FAMU football picked to miss HBCU postseason in 2025 SWAC Predicted Order of Finish
In the Southwestern Athletic Conference's predicted order of finish, the Rattlers were picked to finish second in the East division behind the defending league and Black College Football Champions, Jackson State.
Last year, FAMU went 7-5 and tied for second in the SWAC East under first-year head coach James Colzie III.
The Rattlers earned 99 total points with three first-place votes in the SWAC predictions.
Led by Jackson State, with 126 points and 16 first-place votes, the SWAC East preseason rankings are FAMU, Alabama State (91 points, two first-place votes), Alabama A&M (62 points), Bethune-Cookman (45 points, one first-place vote), and Mississippi Valley State (24 points).
Southern leads the SWAC West with 120 points and 17 first-place votes, followed by Alcorn State (90 points, two first-place votes), Prairie View A&M (72 points, one first-place vote), Texas Southern (60 points), Grambling State (55 points), and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (28 points, one first-place vote).
FAMU finishing second in the SWAC East means it would not qualify for the HBCU football postseason, as the league places the East and West divisions' regular season winners versus each other for the championship game in December. The SWAC champion faces the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title holder in December's Celebration Bowl, the de facto Black College Football National Championship game.
If they don't make the HBCU playoff, the Rattlers' challenging schedule this season could earn them an at-large bid to the Football Championship Subdivision tournament, which begins in late November.
The Rattlers' 2025 season kicks off in the Orange Blossom Classic versus the Howard Bison on Saturday, Aug. 30, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
SWAC Predicted Order of Finish
SWAC East
Jackson State ― 126 points (16)
Florida A&M ― 99 points (3)
Alabama State ― 91 points (2)
Alabama A&M ― 62 points
Bethune-Cookman ― 45 points (1)
Mississippi Valley State ― 24 points
SWAC West
Southern ― 120 points (17)
Alcorn State ― 90 points (2)
Prairie View A&M ― 72 points (1)
Texas Southern ― 60 points
Grambling State ― 55 points
Arkansas-Pine Bluff ― 28 points (1)
First place votes listed in parenthesis ( )
Preseason All-SWAC Honorees
Offensive Player of the Year: Jacobian Morgan, Jackson State
Defensive Player of the Year: Ckelby Givens, Southern
All-SWAC First Team Offense
Quarterback: Jacobian Morgan, Jackson State
Running Back: Jacorian Sewell, Alcorn StateOffensive Lineman: D'Andre Townes-Blue, Jackson State
Offensive Lineman: Ronald Brown, Alcorn State
Offensive Lineman: Desmond Daniels, Alabama State
Wide Receiver: Nate Rembert, Jackson State
Wide Receiver: Joanes Fortilien, Jackson State
Tight End: Marvin Landy, Jackson State
All-SWAC First Team Defense
Defensive Lineman: Ckelby Givens, Southern
Defensive Lineman: Jeremiah Williams, Jackson State
Defensive Lineman: Bryce Cage, Grambling StateLinebacker: Stemarion Edwards, Alcorn State
Linebacker: Vincent Paige Jr., SouthernDefensive Back: Keane Lewis, Alabama State
Defensive Back: Antwone Watts, Bethune-CookmanDefensive Back: Horacio Johnson, Southern
All-SWAC First Team Specialist
Place Kicker: Gerardo Baeza, Jackson State
Punter: Johnny Schifano, Grambling State
Return Specialist: Travis Terrell Jr., Jackson State
All-SWAC Second Team Offense
Quarterback: Cam Ransom, Bethune-Cookman
Running Back: Lamagea McDowell, Prairie View A&M
Running Back: BJ Curry, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Offensive Lineman: Quaveon Davis, Jackson State
Offensive Lineman: Cameron Smith, Alabama State
Offensive Lineman: Tahj Martin, Grambling State
Offensive Lineman: Dezmond Penn, Alabama State
Offensive Lineman: Tyrell Lawrence, Alabama A&M
Wide Receiver: Maleek Huggins, Bethune-Cookman
Wide Receiver: Trenton Leary, Texas Southern
Tight End: Dupree Fuller, Southern
All-SWAC Second Team Defense
Defensive Lineman: Damarcus Thompson, Texas Southern
Defensive Lineman: Adrian Hall, Bethune-CookmanDefensive Lineman: Nick Glenn, Alabama A&M
Linebacker: Reid Pulliam, Jackson State
Linebacker: Ashton Taylor, Jackson State
Linebacker: Malik Stinnett, Bethune-Cookman
Defensive Back: Shamar Hawkins, Jackson State
Defensive Back: Blake Davis, Grambling State
Defensive Back: Herman Brister III, SouthernAll-SWAC Second Team Specialist
Place Kicker: Trey Glymph, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Punter: Jeremy Ramirez, Texas Southern
Florida A&M Football 2025 Schedule
Week 1: Saturday, Aug. 30 ― vs. Howard (Orange Blossom Classic at Miami Gardens' Hard Rock Stadium), 4 p.m., ESPNU
Week 2: Saturday, Sept. 6 ― at Florida Atlantic, 6 p.m., ESPN Plus
Week 3: Saturday, Sept. 13 ― vs. Albany State, 7 p.m.
Week 4: BYE/OPEN WEEK
Week 5: Saturday, Sept. 27 ― vs. Alabama State (SWAC), 3 p.m.
Week 6: Saturday, Oct. 4 ― vs. Mississippi Valley State (SWAC/at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium), 4 p.m.
Week 7: Saturday, Oct. 11 ― vs. North Carolina Central, 3 p.m.
Week 8: Saturday, Oct. 18 ― vs. Alcorn State (SWAC/Homecoming), 4 p.m.
Week 9: Saturday, Oct. 25 ― at Southern (SWAC)
Week 10: Saturday, Nov. 1 ― vs. Jackson State (SWAC), 7 p.m.
Week 11: Saturday, Nov. 8 ― at Arkansas-Pine Bluff (SWAC), 3 p.m.
Week 12: Saturday, Nov. 15 ― at Alabama A&M (SWAC), 3 p.m.
Week 13: Saturday, Nov. 22 ― vs. Bethune-Cookman (SWAC/Florida Classic at Orlando's Camping World Stadium)
Saturday, Nov. 29 ― NCAA FCS Playoffs Begin (If Necessary)
Saturday, Dec. 6 ― SWAC Championship Game (If Necessary)
Saturday, Dec. 13 ― Celebration Bowl at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium (If Necessary)
Monday, Jan. 5, 2026 ― NCAA FCS National Championship Game at Nashville's FirstBank Stadium (If Necessary)This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU football predicted to finish behind Jackson State in SWAC poll
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