As Week 2 arrives in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, and all teams have played at least one football game, the early leaders have started to establish themselves.
The SWAC looks like it’ll be a competitive conference this fall, as all but two programs have already won their first game of the season. The biggest change in this week’s rankings comes as a result of Texas Southern and Prairie View’s annual Labor Day Classic matchup. Here are the full football Week 2 SWAC Power Rankings.
1. Alabama State
Record: 2-0
Previous ranking: 1
Last week: 34-0 win vs. Lane
This week: 3 p.m. at Troy, ESPN+
Extra points: Coach Eddie Robinson said the goal heading into Troy is to represent the conference with a victory against an FBS foe. After the Troy game comes a bye week, then the start of SWAC play. The Hornets have the No. 1 defense in the conference, allowing an average of 8.5 points through the first two games.
2. Jackson State
Record: 2-0
Previous ranking: 2
Last week: 66-14 win vs. Edward Waters
This week: Bye
Extra points: Jackson State is 2-0 going into a bye week before returning home to face off against Tuskegee University. Outside of the 2025 SWAC Championship game against Prairie View A&M, the Tigers have only lost two games at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium since 2021. Sophomore quarterback Jared Lockhart finished the Edward Waters win with 17 completions in 25 passes for 388 yards and 4 touchdowns.
3. Prairie View
Record: 1-1, 1-0 SWAC
Previous ranking: 3
Last week: 52-14 win vs. Texas Southern
This week: 7 p.m. at Baylor, ESPN+
Extra points: Panthers coach Tremaine Jackson said he was disappointed in his defense last week. Prairie View gave up 216 yards rushing to the Tigers and 21 first downs. Senior quarterback Tevin Carter led the Panthers to the win by completing 16 of 22 pass attempts for 217 yards and four touchdowns.
4. Grambling
Record: 2-0
Previous ranking: 6
Last week: 48-26 win vs. Central State
This week: 7 p.m. at TCU, ESPN+
Extra points: Coach Mickey Joseph said he’s going to continue to play to quarterback Reginald Johnson’s strengths, as the junior completed 18 of 23 passes for 258 yards, no touchdowns and an interception in last week’s win. This week’s goal is to come out of the TCU game healthy, and Joseph said he’ll play all 80 guys who travel to Fort Worth, Texas.
5. Florida A&M
Record: 1-1
Previous ranking: 5
Last week: 20-7 win vs. Albany State
This week: 77-7 loss at Miami on Thursday
Extra points: Before Thursday night’s game against Miami, FAMU had the third-best defense in the SWAC this season, giving up an average of 19 points. The Rattlers also led the conference in total sacks with 10. Where FAMU dominated defensively, the Rattlers have struggled offensively. The team entered this week last in the conference with 69 yards rushing, and it had allowed the second-most sacks (eight) in the conference.
6. Alcorn State
Record: 1-1
Previous ranking: 7
Last week: 49-3 loss at Southern Miss
This week: 6 p.m. vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Extra points: The Braves play their first SWAC game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Memphis, Tennessee. Coach Cedric Thomas said he looks at the matchup as if it’s the first round of the playoffs. Going into the game, Alcorn State ranks second in the SWAC in offensive efficiency. The Golden Lions defeated Alcorn State last season 24-20, but the Braves have won four of the last five meetings.
7. Bethune-Cookman
Record: 0-1
Previous ranking: 8
Last week: 73-6 loss at Central Florida
This week: 3 p.m. vs. Stetson
Extra points: The Wildcats this week enter as the favorites after getting obliterated by Big 12 opponent Central Florida in the season opener. This is the first time Bethune-Cookman has played Stetson. The Hatters lost the season opener to No. 3 South Dakota State 70-7 but won the next game 45-10. Stetson went 3-9 overall in 2025.
8. Texas Southern
Record: 1-1, 0-1 SWAC
Previous ranking: 4
Last week: 52-14 loss at Prairie View
This week: 8 p.m. at UTEP
Extra points: Senior Cam’Ron McCoy has been named the team’s starting quarterback, but he struggled in the blowout loss to Prairie View, getting sacked seven times. Coach Cris Dishman said McCoy was “doing too much” against the conference rival, and he should be OK if he plays with the composure he showed in the season opener.
9. Southern
Record: 1-1
Previous ranking: 10
Last week: 34-15 win vs. Kentucky State
This week: 6 p.m. at Houston, ESPN+
Extra points: Coach Marshall Faulk said he wants his team’s identity to be running the football. Through the first two games, the Jaguars rank sixth in the SWAC by rushing for an average of 166.5 yards per game. Junior running back Trey Holly ran for 99 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries in the win over Kentucky State.
10. Alabama A&M
Record: 1-1
Previous ranking: 9
Last week: 38-23 win vs. Miles
This week: 6 p.m. vs. Tennessee State
Extra points: The Bulldogs started fast, much to the delight of coach Sam Shade, but he was concerned about a subpar second-half performance. Senior running back Troy Bruce ran for 145 yards and two touchdowns while sophomore Kolton Nero ran for 87 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Shade’s former program. Next up is a hungry Tennessee State squad searching for its first win.
11. Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Record: 1-1
Previous ranking: 11
Last week: 54-14 loss at Missouri
This week: 6 p.m. at Alcorn State
Extra points: Coach Alonzo Hampton said mental mistakes led to the Golden Lions getting blown out by their SEC opponent after staying competitive in the first quarter and a half. Moving forward, Hampton said he wants the team to do a better job of stopping the run. UAPB still plays two quarterbacks, Jack Schierholz and Garrison Davis, and Hampton refuses to commit to one.
12. Mississippi Valley State
Record: 0-2
Previous ranking: 12
Last week: 52-0 loss at Sacramento State
This week: 3 p.m. vs. Lincoln (Penn.)
Extra points: Coach Terrell Buckley gave an honest reflection to SWAC media members on this week’s call. He said the 52-0 loss to Sacramento State was an emotional and tough game for him after his team looked nothing like the squad he sees in practice. Now, the Delta Devils head to Soldier Field to face Lincoln for the Chicago Football Classic.