Dover, Del. (Mar. 1, 2021) --- The Delaware State football team is nationally ranked in HBCU football polls for the first time in nine years. The Hornets' 17-10 victory over Howard in the spring '21 opener last weekend has caught the attention of voters in the Press Box to Press Row National HBCU polls.
Delaware State (1-0) is ranked fifth in the BOXTOROW Top 10 media poll while the Hornets are ninth in the site's coaches poll.
It's the first time that DSU has appeared in any national poll since the 2012 season.
The Hornets are one of six previously unranked teams in the media top 10 poll and one of two appearing in the coaches poll after being unranked entering the season.
Southern University (La.), fresh off a season opening 24-21 victory over Alabama State, claimed the top spot in each poll. The Jaguars were previously No. 4 in the coaches poll and sixth in the media poll.  
In the coaches poll, Southern received 11 first place votes and finished 24 points ahead of second place South Carolina State, which is scheduled to open its season in a few weeks. Alabama A&M, Grambling, and the Jackson State Tigers, who opened the season last Sunday with a 53-0 victory over Edward Waters, round out the top five.
The media has Jackson State, led by head coach and NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, at No. 2. Grambling came in at No. 3 while South Carolina State, who received three first place votes was No. 4 and Delaware State rounded out the top five.
The BOXTOROW HBCU FCS coaches poll and media poll is administered by FROM THE PRESS BOX TO PRESS ROW. The coaches poll, in its 12th year is voted on by the HBCU Football Championship Subdivision coaches and the media poll, in its 14th year, is voted on by media members around the country who cover HBCU football.