B-CU Remain No. 1, but Lose First Place Vote

No major movement after week four contests provide big paydays for the MEAC along with major lopsided contests. The entire SWAC membership was in conference matchups that started to shape the divisional standings. This week begins the MEAC race for a chase for the championship and the automatic bid to the NCAA D-I Playoffs with four games. The SWAC has three matchups featuring four top 10 ranked programs. By Dr. J. Kenyatta Cavil and Guest Columnist Demetrius Gatewood Inside the HBCU Huddle Columnists College Sporting News MEAC CONFERENCE RACES BEGINS AND THE SWAC RACE BEGINS TO TAKE SHAPE! The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats continue to hold onto the No. 1 ranking although they had lost a first-place vote. The Wildcats lost to top 10 ranked FBS/ACC Florida Seminoles, 54-6. The Wildcats earned 105 points and six first-place votes. The No. 1 Wildcats are open this week as they prepared to enter into the MEAC race. The second ranked Aggies did not play this past week, but earned 104 points and pickup six first-place votes. The No. 2 Aggies will face the Howard Bison on Thursday night in a televised game on ESPNU at 6:30pm CT. The No. 3 Tennessee State defeated the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles 41-21 in Ohio Valley Conference action. The third ranked Tigers will face the SIAC Central State Marauders (Mid-Major Division) in the St. Louis Gateway Classic. The Tigers received 91 points in the poll rankings. The No. 4 South Carolina State Bulldogs defeated their cross town rival the Benedict Tigers,(= 59-6 in the Palmetto Capital City Classic. The Bulldogs will begin the quest for the MEAC Championship this weekend as they host the Hampton Pirates. The Bulldogs earned 83 points as the fifth ranked Jackson State Tigers earn close out the top five spots with 66 points. The No. 5 Jackson State Tigers will travel to Baton Rouge as they face their bitter rival, the No. 8 Southern Jaguars in a top 10 poll rankings SWAC Eastern Division / Western Division showdown. The No. 6 Alcorn State Braves on the road defeated the Arkansas-Pine, Bluff Golden Lions, 21-16 to move up one spot in the poll rankings. The Braves continue to make a statement in the Eastern Division race of the SWAC. The Braves travel to Montgomery to face the No. 7 Alabama State Hornets in a crucial Eastern Division contest. The Hornets stung the Grambling State Tigers, 52-21 to earn the conference victory. The No. 9 Prairie View A&M Panthers and No. 10 North Carolina Central Eagles round out the top 10 poll rankings in week four. The Panthers had to come from behind at home to defeat the Alabama A&M Bulldogs that jump out 12-0 to close out the first half. The Panthers after gaining the lead in the third quarter, held on late to win, 28-26, to earn the victory. The Panthers will step out of the SWAC race to travel to Nacogdoches, TX and take on the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks of the Southland Conference. The No. 10 Eagles of the MEAC are open this weekend before they enter into the conference race after losing to the Towson Tigers, 35-17. There were no teams falling out of the top 10 poll rankings this week. There were not any teams earning votes in the top 10 poll rankings in week four.