HBCU football power rankings Week 3: Jackson State blows out Grambling to stay at No. 1

Here is the USA TODAY Network’s ranking of all 21 HBCU football teams in Division I after Week 3 of the season, along with a summary of how each team fared.

PREVIOUS RANKINGS: Week 1 | Week 2

1. Jackson State (3-0)

Anyone surprised? The Tigers weren’t perfect in the W.C. Gorden Classic, especially in the first half, but responded to Deion Sanders’ halftime frustrations by outscoring Grambling State 45-7 after the break to win their home opener, 66-24. Shedeur Sanders threw for 357 yards and four touchdowns, and Sy’veon Wilkerson ran for 141 yards and a pair of scores. Jackson State hosts Mississippi Valley State in Week 4.

Last week’s ranking: No. 1

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2. North Carolina Central (3-0)

The Eagles went to New Hampshire and returned with a win over the then-No. 25 Wildcats, 45-27. Davius Richard could be right up there with Shedeur Sanders as the best HBCU quarterback in the nation. He threw for two touchdowns, ran for another and accumulated 334 total yards (194 passing, 140 rushing) in the victory. NC Central will host Virginia University of Lynchburg this Saturday.

Last week’s ranking: No. 3

3. South Carolina State (1-1)

Through no fault of their own, the Bulldogs slipped behind North Carolina Central on their off week. SCSU is on the road against North Carolina A&T this Saturday to open up MEAC competition.

Last week’s ranking: No. 2

4. Tennessee State (0-3)

Tennessee State was shellacked at Middle Tennessee State, 49-6, resulting in its first 0-3 start in 27 seasons. The Tigers will need to start actually winning soon, but for now they hang onto the No. 4 spot on the basis of a strong showing at then-No. 13 Eastern Washington and holding Jackson State’s high-octane offense to 16 points. They’re off this week.

Last week’s ranking: No. 4

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Story continues

5. Alcorn State (1-2)

After being shut out at Tulane, Alcorn State rebounded to score a huge road win at McNeese State, 30-19. The Braves led 21-3 at halftime and finished with a balanced split of 215 yards rushing and 189 passing. Arkansas-Pine Bluff comes to Lorman on Saturday for both teams’ SWAC opener.

Last week’s ranking: No. 7

6. Florida A&M (1-2)

The Rattlers’ Week 3 bye probably couldn’t have been timed much better after the drama of the last few weeks, which included 26 players being ruled ineligible for their season opener at North Carolina and a meeting between players and university president Larry Robinson. Florida A&M will go for its first SWAC win at home Saturday against Alabama A&M.

Last week’s ranking: No. 6

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7. Prairie View A&M (1-2)

PVAMU moved up after its 31-14 loss to then-No. 6 Incarnate Word, but it didn’t have much to do with the Panthers’ actual play. They were outgained, 491-222, and picked up just 11 first downs to the Cardinals’ 31. This Saturday, the Panthers travel to Montgomery to face Alabama State.

Last week’s ranking: No. 8

8. North Carolina A&T (0-3)

The Aggies looked fairly competitive in a 49-20 defeat at Duke, gaining 354 yards with an average of 5.6 per play. Not all of those yards came in garbage time, either. An 0-4 start would be disappointing seeing as NC A&T was picked to win the Big South, but the schedule has been brutal so far and South Carolina State doesn’t make it any easier.

Last week’s ranking: No. 9

9. Hampton (3-0)

Welcome to the top 10, Hampton. The Pirates didn’t set off a lot of fireworks in their 17-7 win over Norfolk State, but they got enough offense from quarterback Christopher Zellous (215 total yards) and held the Spartans scoreless after their opening drive. Hampton goes on the road Saturday to face No. 9 Delaware.

