INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – A season for the ages, under the most unusual circumstances, has earned Alabama A&M (5-0, 3-0 SWAC) football a final national ranking of No. 24 in the Stats Perform FCS National Poll as announced by that organization on Monday, May 17.
It was a ranking well earned as the Bulldogs delivered across the board, posting the first undefeated season in 53 years for the program, the first Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Championship since 2006 and the first Historically Black College and Universities (HBCU) National Championship in school history.
A&M swept the slate for the first time since the 1966 team went 8-0 as they earned a 2-0 forfeit victory over Alcorn State (2/27) before blowing out South Carolina State 31-7 (3/6) on the road, firing past Jackson State (4/10) 52-43 and rival Alabama State (4/17) 38-14.
A 40-33 victory over No. 25 Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the SWAC Championship on May 1 would not only yield the first league title in 15 years, it would also lock up the undefeated season and the HBCU National Championship.
With the close of the Spring 2021 season yesterday, Alabama A&M is one of just three undefeated teams in the country, joining Montana (2-0) – which did not play a full season – and national champion Sam Houston State (10-0).
In the final poll it is those Bearkats that come in at No. 1, followed by national runner-up South Dakota State (8-2) at No. 2. James Madison (7-1), Delaware (7-1) and North Dakota State (7-3) round out the top five.
The Bulldogs are the only SWAC school represented in the final national poll and return to action on Saturday, September 4 when they host South Carolina State to kick off the traditional Fall 2021 season at Louis Crews Stadium.
ABOUT THE STATS PERFORM FCS NATIONAL POLL
The Stats Perform FCS National Poll is voted on by a national panel and, this season, included only schools that committed to playing a regular schedule.
Stats Perform FCS Poll - Final
Rank School Record Points Previous
| 1 |
Sam Houston |
10-0 |
1,000 |
4 |
| 2 |
South Dakota State |
8-2 |
958 |
2 |
| 3 |
James Madison |
7-1 |
918 |
1 |
| 4 |
Delaware |
7-1 |
918 |
5 |
| 5 |
North Dakota State |
7-3 |
827 |
6 |
| 6 |
North Dakota |
5-2 |
783 |
7 |
| 7 |
Jacksonville State |
10-3 |
732 |
7 |
| 8 |
Southern Illinois |
6-4 |
706 |
14 |
| 9 |
Weber State |
1-0 |
714 |
8 |
| 10 |
Eastern Washington |
5-2 |
630 |
9 |
| 11 |
Monmouth |
3-1 |
606 |
10 |
| 12 |
VMI |
6-2 |
572 |
11 |
| 13 |
Missouri State |
5-5 |
503 |
12 |
| 14 |
UC Davis |
3-2 |
405 |
13 |
| 15 |
Richmond |
3-1 |
402 |
15 |
| 16 |
Villanova |
2-2 |
356 |
16 |
| 17 |
Kennesaw State |
4-1 |
345 |
17 |
| T18 |
Murray State |
5-2 |
247 |
19 |
| T18 |
Rhode Island |
2-1 |
247 |
18 |
| 20 |
Southeastern Louisiana |
4-3 |
223 |
20 |
| 21 |
ETSU |
4-2 |
223 |
22 |
| 22 |
Sacred Heart |
3-2 |
154 |
NR |
| 23 |
Austin Peay |
4-5 |
153 |
21 |
| 24 |
Alabama A&M |
5-0 |
152 |
NR |
| 25 |
Nicholls |
4-3 |
110 |
23 |
Dropped Out: Arkansas-Pine Bluff (24), Northern Iowa (25)
Others Receiving Votes (schools listed on two or more ballots): Holy Cross 64, Northern Iowa 59, Davidson 31, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 30, Southern 19, Samford 16, Maine 12, Duquesne 8, UIW 3
