USA TODAY Sports

North Carolina A&T, by virtue of its 21-14 win against Grambling in the Celebration Bowl, is the unanimous No. 1 and the HBCU national champion with the release of the final BOXTOROW Coaches Poll.

“I told my coaches when we met before the start of camp that this might be the best team I’ve ever coached, and look how it turned out,” N.C. A&T seventh-year head coach Rod Broadway said. “We’re 12-0. We’re Black college national champs for the second time in three years, and our seniors walk out of here with 40 wins and five rings. That’s special. But this was a special group, and it’s been a blessing to coach these guys.”

Two-time defending SWAC champ Grambling is second. The Tigers won last year’s BOXTOROW national championship.

Final FCS HBCU Coaches Poll

School | W-L | Pts. | Prev.

1. N.C. A&T (21) | 12-0 | 210 | 1

2. Grambling | 11-2 | 189 | 2

3. Alcorn State | 7-4 | 159 | 4

4. Bethune-Cookman | 7-4 | 153 | 3

5. Southern | 7-4 | 115 | 5

6. Howard | 7-4 | 108 | 6

7. N.C. Central | 7-4 | 94 | 7

8. Hampton | 6-5 | 59 | 8

9. Prairie View A&M | 6-5 | 42 | 9

10. Tennessee State | 6-5 | 39 | 10

Others receiving votes: Norfolk State (4-7) 2, Alabama State (5-6) 1, Jackson State (3-8) 1.

(First place votes in parentheses)