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: October 3, 2024
November Rankings: November 26, 2024
Final Cumulative Ranking: December 4, 2024

ESPN Top 5 Bands in Division I and II

Congratulations are extended to our ESPN Top 5 Bands in Division I and II.  FINAL rankings are based on the cumulative totals throughout the season, in addition to criteria established by our ESPN Band of the Year Directors Committee essential to the Band of the Year competition.

Two of the Top Bands will be invited to perform in Atlanta on December 13, 2024, in Mercedes Benz Stadium beginning at 7:00 pm.

 

Top 5 “FINAL” Division I Rankings	Head Band Director
1. North Carolina A&T Blue & Gold Marching Machine	Dr. Kenneth Ruff, Director
2. Florida A&M Marching 100	Dr. Shelby Chipman
3. Southern University Human Juke Box	Dr. Kedric Taylor
4. Tennessee State Aristocrat of Bands	Dr. Reginald McDonald
5. Texas Southern University Ocean of Soul	Professor Brian Simmons

 

Top 5 “FINAL” Division II Rankings	Head Band Director
1. Virginia State Trojan Explosion	Dr. Taylor Whitehead
2. Miles College Purple Marching Machine	Professor Willie Snipes
3. Winston Salem Red Sea of Sound	Dr. Michael Magruder
4. Florida Memorial Marching ROAR	Dr. Richard Beckford
5. Savannah State Powerhouse of the South	Dr. Gabriel Arnold

 

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November 2024

 

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	Drum Major	Percussion	Musicality	Pic. Drill & Design	Auxiliary
1	North Carolina A&T University	322	1	1	4	1	1
2	Florida A&M University	307	4	4	1	4	9
3	Tennessee State University	302	3	3	7	7	12
4	Norfolk State University	301	17	2	3	5	3
5	Bethune Cookman University	291.5	6	5	6	8	16
6	Southern University	280	11	14	5	3	2
7	Texas Southern University	278.3	8	8	9	6	17
8	Jackson State University	276	14	16	2	2	5
9	Alabama State University	267	10	7	17	9	7
10	Prairie View A&M University	262.5	2	18	8	10	8
11	Alabama A&M University	258.5	10	7	17	9	7
12	South Carolina State University	257.6
13	Grambling State University	257
14	North Carolina State Central Univeristy	255.5
15	Alcorn State University	248.5
Drum Major Top 10   Percussion Top 10   Musicality Top 10 1 North Carolina A&T University 1 North Carolina A&T University 1 Florida A&M University 2 Prairie View A&M University 2 Norfolk State University 2 Jackson State University 3 Tennessee State University  3 Tennessee State University (Independent) 3 Norfolk State University 4 Florida A&M University 4 Florida A&M University 4 North Carolina A&T University 5 North Carolina Central University 5 Bethune- Cookman University 5 Southern University 6 Bethune Cookman University 6 Alcorn State University 6 Bethune- Cookman University 7 South Carolina State University 7 Alabama State University 7 Tennessee State University (Independent) 8 Texas Southern University 8 Texas Southern University 8 Prairie View A&M University 9 Alabama A&M University 9 South Carolina State University 9 Texas Southern University 10 Alabama State University 10 Alabama A&M University 10 North Carolina Central University               Pics. Drill & Design Top 10   Dance Top 10   Flag Top 10 1 North Carolina A&T University 1 Alabama State University 1 North Carolina A&T University 2 Jackson State University 2 Texas Southern University 2 Norfolk State University 3 Southern University 3 North Carolina A&T University 3 South Carolina State University 4 Florida A&M University 4 Southern University 4 Florida A&M University 5 Norfolk State University 5 Grambling State University 5 Morgan State University 6 Texas Southern University 6 Jackson State University 6 Prairie View A&M University 7 Tennessee State University (Independent) 7 Mississippi Valley State University 7 North Carolina Central University 8 Bethune- Cookman University 8 Alabama A&M University 8 University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff 9 Alabama State University 9 Norfolk State University 9 Alabama State University 10 Prairie View A&M University 10 Prairie View A&M University 10 Howard University               Majorette Top 5         1 North Carolina A&T University         2 Hampton University (independent)         3 South Carolina State University         4 Howard University         5 Texas Southern University

