By Anthony McClean, Editor-In-Chief Emeritus

With the 2022 college football season just a few weeks away, the fearless prognosticators from the HBCU-Pro Sports Media Association are looking at a familiar pair of schools to be back amongst the elite.

SWAC Champion Jackson State and CIAA Champion Bowie State have been picked by HBCU-PSMA to defend their respective titles this season. Meanwhile, the defending Celebration Bowl champs from South Carolina State have been tabbed to win the MEAC with Albany State slated to win the SIAC.

The Tigers of Jackson State (11-2 last season), who won the first-ever HBCU-PSMA Major Division National Championship, were picked to outlast Florida A&M in the Eastern Division and defeat Western Division champion Alcorn State in the SWAC Championship.

Ironically, JSU (14 first-place votes) will open the season on Labor Day Sunday, playing the FAMU Rattlers (6 votes) in the Orange Blossom Classic at 2 p.m. CT on ESPN2.

Led by first-year head coach Kyle Jackson, Bowie State is tabbed not only to retain their Northern Division Crown, but to defeat Southern Division champion Fayetteville State for their fourth straight CIAA title.

Winners of the inaugural HBCU-PSMA Mid Major Division National title, the Bowie State Bulldogs will open the 2022 season on Saturday, Sept. 3 playing host to New Haven.

Kickoff from Bulldog Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m.ET

As for Buddy Pough’s Bulldogs, South Carolina State has been picked to beat out Norfolk State and North Carolina Central for MEAC supremacy. The two-time defending champs open the 2022 campaign on September 1st on the road versus FBS foe Central Florida in Orlando, Fla.

Coming off an undefeated season in SIAC play, Albany State has been tabbed to win the Eastern Division just ahead of Savannah State and to defeat Western Division champion Miles College in the title game.

The Albany State Golden Rams will open their season at home against the Mississippi College Choctaws on Saturday, September 3 at the ASU Coliseum.

HBCU/Pro Sports Media Association
2022 Predicted Orders of Finish (per conference)
20 total votes (1st place votes in parentheses)
* Indicates not eligible for conference championship in 2022-2023

MEAC:
South Carolina State 186 (16)
Norfolk State 144 (2)
North Carolina Central 128 (1)
Howard University 83 (1)
Delaware State 58
Morgan State 32

SWAC EAST:
Jackson State 188 (14)
Florida A&M 166 (6)
Alabama A&M 110
Alabama State 74
Bethune-Cookman 47
Mississippi Valley State 35

SWAC WEST:
Alcorn State 174 (10)
Southern University 156 (8)
Grambling State 104 (1)
Prairie View A&M 74
Texas Southern 69 (1)
U of Arkansas-Pine Bluff 40

Who will win the SWAC Championship?
Jackson State-12
Florida A&M-6
Alcorn State-1
Grambling State-1

Who will win the Celebration Bowl (MEAC Champion vs SWAC Champion)?
Jackson State-8
Florida A&M-6
South Carolina State-2
Grambling State-1
Norfolk State-1
Alcorn State-1
Howard University-1

CIAA NORTH:
Bowie State 182 (13)
Virginia Union 131 (4)
Virginia State 127 (2)
Chowan University 84
Lincoln University 48 (1)
Elizabeth City State 48

CIAA SOUTH:
Fayetteville State 192 (16)
Winston-Salem State 128 (3)
Shaw University 125 (1)
Johnson City State 67
Saint Augustine’s 60
Livingston College 40

Who will win CIAA?
Bowie State-8
Fayetteville State-7
Virginia Union-3
Virginia State-1
Lincoln University-1

SIAC EAST:
Albany State 179 (13)
Savannah State 120 (4)
Benedict College 86
Fort Valley State 77
Morris College 65
Edward Waters 54*
Clark Atlanta 30
Allen University 21*

SIAC WEST:
Miles College 170 (9)
Tuskegee University 152 (8)
Lane College 122 (3)
Kentucky State 96
Central State 62

Who will win SIAC?
Albany State -12
Miles College-2
Savannah State-2
Lane College-1
Tuskegee University-1
Benedict College-1
Edward Waters*-1

About the HBCU Pro-Sports Media Association
Founded in 2020, the HBCU-Pro Sports Media Association is an organization that includes (but not limited to) journalists, photographers, broadcasters, reporters, editors, and sports-information directors dedicated to the coverage and support, both on and off the field, of historically black college sports and HBCU alumni athletes who become professionals. For more information, log onto http://www.hbcuprosportsmedia.com.