BCSP TOP 10
1. FLORIDA A&M (9-3 last season) - Rattlers have enough talent in Joe Taylor's second season to unseat S.C. State in the MEAC and be the best team in black college football. QB Curtis Pulley is special. OPENING GAME: Sept. 5 vs. Delaware State.
2. (TIE) GRAMBLING STATE (11-2) - SWAC defending champion and 2009 favorite returns QB Greg Dillon, two dynamic RBs and a stout defense. OPENING GAME: Sept. 6 vs. South Carolina State.
SOUTH CAROLINA STATE (10-3) - The defending MEAC champ Bulldogs return plenty, highlighted by RB Will Fordand QB Malcolm Long, but lost experience on the lines that may cost them. OPENING GAME: Sept. 6 vs. Grambling State.
4. PRAIRIE VIEW A&M (9-1) - Stingy defense and prolific offense propelled Henry Frazier's troops to near perfect record. Same comblination needed to get past Grambling in SWAC. OPENING GAME: Sept. 5 vs. Texas Southern.
5. SOUTHERN (6-5) - Pete Richardson's Jaguars, one of three SWAC West teams in Top Ten, are always in the hunt. No different this year with QB Bryant Lee at the helm. OPENING GAME: Sept. 5 at Louisiana-Lafayette.
6. NORFOLK STATE (5-7) - Pete Adrian's Spartans loaded on both sides of the ball and ready to challenge FAMU and SC State for MEAC supremacy. OPENING GAME: Sept. 5 vs. Virginia State.
7. BETHUNE-COOKMAN (8-3) - Wildcats poised to build on last year's surprise finish. OPENING GAME: Sept. 5 vs. Shaw.
8. SHAW (8-3) - Back-to-back CIAA champs poised to three-peat. Big-time returnees on offense, most losses on defensive side. OPENING GAME: Aug. 29 vs. Elizabeth City State.
9. ALBANY STATE (7-4) - SIAC runners-up should once again challenge Tuskegee for league supremacy. OPENING GAME: Aug. 27 vs. Chowan.
10. TUSKEGEE (10-1) - Must break in QB to replace standout Jacary Atkinson. That may be enough to drop Golden Tigers down a notch. OPENING GAME: Aug. 22 at Benedict.
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