South Carolina State football opens the season at No. 1 in the 2026 Preseason HBCU FCS Coaches Poll.SC State is coming off a 10-4 finish in 2025, winning its second consecutive MEAC title before ending the year a four-overtime win over Prairie View A&M in the Celebration Bowl. It's the program's second preseason No. 1 nod since 2010, receiving all but four first-place votes.REQUIRED READING: South Carolina State beats Prairie View A&M on controversial 2-point playTrailing South Carolina State in the top-five of the preseason poll is Prairie View A&M, Alabama State, Jackson State and North Carolina Central, respectively. Prairie View A&M and Alabama State both received two first-place votes, behind South Carolina's 12. Third-year South Carolina State coach Chennis Berry has been dominant since taking over the program, holding a 10-0 record in MEAC play with a 19-6 overall record. Norfolk State, coached by former NFL quarterback Michael Vick, wasn't listed in the top 10 of the preseason poll. Delaware State, coached by Vick's former Philadelphia Eagles teammate DeSean Jackson, came in at No. 6, though.Here's a look at the 2026 Preseason HBCU FCS Coaches Poll:Preseason HBCU FCS Coaches PollFirst-place votes in parentheses.South Carolina State (12)Prairie View A&M (2)Alabama State (2)Jackson StateNorth Carolina CentralDelaware StateGrambling StateTexas SouthernBethune-CookmanAlcorn StateOthers receiving votes: Florida A&M (16), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (2), Mississippi Valley State (1), Morgan State (1), Norfolk State (1), North Carolina A&T (2), Tennessee State (1).This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: South Carolina State ranked No. 1 in 2026 preseason HBCU FCS Coaches Poll