BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- The Black College Football Poll (BCFP) and the Black College Football All-American teams will make inaugural debuts just in time for the start of the 2026 college football season as it was announced on Wednesday, April 22^nd.
 
The Black College Football Poll and the Black College Football All-American teams have been formally endorsed and sanctioned by the two NCAA Division I conferences (Southwestern Athletic Conference and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) along with the two NCAA Division II conferences (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association and the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference).
 
The Black College Football Poll will be conducted weekly throughout the regular season using a panel of head coaches and select media members. Each voter will submit a Top 10 with a first-place vote worth 10 points, second place 9, and so on down to one point for 10th.
 
In addition to the weekly poll the voting body for each respective division will also vote and select a Black College Football All-American team (Preseason and Postseason) that will consist of the top HBCU student athletes (1^st Team and 2^nd Team). 
 
Individual awards shall also be awarded for Coach of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Freshman of the Year.
 
The Commissioners of the four HBCU conferences released a joint statement highlighting the significance of the newly created Black College Football Poll and the Black College Football All-American Team.
 
“We’re extremely excited to partner on the formation and creation of the Black College Football Poll and the Black College Football All-American Team,” the statement read.
 
“We view this strategic alliance as a game changer for our respective leagues and undoubtedly a significant step in the right direction towards unifying our collective conferences as it relates to preseason/postseason polls and awards while simultaneously recognizing the best Black College Football teams and student-athletes at the highest level.”
 
The Black College Football Poll will feature two poll divisions and two All-American teams (NCAA Division I and NCAA Division II). The first preseason poll release along with the unveiling of the Preseason Black College Football teams is slated for Wednesday, July 1.
 
About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.
 
Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field and Tennis.

Women’s competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis and Volleyball.
 
Follow the SWAC
For complete coverage of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, please follow the SWAC on social media at @TheSWAC (Twitter), @TheSWAC (Facebook), and @TheSWAC (Instagram) or visit the official home of the Southwestern Athletic Conference at www.swac.org.