 8* (May 23, 2017)
*Final Poll