Grambling State is ranked No. 7 in the Preseason HBCU FCS Coaches Poll.
The Tigers are coming off a 7-5 season under third-year Head Coach Mickey Joseph.
Grambling State opens the season Aug. 29 at home against Clark Atlanta at 6 p.m.
Two-time defending MEAC champion South Carolina State is ranked No. 1. The Bulldogs finished 10-4 last season, defeating Prairie View A&M 40-38 in four overtime’s in the Celebration Bowl.
South Carolina State received 12 of a possible 16 first-place votes.
Second-ranked Prairie View A&M, the defending SWAC champion, and third-ranked Alabama State received two each. They are followed by No. 4 Jackson State, No. 5 North Carolina Central, No. 6 Delaware State, No. 7 GSU, No. 8 Texas Southern, No. 9 Bethune-Cookman and No. 10 Alcorn State.