The Southwestern Athletic Conference was a week ahead of the rest of college football in making Week 6 its upset week. Week 7 resembled more of what you鈥檇 expect as the power rankings slowly work their way back to a sense of normalcy.
Jackson State is once again on top, and Alabama State found its way back in the victory column as well. Here are the SWAC Week 8 football power rankings.
1. Jackson State
Record: 6-1, 3-1 SWAC
Previous ranking: 2
Last week: 27-17 win vs. Florida A&M
This week: Noon Saturday at Bethune-Cookman
Extra points: The Tigers started Caron Tyler at quarterback before going back to Jared Lockhart, the regular starter. Lockhart is working his way back from a back injury, and he finished Jackson State鈥檚 homecoming win by completing 13 of 24 passes for 98 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Next up is a road trip to Florida to face Bethune-Cookman.
2. Alabama A&M
Record: 6-2, 3-1
Previous ranking: 3
Last week: 61-31 win vs. Grambling
This week: Bye
Extra points: The Bulldogs return to the top two in the rankings after a dominant victory over former No. 1 Grambling. The dominant effort was led by SWAC Offensive Player of the Week Cornelious Brown and Newcomer of the Week Jaylan Bean. The group heads into a bye week before going to Birmingham to face rival Alabama State on Halloween.
3. Grambling
Record: 4-3, 2-2
Previous ranking: 1
Last week: 61-31 loss at Alabama A&M
This week: Bye
Extra points: The Tigers suffered what coach Mickey Joseph described as an 鈥渆mbarrassing鈥 loss to Alabama A&M, and now the team looks to recover during the bye week. Joseph described the recent stretch of the schedule as humbling. After the bye week, Grambling takes on Texas Southern, who it lost to in the last two meetings.
4. Bethune-Cookman
Record: 4-3, 2-1
Previous ranking: 5
Last week: 34-14 win at Mississippi Valley State
This week: Noon Saturday vs. Jackson State
Extra points: The Wildcats spoiled the Delta Devils鈥 homecoming as safety Jaden Davis pulled down three interceptions to go with one fumble recovery for a touchdown, one tackle for a loss and one sack. Davis鈥 day earned him SWAC Defensive Player of the Week honors. Bethune-Cookman gets a big opportunity this weekend by hosting Jackson State.
5. Alabama State
Record: 4-3, 2-2
Previous ranking: 7
Last week: 21-15 win at Arkansas-Pine Bluff
This week: Bye
Extra points: The Hornets got back to winning on the road against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Starting quarterback Andrew Body is still out with a left wrist injury, and coach Eddie Robinson remains unclear about his timeline to return. Next up is the Magic City Classic against in-state rival Alabama A&M in Birmingham on Halloween. Alabama State has won the last four matchups.
6. Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Record: 3-3, 1-2
Previous ranking: 6
Last week: 21-15 loss vs. Alabama State
This week: 2 p.m. Saturday at Florida A&M
Extra points: Coach Alonzo Hampton wanted to make sure all media members understood that if the Golden Lions won out this season, they鈥檇 put themselves in prime position to win the SWAC West division. Alcorn State, Grambling and Prairie View are ahead of the Lions in the division standings, with the latter two teams still on the schedule.
7. Prairie View
Record: 3-5, 3-2
Previous ranking: 10
Last week: 41-38 win vs. Alcorn State
This week:聽6 p.m. Saturday at East Texas A&M
Extra points: Senior kicker Ethan Eddins earned SWAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors after nailing a 37-yard game-winner to get the Panthers back on the winning side of things during homecoming. Next up is 2-7 East Texas A&M, which Prairie View beat 34-27 in 2024. The reigning SWAC champions are now back at the top of the SWAC West standings.
8. Alcorn State
Record: 4-4, 2-2
Previous ranking: 4
Last week: 41-38 loss at Prairie View
This week: Bye
Extra points: Jaylon Tolbert continues to be the most productive quarterback in the conference, completing 19 of 39 passes for 356 yards and five touchdowns in the loss at Prairie View. The performance was enough for him to regain the No. 1 spot as the top passer in the FCS, throwing for 2,361 yards so far this season.
9. Mississippi Valley State
Record: 3-5, 2-2
Previous ranking: 8
Last week: 34-14 loss vs. Bethune-Cookman
This week: Bye
Extra points: The Delta Devils鈥 hot streak came to an end at homecoming against Bethune-Cookman. Mississippi Valley State quarterback Josh Brown threw three interceptions and rushed for only 21 yards on 12 carries. MVSU gets a bye week before ending the regular season with one of the tougher in-conference finishes that includes Alcorn State, Jackson State and Alabama A&M.
10. Southern
Record: 3-4, 1-2
Previous ranking: 9
Last week: Bye
This week: 2 p.m. Saturday at Texas Southern
Extra points: The Jaguars return from a bye week to travel to Texas Southern. It鈥檚 the program鈥檚 third trip to Houston this season, previously playing Houston and Prairie View. Southern is 2-3 in the last five matchups against the Tigers. Junior Trey Holly leads the SWAC in rushing with 673 yards and six touchdowns on 139 carries.
11. Florida A&M
Record: 2-5, 1-2
Previous ranking: 11
Last week: 27-17 loss at Jackson State
This week: 2 p.m. Saturday vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Extra points: Arkansas-Pine Bluff is the opponent for another SWAC team鈥檚 homecoming. The Rattlers are hosting the Golden Lions, three weeks after Southern hosted UAPB for its homecoming. Coach Alonzo Hampton expressed how disrespected he felt to be scheduled for homecoming, and the Golden Lions left Baton Rouge with a 41-10 win. Now it鈥檚 Florida A&M鈥檚 turn. History is on the Rattlers鈥 side, as they鈥檝e defeated UAPB in the previous three meetings.
12. Texas Southern
Record: 1-5, 0-3
Previous ranking: 12
Last week: Bye
This week: 2 p.m. Saturday vs. Southern
Extra points: The Tigers look for their first SWAC win of the season against Southern for homecoming. Texas Southern still has the worst defense in the conference and the eighth-highest scoring offense in the league. This game features two of the SWAC鈥檚 premier running backs in Athean Renfro and Trey Holly.