FUQUAY-VARINA, N.C. – Two-time defending D2 HBCU National Champion Benedict College starts the 2024 season ranked sixth in the preseason HBCU Division II Coaches Poll powered by BOXTOROW.
 
The Tigers did pick up five first-place votes among the panel of 23 coaches, the second-most of any team in the preseason poll.
 
The defending CIAA champion Virginia Union Panthers have been picked to finish first in 2024. In a split vote, the Panthers received 11 of 24 first place votes.
 
Benedict's season-opening opponent, Virginia State, starts the season ranked second. The Trojans received three first place, followed by Fort Valley State at No. 3 (one first place vote), Fayetteville State at. No. 4 (two first place votes), and Albany State at No. 5 (one first place).
 
Behind the Tigers are a pair of SIAC schools – Miles and Tuskegee, with Johnson C. Smith and Bowie State from the CIAA rounding out the top 10.
 
The Virginia Union Panthers won their first CIAA title last year since 2001 and return one of the best running backs in the country in Jada Byers, who was named to the Preseason HBCU All-America Team and has been named to the postseason team the last two seasons.
 
In its third year, the HBCU Division II Coaches Poll is administered by BOXTOROW, and is voted on by the HBCU NCAA Division II coaches.
 
2024 Preseason HBCU Division II Coaches Poll powered by BOXTOROW
 

No.	Team	W-L	Pts	2023 Final Poll
1	Virginia Union (11)	10-2	214	2
2	Virginia State (3)	8-2	169	4
3	Fort Valley State (1)	8-3	161	5
4	Fayetteville State (2)	8-3	152	3
5	Albany State (1)	6-5	139	8
6	Benedict (5)	11-1	131	1
7	Miles	7-3	118	6
8	Tuskegee	7-4	99	7
9	Johnson C. Smith	7-4	61	9
10	Bowie State	6-4	18	NR

Others receiving: Savannah State (1) (2-8) 16, Edward Waters (6-4) 15, Clark Atlanta (0-10) 8, Allen (7-3) 8, Winston-Salem State (4-6) 4, Central State (5-5) 3, West Virginia State (4-6) 2, Morehouse (1-8) 1.
(1st place votes in parentheses)