Sports
Johnson C. Smith Returns to No. 1 in HBCU Division II Football Poll
Johnson C. Smith Returns to No. 1 in HBCU Division II Football Poll
Johnson C. Smith reclaimed first place in the BOXTOROW HBCU Division II Coaches Poll after defeating Bluefield State, 51 to 0.
The Golden Bulls received eight first-place votes and 153 points. Edward Waters jumped from sixth to second after a 61 to 42 victory over Kentucky State, finishing just seven points behind Johnson C. Smith.
Virginia Union and Virginia State placed third and fourth. Kentucky State dropped to fifth, while Central State entered the rankings at ninth.
The movement creates a competitive picture as the season continues, with the top two teams separated by a narrow voting margin.
BOXTOROW Week 5 HBCU Division II Coaches Poll
| Rank | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johnson C. Smith | 4–1 |
| 2 | Edward Waters | 5–1 |
| 3 | Virginia Union | 5–1 |
| 4 | Virginia State | 5–1 |
| 5 | Kentucky State | 4–2 |
| 6 | Benedict | 4–1 |
| 7 | Fayetteville State | 3–3 |
| 8 | Shaw | 4–2 |
| 9 | Central State | 3–3 |
| 10 | Albany State | 2–3 |
Rankings and records reflect games through October 3, 2026.