USA TODAY Sports Network Week 1 HBCU football rankings

Week 1 has begun for the HBCU football season, and USA Today's rankings reflect the first rounds of action. South Carolina State remains atop the list at No. 1, following their dominant 87-0 win over Savannah State. Alabama State sits at No. 2 after overcoming a sluggish start to beat Southern 30-17 in Birmingham. Jackson State is ranked No. 4 after holding Tennessee State to a 26-24 victory in the John Merritt Classic.

Prairie View A&M currently holds the No. 3 spot, despite a 49-30 loss to Tarleton State. Delaware State is ranked No. 6 with a 41-34 win over Stony Brook. Grambling State remains at No. 7 after destroying Clark Atlanta 49-7. Texas Southern rounds out the top 10, having shocked North Carolina Central 42-30. Florida A&M is No. 8, starting strong with a 20-7 victory over Albany State.

North Carolina Central is now at No. 5, after losing to Texas Southern 42-30. Bethune-Cookman remains at No. 10, having sat out Week 0. Alcorn State is ranked No. 11 with a convincing 56-7 win over Miles College. Howard is at No. 12 following a comeback win against Alabama A&M 31-24. Southern slipped to No. 14 after losing 30-17 to Alabama State.

Morgan State remains at No. 14, with a 17-7 victory over North Carolina A&T. Arkansas-Pine Bluff is No. 15, having beaten Morehouse 35-15. Tennessee State dropped to No. 18 after a 26-24 loss to Jackson State. Alabama A&M is at No. 16, falling 31-24 to Howard. North Carolina A&T is ranked No. 17, defeated 17-7 by Morgan State. Norfolk State is at No. 19 with a dominant 56-0 shutout of Winston-Salem State, and Hampton rounds out the list at No. 20, cruising to a 45-0 victory over Virginia-Lynchburg.