Welcome back, sports fans, as we continue our preseason countdown to the 2025 college football season. We are still early in the process, but if you’ve like to catch up or read past posts, check us out on our Facebook page (Gettys Computer Ranking – College Football) or on the website bit.ly/2019GCR.
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While there are many more Historically Black College and University schools across the US and spread out among numerous Division I conferences as well as Division II and III, NAIA, etc., there are 2 FCS conferences dedicated to HBCU schools, the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and the Mideastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Each year, the winners of each conference play each other in the Celebration Bowl for the de facto HBCU championship. This week, we are focused on the SWAC who collectively have the 22nd most difficult preseason Strength of Schedule (SOS) out of 25 conferences.
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The 12-team SWAC is the only FCS conference with divisions. Their regular season culminates with a championship game leading to the Celebration Bowl for the winner. Deion Sanders, who is currently the head coach at Colorado used to have the same job at Jackson St, one of the powerhouses in the conference. I love following these teams and watch them the few times they are on TV. The players in the SWAC have a lot of talent and drive, and the games are always interesting.
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In the table below, (F) indicates games against non-conference FCS teams, (D) indicates games against non-Division I opponents, (G) indicates games against Group of 5 foes, (4) indicates games against Core 4 schools, and (N) indicates a neutral site game.
| Team | Home | 2024 Record (Rank) | 2025 PS SOS (Rank) | Home Games | Away/Neutral Games |
| Bethune Wildcats (1) | Daytona Beach, FL | 2-10 (240) | 4.88 (155) | Edward Waters (D), Alabama A&M, Southern, Ark Pine Bluff, Mississippi Valley | FIU (G), Miami FL (4), South Carolina St (F), Alabama St, Grambling St, Jackson St, Florida A&M (N) |
| Grambling St Tigers (2) | Grambling, LA | 5-7 (211) | 4.78 (157) | Kentucky St (D), East Texas (F), Texas Southern, Alabama A&M, Bethune | Ohio St (4), Prairie View (N), Jackson St (N), Alcorn St, Southern (N) |
| Mississippi Valley Delta Devils (3) | Itta Bena, MS | 1-11 (229) | 3.92 (202) | Southern, Texas Southern, Florida A&M, Lincoln CA (D), Jackson St | Tarleton (F), Southeastern (F), Alabama A&M, Alcorn St, Bethune, Alabama St (N), Prairie View |
| Alabama A&M Bulldogs (4) | Huntsville, AL | 6-6 (199) | 3.84 (207) | Alcorn St, Lane College (D), Mississippi Valley, Prairie View, Florida A&M | Arkansas (4), Tennessee St (F), Bethune, Jackson St (N), Alabama St (N), Grambling St, Texas Southern |
| Ark Pine Bluff Golden Lions (5) | Pine Bluff, AR | 3-9 (247) | 3.70 (216) | Lincoln CA (D), Westgate Chr (D), Grambling St, Southern, Florida A&M | Texas Tech (4), C Arkansas (F), Alcorn St (N), Texas Southern, Bethune, Prairie View, Alabama St |
| Southern Jaguars (6) | Baton Rouge, LA | 8-5 (170) | 3.57 (223) | Alabama St, Jackson St, Prairie View, Florida A&M, Texas Southern | NC Central (FN), Mississippi Valley, Fresno St (F), Bethune, Ark Pine Bluff, Alcorn St, Grambling St (N) |
| Texas Southern Tigers (7) | Houston, TX | 5-6 (208) | 3.49 (230) | Prairie View, Lamar (F), Ark Pine Bluff, Lynchburg (D), Alcorn St, Alabama A&M | California (4), Mississippi Valley, Grambling St, Alabama St, Southern |
| Alabama St Hornets (8) | Montgomery, AL | 7-5 (180) | 3.16 (247) | Miles (D), Bethune, Texas Southern, Ark Pine Bluff, Tuskegee (D) | UAB (G), Southern, Florida A&M, Jackson St, Alabama A&M (N), Prairie View, Mississippi Valley (N) |
| Florida A&M Rattlers (9) | Tallahassee, FL | 7-5 (172) | 3.16 (248) | Albany St (D), Alabama St, NC Central (F), Alcorn St, Jackson St | Howard (N), FAU (G), Mississippi Valley, Southern, Ark Pine Bluff, Alabama A&M, Bethune (N) |
| Alcorn St Braves (10) | Lorman, MS | 6-6 (194) | 3.06 (253) | Prairie View, Lincoln CA (D), Mississippi Valley, Southern, Grambling St | Northwestern St (F), Alabama A&M, Mississippi St (4), Ark Pine Bluff (N), Florida A&M, Texas Southern, Jackson St |
| Prairie View Panthers (11) | Prairie View, TX | 5-7 (217) | 2.74 (261) | Rio Grande (F), Northwestern St (F), Lincoln CA (D), Alabama St, Ark Pine Bluff, Mississippi Valley | Texas Southern, Rice (G), Grambling St (N), Alcorn St, Southern, Alabama A&M |
| Jackson St Tigers (12) | Jackson, MS | 12-2 (122) | 2.72 (262) | Hampton (F), Tuskegee (D), Alabama St, Bethune, Alcorn St | Southern Miss (G), Southern, Alabama A&M (N), Grambling St (N), Florida A&M, Mississippi Valley |
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That’s it for today. JoJo and I thank you for reading and especially for sharing with others. We are hoping to grow our viewership with the commitment to remain ad- and cost-free. We are always open to feedback and questions, so send us comments on Facebook or the website. We’ll see you in a few days, G and JoJo