 

 

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

 

	Division II Overall Top 15	Total Points	Drum Major	Percussion	Musicality	Pic. Drill & Design	Auxiliary
1	Virginia State University	310.5	6	2	1	9	3
2	Florida Memorial	310.3	8	3	5	2	2
3	Miles College	298	2	1	7	5	11
4	Langston University (Independent)	297.5	3	8	3	3	17
5	Central State University	285.5	4	9	10	4	18
6	Edward Waters College (Independent)	284	18	5	16	6	1
7	Fort Valley State University	278	14	4	13	10	4
8	Fayetteville State University	278	16	12	2	11	9
9	Winston- Salem State University	276	1	6	9	1	23
10	Savannah State	273	9	10	6	13	7
11	Elizabeth City State University	265
12	Tuskegee College	258
13	Clark Atlanta University	256.5
14	Bowie State University	251.5
15	Albany State University	244.6
	Major Top 10		Percussion Top 10		Musicality Top 10
1	Winston- Salem State University	1	Virginia State University	1	Virginia State University
2	Central State University	2	Florida Memorial	2	Fayetteville State University
3	Elizabeth City State University	3	Miles College	3	Langston University (Independent)
4	Langston University (Independent)	4	Fort Valley State University	4	Benedict College
5	Miles College	5	Edward Waters College (Independent)	5	Florida Memorial
6	Tuskegee College	6	Winston- Salem State University	6	Savannah State
7	Virginia State University	7	Lincoln University	7	Miles College
8	Benedict College	8	Langston University (Independent)	8	Elizabeth City State University
9	Florida Memorial	9	Central State University	9	Winston- Salem State University
10	Savannah State	10	Savannah State	10	Central State University
	Pic. Drill and Design Top 10		Dance Top 10		Flag Top 10
1	Winston- Salem State University	1	Edward Waters College (Independent)	1	Elizabeth City State University
2	Florida Memorial	2	Florida Memorial	2	Virginia State University
3	Langston University (Independent)	3	Tuskegee College	3	Miles College
4	Central State University	4	Fayetteville State University	4	Bowie State University
5	Miles College	5	Fort Valley State University	5	Savannah State University
6	Edward Waters College (Independent)	6	Morehouse College	6	Clark Atlanta University
7	Clark Atlanta University	7	Winston Salem State University	7	Edward Waters College (Independent)
8	Albany State University	8	Johnson C. Smith University	8	Lincoln University
9	Virginia State University	9	Savannah State University	9	Shaw University
10	Fort Valley State University	10	Bowie State University	10	Benedict College
	Majorette Top 4
1	Virginia State University
2	Florida Memorial
3	Johnson C. Smith University
4	Albany State University

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                               

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October 2024

 

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	Drum Major	Percussion	Musicality	Pic. Drill & Design	Auxiliary
1	North Carolina A&T University	330	3	1	2	1	1
2	Florida A&M University	317	1	4	1	3	11
3	Jackson State University	314	2	6	4	2	12
4	Bethune Cookman University	307.5	6	7	5	4	8
5	Norfolk State University	306	10	3	10	7	8
6	Southern University	305	7	10	9	6	2
7	Tennessee State University	304	14	9	6	8	3
8	Alabama A&M University	300.5	8	5	3	10	10
9	Alabama State University	290.5	4	12	7	11	5
10	Grambling State University	286.5	9	17	11	8	7
11	Texas Southern University	285.5	13	16	14	5	9
12	Prairie View A&M University	282.5	12	13	8	12	6
13	Alcorn State University	277.5	5	2	12	13	19
14	Hampton University	260.6	16	8	13	21	4
15	Mississippi Valley State University	253	11	11	18	15	15
Drum Major Top 10   Percussion Top 10   Musicality Top 10 1 Florida A&M University 1 North Carolina A&T University 1 Florida A&M University 2 Jackson State University 2 Alcorn State University 2 North Carolina A&T University 3 North Carolina A&T University 3 Norfolk State University 3 Alabama A&M University 4 Alabama State University 4 Florida A&M University 4 Jackson State University 5 Alcorn State University 5 Alabama A&M University 5 Bethune- Cookman University 6 Bethune- Cookman University 6 Jackson State University 6 Tennessee State University  7 Southern University 7 Bethune- Cookman University 7 Alabama State University 8 Alabama A&M University 8 Hampton University 8 Prairie View A&M University 9 Grambling State University 9 Tennessee State University 9 Southern University 10 Norfolk State University 10 Southern University 10 Norfolk State University               Pics. Drill & Design Top 10   Dance Top 10   Flag Top 10 1 North Carolina A&T University 1 Alabama State University 1 North Carolina A&T University 2 Jackson State University 2 North Carolina A&T University 2 Norfolk State University 3 Florida A&M University 3 Prairie View A&M University 3 Hampton University (Independent) 4 Bethune- Cookman University 4 Southern University 4 Alabama State University 5 Texas Southern University 5 Tennessee State University (Independent) 5 Alabama A&M University 6 Southern University 6 Hampton University (Independent) 6 Prairie View A&M University 7 Norfolk State University 7 Texas Southern University 7 Texas Southern University 8 Tennessee State University 8 Alcorn State University 8 Florida A&M University 9 Grambling State University 9 Grambling State University 9 North Carolina Central University 10 Alabama A&M University 10 South Carolina University 10 University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff               Majorette Top 5         1 North Carolina A&T University         2 Hampton University (independent)         3 Grambling State University         4 Howard University         5 South Carolina State University

