FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky State University football will begin the 2026 season ranked No. 5 in the inaugural NCAA Division II Preseason Black College Football Poll.
The Thorobreds received 112 points in the national poll after finishing the 2025 season with a 9-3 overall record and a 7-1 mark in Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play.
Kentucky State is one of five SIAC programs ranked in the preseason top 10. Johnson C. Smith earned the No. 1 ranking with 168 points and 12 first-place votes, followed by Benedict at No. 2, Albany State at No. 3 and Virginia Union at No. 4.
Benedict received a poll-high 20 first-place votes and 157 points, while Albany State collected 156 points and four first-place votes. Virginia Union earned 154 points and seven first-place votes.
Fellow SIAC programs Allen, Edward Waters and Tuskegee were ranked eighth, ninth and 10th, respectively.
The Black College Football Poll is the official weekly ranking of historically Black colleges and universities competing in NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision and NCAA Division II football. It is endorsed by the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, Southwestern Athletic Conference, Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association and SIAC.
The nationwide voting panel consists of 57 head coaches and media members who cover Black college football. Voters submit top-10 ballots using a 10-point scoring system, with 10 points awarded for a first-place vote and one point awarded for a 10th-place vote.
The poll will be released weekly throughout the 2026 regular season.
2026 NCAA Division II Preseason Black College Football Poll
| Rank |
Institution |
Conference |
2025 record |
Points |
| 1 |
Johnson C. Smith |
CIAA |
10-2, 6-1 |
168 (12) |
| 2 |
Benedict |
SIAC |
10-3, 7-1 |
157 (20) |
| 3 |
Albany State |
SIAC |
12-2, 8-0 |
156 (4) |
| 4 |
Virginia Union |
CIAA |
9-3, 7-0 |
154 (7) |
| 5 |
Kentucky State |
SIAC |
9-3, 7-1 |
112 |
| 6 |
Fayetteville State |
CIAA |
6-4, 6-1 |
91 |
| 7 |
Virginia State |
CIAA |
6-4, 4-3 |
66 |
| 8 |
Allen |
SIAC |
6-5, 5-3 |
60 |
| 9 |
Edward Waters |
SIAC |
5-5, 4-4 |
53 |
| 10 |
Tuskegee |
SIAC |
4-7, 3-7 |
17 (1) |
Receiving votes: Livingstone, 10.
First-place votes are listed in parentheses.
About the Black College Football Poll
The Black College Football Poll is the official weekly ranking of historically Black colleges and universities competing in NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision and NCAA Division II football. Endorsed by the MEAC, SWAC, CIAA and SIAC, the poll recognizes team excellence through weekly rankings and honors outstanding student-athletes through annual Black College Football All-America teams at both levels.
About the HBCU4Us Association
Established July 30, 2025, the HBCU4Us Association is a strategic alliance among the commissioners of the four major NCAA athletic conferences composed primarily of historically Black colleges and universities. The association works to protect, promote and sustain HBCU athletics and student-athlete well-being while providing a unified voice and strategic direction for its four member conferences.
Follow KSU Sports
For complete coverage of Kentucky State Athletics, follow the Thorobreds on social media @KYSUAthletics (X), @ksuthletics (Instagram), Kentucky State Athletics (Facebook) or visit the official home of Kentucky State Athletics at ksuthorobreds.com.
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