GREENSBORO – North Carolina A&T, winners of five straight, is nationally ranked in one of the two major Football Championship Subdivision polls this week.

The Aggies are No. 24 in the latest Sports Network FCS Top-25 College Football Poll released Monday afternoon. The Aggies garnered 297 points, 29 more than fellow MEAC member Bethune-Cookman (8-3) who is ranked No. 25 in the country. The Aggies did not make the NCAA Coaches' Poll. They had 27 votes, five votes shy of No. 25 Sacred Heart (9-2). 

The Aggies are nationally ranked for the first time since winning the MEAC championship in 2003. The Aggies were also the main headline for the Sports Network top-25 story this week, which read: “North Carolina A&T Earns First Ranking Since 2003”

“I think this means a lot to not only us but all the Aggies,” said head coach Rod Broadway. “It's great that our fans have their pride back and have a little pep in their step. To come from 1-10 to 9-2 to having a chance to win our conference outright, it's truly a good time around here.”

The Aggies, who are No. 1 in all three black college polls (Box To Row, Sheridan Broadcasting Network and Heritage Sports Network), will win the MEAC championship outright on Saturday if they are able to beat arch-rival N.C. Central in Durham at 2 p.m. The Aggies clinched at least a share of the title with its 34-0 win over Savannah State last Saturday.

New Hampshire was the top-ranked team for the second straight week followed by Coastal Carolina, a team A&T lost to at home by one earlier in the season. Defending national champion North Dakota State was third followed Jacksonville State, Eastern Washington, Villanova, Fordham, Illinois State, Chattanooga and Southeastern Louisiana.

The Sports Network releases a top-25 poll each week starting in August. The Sports also sponsors the Walter Payton Award for the best FCS offensive player, the Buck Buchanan Award for best defensive player, the Eddie Robinson Award for best coach and the Jerry Rice award for best rookie.