The Tennessee State Tigers are the real deal.
The Tigers came from 10 points behind in the fourth quarter to defeat Eastern Kentucky 23-20 to retain the top spot in both the Boxtorow national media and coaches polls.
The Tigers remain undefeated and are now 2-0 in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC). Redshirt sophomore quarterback Michael German’s one-yard touchdown run with eight seconds remaining was the difference in the game.
The Tigers received 18 of 20 first place votes from the media and for the third-straight week were a unanimous selection of the coaches.
In the coaches’ poll, spots No. 1 – 4 remained the same with Alabama A&M, Bethune-Cookman and Howard all winning.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Alabama State both won this week, but the two traded spots as the Golden Lions are No. 5 this week and the Hornets No. 6. UAPB defeated ASU 24-21 two weeks ago.
The North Carolina Central Eagles entered the coaches’ poll for the first time this year after defeating South Carolina State 40-10 in the Circle City Classic. The Delaware State Hornets reentered the poll after a 20-17 victory over Norfolk State.
Both South Carolina State and Norfolk State dropped out of the poll.
In the media poll, the top five spots –Tennessee State, Alabama A&M, last year’s champion Winston-Salem State, Bethune-Cookman and Howard – remained unchanged from last week. Similar to the coaches’ poll, University of Arkansas Pine Bluff (UAPB) traded places with Alabama’s Miles College and moved to No. 7 while the Miles’ Golden Bears dropped to No. 8. One point separated the two teams last week.
Tuskegee moved up one spot to No. 9 while North Carolina Central moved into the media poll for the first time ever, debuting at No. 10.
This also marks the first time since Boxtorow began conducting the coaches (2009) and media (2007) polls that South Carolina State has not been in either poll.
The Boxtorow HBCU FCS coaches’ and media polls are administered by FROM THE PRESS BOX TO PRESS ROW. The coaches’ poll is voted on by the HBCU Football Championship Subdivision coaches and the media poll is voted on by media members around the country who cover HBCU football.
2012 Boxtorow HBCU Football Media Top 10 Poll
Week 6
(Records through October 6)
| Rank | School | W-L | Pts. | LW |
| 1 | Tennesse State (18) | 6-0 | 198 | 1 |
| 2 | Alabama A&M (1) | 6-0 | 173 | 2 |
| 3 | Winston-Salem State (1)* | 6-0 | 160 | 3 |
| 4 | Bethune-Cookman | 4-2 | 141 | 4 |
| 5 | Howard | 4-1 | 116 | 5 |
| 6 | Alabama State | 4-2 | 93 | 6 |
| 7 | Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 4-2 | 76 | 8 |
| 8 | Miles | 5-1 | 55 | 7 |
| 9 | Tuskegee | 4-1 | 44 | 10 |
| 10 | North Carolina Central | 3-2 | 21 | NR |
Other receiving votes: Morgan State (3-2) 10 votes, Fort Valley State (4-2) 9, Delaware State (2-3) 4, Saint Augustine’s (4-2) 3, South Carolina State (2-4) 4, Jackson State (2-4) 3.
2012 Boxtorow FCS HBCU Football Coaches Poll
Week 6
(Records through October 6)
| Rank | School | W-L | Pts. | Previous Week |
| 1 | Tennessee State (16) | 6-0 | 160 | 1 |
| 2 | Alabama A&M | 6-0 | 144 | 2 |
| 3 | Bethune-Cookman | 4-2 | 127 | 3 |
| 4 | Howard | 4-1 | 109 | 4 |
| 5 | Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 4-2 | 83 | 6 |
| 6 | Alabama State | 4-2 | 81 | 5 |
| 7 | Morgan State | 3-2 | 60 | 8 |
| 8 | North Carolina Central | 3-2 | 34 | NR |
| 9 | Delaware State | 2-3 | 21 | NR |
| 10 | North Carolina A&T | 2-3 | 14 | 9 |
Others receiving votes: South Carolina State (2-4) 8 votes, Florida A&M (2-4) 5, Norfolk State** (2-4) 4, Jackson State (2-4) 2, Southern (2-3) 2, Alcorn State (2-4) 1.
*Defending HBCU National Champion (Media)
** Defending HBCU National Champion (Coaches)
