FUQUAY-VARINA, N.C. – The Benedict College Tigers remain No. 1 in the HBCU Football D2 Coaches Poll after receiving all but one first-place votes.
Benedict, 2-0, received 16 of 17 first-place votes and 169 out of a possible 170 points.
Kentucky State, 2-1, received the other first-place vote and is second with 140 points, climbing from No. 5 last week.
This week's opponent, Fort Valley State (1-1), is ranked 10
th, dropping one spot from last week following a one-point loss to ninth-ranked Tuskegee last week.
In its fifth year, the HBCU Division II Coaches Poll is administered by BOXTOROW, and is voted on by the HBCU NCAA Division II coaches.
2026 HBCU D2 Football Coaches Poll powered by BOXTOROW
Week 2
(Records through September 12, 2026)
| No. |
Team |
W-L |
Pts |
Previous Rank |
| 1 |
Benedict (16) |
2-0 |
169 |
1 |
| 2 |
Kentucky State (1) |
2-1 |
140 |
5 |
| 3 |
Johnson C. Smith |
2-1 |
133 |
4 |
| 4 |
Virginia State |
2-1 |
106 |
2 |
| 5 |
Virginia Union |
2-1 |
103 |
6 |
| 6 |
Edward Waters |
2-1 |
83 |
T-7 |
| 7 |
Fayetteville State |
2-1 |
68 |
3 |
| 8 |
Allen |
2-1 |
48 |
10 |
| 9 |
Tuskegee |
1-1 |
40 |
T-7 |
| 10 |
Fort Valley State |
1-1 |
18 |
9 |
Others receiving votes: Shaw (2-1) 11, West Virginia State (1-1) 9, Albany State (1-2) 3, Livingstone (1-2) 2, Central State (1-2) 1, Miles (0-3) 1.
(1st place votes in parentheses)
