Florida A&M is still the HBCU football national champion until further notice, and the FCS Coaches’ Poll agrees, voting the Rattlers into the organization’s preseason top 25 for the 2024 season.
FAMU, 12-1 in 2023, earned 71 votes to come right at No. 25, with a first-place vote for good measure.
The Rattlers will look to defend their SWAC Eastern Division, conference, and Celebration Bowl championships under first-year head coach James Colzie, replacing Willie Simmons, who is now running backs’ coach at Duke.
The Rattlers were ranked No. 11 in the STATS FCS poll and No. 5 in the FCS Coaches’ Poll at the end of last season.
Last month, preseason pollsters picked Florida A&M third in the SWAC East, behind Jackson State and division favorite Alabama State. The Rattlers open their season on Saturday, Aug. 24, against Norfolk State in the annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge at Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
| RANK | SCHOOL | 2023 RECORD | PTS. | 2023 RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota St. (25) | 15-0 | 649 | 1 |
| 2 | North Dakota St. | 11-4 | 614 | 3 |
| 3 | Montana | 13-2 | 576 | 2 |
| 4 | Montana St. | 8-4 | 518 | 8 |
| 5 | South Dakota | 10-3 | 512 | 4t |
| 6 | Villanova | 10-3 | 502 | 9 |
| 7 | Idaho | 9-4 | 473 | 4t |
| 8 | Chattanooga | 8-5 | 403 | 17 |
| 9 | Furman | 10-3 | 392 | 6 |
| 10 | Sacramento St. | 8-5 | 382 | 15 |
| 11 | Southern Illinois | 8-5 | 370 | 13 |
| 12 | Richmond | 9-4 | 353 | 22 |
| 13 | Central Arkansas | 7-4 | 339 | NR |
| 14 | UAlbany | 11-4 | 275 | 7 |
| 15 | UIW | 9-2 | 259 | 14 |
| 16 | William & Mary | 6-5 | 196 | NR |
| 17 | UC Davis | 7-4 | 164 | NR |
| 18 | Lafayette | 9-3 | 157 | 19 |
| 19 | Western Carolina | 7-4 | 144 | NR |
| 20 | Illinois St. | 6-5 | 143 | NR |
| 21 | Tarleton | 8-3 | 137 | NR |
| 22 | North Dakota | 7-5 | 131 | 16 |
| 23 | Youngstown St. | 8-5 | 97 | 21 |
| 24 | Nicholls | 6-5 | 91 | NR |
| 25 | Florida A&M (1) | 12-1 | 71 | 10 |