Last week’s ranking: No. 12

10. Southern (1-2)

We finally got to see Southern in an evenly-matched game on Saturday. It wasn’t pretty. Texas Southern rolled to a 24-0 win in the Arlington Football Showdown, keeping the Jaguars off the scoreboard despite their 362 yards of offense. Southern is off this week before returning home to take on Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

Last week’s ranking: No. 5

11. Alabama State (2-1)

Like Florida A&M, Alabama State’s off week came fortuitously. Not that the Hornets have dealt with any major controversy, but they needed to regroup and get healthy before SWAC play — quarterback Dematrius Davis missed the team’s loss to UCLA with an injury he suffered against Miles.

Last week’s ranking: No. 10

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12. Alabama A&M (0-3)

Austin Peay’s defense was too much for Alabama A&M in the Bulldogs’ 28-3 Week 3 loss to the Governors. AAMU averaged less than four yards per play, turned the ball over three times and was stopped four times on fourth down.

Last week’s ranking: No. 11

13. Grambling State (1-2)

The Tigers became the first team to find the end zone against Jackson State and did so three times. That counts for something, even though they couldn’t hang with Deion Sanders’ bunch after trailing just 21-17 at halftime. Grambling’s SWAC slate begins in Week 4 with a trip to Daytona Beach to take on Bethune-Cookman.

Last week’s ranking: No. 13

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14. Texas Southern (1-2)

Saturday was a statement victory for the Tigers, who were picked to finish last in the SWAC West Division but blanked projected winner Southern. Texas Southern, which had the conference’s worst defense in 2021, stuffed the Jaguars on all four of their fourth-down tries and picked off BeSean McCray three times. The Tigers are at UTSA on Saturday.

Last week’s ranking: No. 19

15. Morgan State (1-2)

Morgan State pulled off an even bigger stunner than Texas Southern in Week 3. The projected last-place team in the MEAC never had any problems disposing of two-time defending NEC champion Sacred Heart, 24-9. New coach Damon Wilson already has made his mark on the Bears, who are off this week.

Last week’s ranking: No. 20

16. Norfolk State (0-3)

The Spartans came into the Battle of the Bay having scored just 10 points on the season, but marched 90 yards in 15 plays for a touchdown on their very first possession. However, they didn’t score again. Norfolk State hosts St. Francis (Pa.) in Week 4.

Last week’s ranking: No. 14

17. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (2-1)

We haven’t had the opportunity to properly gauge UAPB yet. The Golden Lions’ two wins came against a Division II team and an NAIA team, and they lost 63-7 at Oklahoma State last weekend. Alcorn State will be a better barometer of how much UAPB’s improved after a 2-9 campaign.

Last week’s ranking: No. 15

18. Delaware State (2-1)

Virginia University of Lynchburg is a National Christian College Athletic Association program that’s gone 13-76 since 2011. But a win’s a win, and Delaware State got one by beating the Dragons, 35-19. The Hornets held VUL to negative yards rushing and host Merrimack on Saturday.

Last week’s ranking: No. 16

19. Howard (1-2)

The Bison jumped Bethune-Cookman after shutting out Morehouse, 31-0, in the HBCU NYC Football Classic at MetLife Stadium. They scored all of their points after halftime. Howard is off this week before a road game against Yale on Oct. 1.

Last week’s ranking: No. 18

20. Bethune-Cookman (0-2)

After losses to Miami and South Carolina State, Bethune-Cookman got to take a breather in Week 3. Tight end Kemari Averett, ESPN’s No. 5 HBCU prospect for the 2023 NFL Draft, will look to lead the Wildcats to a win to open SWAC play this weekend.

Last week’s ranking: No. 17

21. Mississippi Valley State (0-3)

MVSU kept things close against Division II Delta State, trailing by a touchdown in the fourth quarter before going on to lose 28-17. Keeping things close might be too much to ask for against Jackson State.

Last week’s ranking: No. 21

Jacob Shames can be reached by email at jshames@gannett.com, by phone at 334-201-9117 and on Twitter @Jacob_Shames.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: HBCU football power rankings Week 3: Jackson State dominates Grambling