RANKINGS

Performances are judged on an individual basis, with judges giving scores for specific areas only. Bands are encouraged to submit a performance to be judged monthly. The committee is co-chaired by Jackson State Director of Bands Emeritus, Professor Dowell Taylor, and Dr. Julian E. White, FAMU Director of Bands Emeritus.

The next update will come in late October as the top 15 will be reduced to the top 10 overall in each division. The November ranking will list the top five in each division. The final ranking will award the top two teams in each division a shot at the ESPN Band of The Year title, which will be determined Dec. 13 in the Mercedes-Benz Dome in Atlanta, GA with the show starting at 7 PM EST. It will be simulcast on ESPN3 and ESPN Plus. 

 

Rankings Release Dates:

September Rankings HBCU: September 18
September Rankings High School: September 24
October Rankings HBCU: October 15
October Rankings High School: October 21
November Rankings HBCU (Top 10):  November 12
November Rankings HBCU (Top 5): November 14
November Rankings HBCU & High School (Top 2): November 18

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September 2025

 

Category	Highest Score by Category
Musicality	80
Pictures, Drill, and Design	80
Percussion	70
Drum Majors	50
Auxiliaries (See Below)	50
Dance, Flags, Majorettes	= Mean/Average of all 3 individual scores (If Applicable)
Highest Possible Points Per Band	330

 

Top 15 Division I HBCU Bands
(and Positions in each category)

	Division I “TOP 15” Overall	Points
1	North Carolina A&T University	305.70
2	Southern University	299.70
3	Bethune Cookman University	293.25
4	Florida A&M University	286.55
5	Norfolk State University	284
6	Texas Southern University	280.55
7	Prairie View A&M University	278.65
8	Jackson State University	273.60
9	Alabama State University	264.35
10	Grambling State University	259.5
11	Tennessee State University	258.80
12	Alabama A&M University	257.5
13	Alcorn State University	257.75
14	South Carolina State University	251
15	University of Arkansas Pine Bluff	247.5
Drum Major Top 15   Percussion Top 15   Musicality Top 15 1 North Carolina A&T University 1 North Carolina A&T University 1 North Carolina A&T University 2 Norfolk State University 2 Southern University 2 Southern University 3 Bethune Cookman University 3 Prairie View A&M University 3 Florida A&M University 4 Florida A&M University 4 Jackson State University 4 Jackson State University 5 Prairie View A&M University 5 Norfolk State University 5 Texas Southern University 6 Texas Southern University 6 Florida A&M University 6 Bethune-Cookman University 7 Alabama State University 7 Bethune- Cookman University 7 Norfolk State University 8 Alcorn State University 8 Texas Southern University 8 Alabama State University 9 Southern University 9 Grambling State 9 Grambling State 10 Alabama A&M University 10 South Carolina State University 10 Tennessee State University 11 South Carolina State University 11 Tennessee State University 11 Morgan State University 12 Delaware State University 12 Alabama A&M University 12 Alabama A&M University 13 Mississippi Valley State University 13 Alabama State University 13 Prairie View A&M University 14 North Carolina Central University 14 North Carolina Central University 14 Alcorn State University 15 Hampton University 15 University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff 15 Mississippi Valley State University               Pics. Drill & Design Top 15   Auxiliaries Top 15     1 Bethune- Cookman University 1 Southern University     2 North Carolina A&T University 2 North Carolina A&T University     3 Southern University 3 Texas Southern University     4 Florida A&M University 4 Norfolk State University     5 Alcorn State University 5 Prairie View A&M University     6 Jackson State University 6 Hampton University     7 Texas Southern University 7 Bethune Cookman University     8 Grambling State University 8 Alabama A&M University     9 Norfolk State University 9 University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff     10 Prairie View A&M University 10 Alabama State University     11 Mississippi Valley State University 11 Florida A&M University     12 Alabama State University 12 South Carolina State University     13 Hampton University 13 Tennessee State University     14 Tennessee State University 14 Howard University     15 University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff 15 Jackson State University

 

 

Top 15 Division II HBCU Bands
(and Positions in each category)

	Division II “TOP 15” Overall	Points
1	Virginia State University	287.95
2	Fayetteville State University	280.55
3	Albany State University	276.25
4	Miles College	267.15
5	Elizabeth City State University	249.90
6	Winston Salem State University	246.10
7	Tuskegee University	244.75
8	Savannah State University	243
9	Florida Memorial	242.35
10	Edward Waters College	236.30
11	Langston University	234.10
12	Virginia Union University	225.30
13	Benedict College	225
14	Clark Atlanta University	222
15	Talladega College	220.30
Drum Major Top 15   Percussion Top 15   Musicality Top 15 1 Virginia State University  1 Virginia State University  1 Miles College 2 Fayetteville State University  2 Tuskegee University  2 Virginia State University  3 Florida Memorial 3 Miles College 3 Fayetteville State University  4 Edward Waters College 4 Fayetteville State University  4 Albany State University  5 Albany State University  5 Virginia Union University  5 Langston University  6 Tuskegee University  6 Florida A&M University 6 Savannah State University  7 Elizabeth City State University  7 Fort Valley State University 7 Benedict College 8 Savannah State University  8 Elizabeth City State University  8 Elizabeth City State University  9 Winston Salem State University 9 Langston University  9 Winston Salem State University 10 Talladega College 10 Talladega College 10 Florida Memorial 11 Central State University 11 Florida Memorial 11 Central State University 12 Clark Atlanta University  12 Edward Waters College 12 Allen University 13 Miles College 13 Benedict College 13 Tuskegee University  14 Fort Valley State University 14 Clark Atlanta University  14 Virginia Union University  15 Livingstone College 15 Winston Salem State University 15 Edward Waters College               Pics. Drill & Design Top 15   Auxiliaries Top 15     1 Virginia State University  1 Albany State University      2 Savannah State University  2 Fort Valley State University     3 Fayetteville State University  3 Florida Memorial     4 Winston Salem State University 4 Edward Waters College     5 Albany State University  5 Virginia State Trojan Explosion     6 Miles College 6 Fayetteville State University      7 Elizabeth City State University  7 Winston Salem State University     8 Benedict College 8 Morehouse College     9 Tuskegee University  9 Benedict College     10 Virginia Union University  10 Elizabeth City State University      11 Langston University  11 Clark Atlanta University      12 Clark Atlanta University  12 Johnson C. Smith University     13 Shaw University 13 Miles College     14 Fort Valley State University 14 Savannah State University      15 Allen University  15 Virginia Union University

 

Top 25 Metro ATL High School Bands
(This is not a September Ranking.
Only in Alphabetical Order)

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Preseason Rankings