The Top Team in the SWAC the Last Three Years

This is the second post in our 24-part #SuperSquad series, recognizing the best programs in every single Division I FBS & FCS Conference over the last three years, as well as the upperclassmen & staff who’ve anchored them.

Congratulations Alcorn State Braves for having the best football program in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), the last three years!

Special Honors to the 34 student athletes who were on the roster each of these three seasons, 2017-18, 2018-19, and 2019-20:

Felix Harper, Tim McNair, Jr., Thaddeus Peyton, Noah Johnson, Juan Anthony, Jr., Corey McCullough, Allen Bruce, Taurence Wilson, Qwynnterrio Cole, Nichel Herron, Daimen Anderson, Kevon Marsh, Javen Morrison, Brelion Hollis, Solomon Muhammad, Darrell Henderson, Michael Ajumobi, Malik Holbert, Theron Bonds, Chris Monroe, Kevin Hall, Franklin Smith, Jemar Nunley, Deonte Brooks, Columbus Willis, Darius Davis, Mustaffa Ibrahim, Joseph Milburn, Hakeim Warren, Raidarious Anderson, LeCharles Pringle, Kyontez Everett, Brandon Campbell, Demetrius Lewis

Before getting deeper into our winners’ accolades, let’s count down the conference runners-up, from worst-to-first:

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10th

Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils, #253

1.1 Super Squad Rating

We often allude to ranking these teams #1-256. One problem, however:
Not every team plays every year, and only 253 programs participated in Division I for all of the three seasons.

Pending that revision, we present you with the WORST program in NCAA Division I Football, since Fall of 2017. We hate to kick a program while they’re down, but the Delta Devils have been so bad that their best final-season ranking out of 256 teams matches this overall-worst ranking, out of 253 (#253, #253, #255). And their average power over the period is three full points lower than the second-worst!

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9th

Texas Southern Tigers, #252

1.3 Super Squad Rating

Speaking of second-worst on our entire list…yep. The SWAC hosted the two worst programs of Division I Football the last three seasons. Not much more to say here besides the fact that the Tigers put in the single worst season performance in the SWAC over this period, scoring a 14.8 Power while going 0-11 at #256 in 2019. Their saving grace for this list was their 2017 season, where they salvaged two wins to end a meager #243.

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8th

Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions, #246

1.8 Super Squad Rating

After two seasons at 2-9, 2019 looked up considerably for the Golden Lions, going a respectable 6-5 to put in the first winning season among these.

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7th

Jackson State Tigers, #231

2.2 Super Squad Rating

Jackson State was the most consistent-ranking team in the SWAC year-to-year, ending at #223 in 2017, #220 in 2018, and #225 in 2019. Their 4-3 SWAC record in 2018 awards them the first winning conference schedule on this list.

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6th

Alabama State Hornets, #221

2.4 Super Squad Rating

Aside from being one of the worst teams in the country at #246 in 2018, this Hornets squad put in mediocre 2017 & 2019 seasons, ranking in the top 200 for both, pulling them up as the first on this list to crack below #200 even once.

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5th

Alabama A&M Bulldogs, #219

2.4 Super Squad Rating

It’s remarkable with the different outcomes each season for the two teams, that the Bulldogs landed so closely on this list to their in-state rivals the Hornets, edging them by two positions and less than a quarter-point in average Power over the three seasons.

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4th

Prairie View A&M Panthers, #176

3.2 Super Squad Rating

This Panthers squad’s play has been remarkably consistent, finishing one-game-removed from .500 for all three seasons at 6-5 5-6 6-5, and 4-3 each year in the SWAC. Their #149 finish in 2017 makes them first on this list to crack the Top 150 for a season, to have three winning SWAC seasons, and to have an overall winning record.

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3rd

Southern Jaguars, #162

3.7 Super Squad Rating

We’ve finally reached a higher tier of play in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. This Jaguars squad has made the big show each of the last two years, and each time fallen just short of taking the SWAC championship. Despite their worst record among these being last year (8-5), Hierank rates 2019 as their top season, edging their 7-4 2018 SWAC runner-up season by one ranking (#149) and half a point (47.0 vs 46.5) Power.

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2nd

Grambling Tigers, #149

4.0 Super Squad Rating

In 2017, Grambling turned in the best single-season performance on this list. The Tigers went 11-2 overall, were undefeated in the SWAC, and finished #86 in all of College Football. Success has been fleeting though, as the Tigers have finished only 6-5, along a downward trajectory, each of the two seasons since.

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WINNER

Alcorn State Braves, #130

4.6 Super Squad Rating

This Alcorn squad not only owned the SWAC over this period, but they did so with remarkable consistency, as runner-up in 2017, the only year they did not win. Looking deeper, the Braves have played in the SWAC championship six years straight, and won four of those times.

Congratulations to this budding SWAC dynasty’s coaches, staff, administrators, all players, and especially the 34 young men present on the roster all three years.

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