 

 

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

 

	Division II Overall Top 15	Total Points	Drum Major	Percussion	Musicality	Pic. Drill & Design	Auxiliary
1	Virginia State University	313.3	4	2	1	1	2
2	Florida Memorial	309	2	4	5	3	1
3	Savannah State	293.5	1	8	6	5	7
4	Langston University (Independent)	291.5	6	5	2	2	10
5	Winston- Salem State University	288.5	12	13	3	4	5
6	Miles College	282	3	17	4	6	8
7	Tuskegee College	280.5	16	11	7	8	4
8	Edward Waters College (Independent)	280	13	1	12	12	17
9	Fayetteville State University	277	8	10	10	9	16
10	Elizabeth City State University	272.5	15	6	13	7	11
11	Fort Valley State University	266	18	9	14	17	6
12	Shaw University	265.5	9	18	8	11	20
13	Bowie State University	265.5	11	7	15	13	13
14	Clark Atlanta	252	7	20	17	16	21
15	Albany State University	251.5	10	16	20	10	15
	Major Top 10		Percussion Top 10		Musicality Top 10
1	Savannah State	1	Edward Waters College (Independent)	1	Virginia State University
2	Florida Memorial	2	Virginia State University	2	Langston University (Independent)
3	Miles College	3	Central State University	3	Winston Salem State University
4	Virginia State University	4	Florida Memorial	4	Miles College
5	Allen University (Independent)	5	Langston University (Independent)	5	Florida Memorial
6	Langston University (Independent)	6	Elizabeth City State University	6	Savannah State
7	Clark Atlanta University	7	Bowie State University	7	Tuskegee College
8	Fayetteville State University	8	Savannah State	8	Shaw University
9	Shaw University	9	Fort Valley State University	9	Central State University
10	Albany State University	10	Fayetteville State University	10	Fayetteville State University
	Pic. Drill and Design Top 10		Dance Top 10		Flag Top 10
1	Virginia State University	1	Florida Memorial	1	Florida Memorial
2	Langston University (Independent)	2	Virginia State University	2	Morehouse College
3	Florida Memorial	3	Morehouse College	3	Virginia State University
4	Winston Salem State University	4	Tuskegee College	4	Tuskegee College
5	Savannah State	5	Winston Salem State University	5	Winston Salem State University
6	Miles College	6	Fort Valley State University	6	Savannah State
7	Elizabeth City State University	7	Bowie State University	7	Allen University
8	Tuskegee College	8	Fayetteville State University	8	Fayetteville State University
9	Fayetteville State University	9	Miles College	9	Elizabeth City State University
10	Albany State University	10	Savannah State	10	Miles College
	Majorette Top 4
1	Florida Memorial
2	Virginia State University
3	Clark Atlanta University
4	Fayetteville State University

 

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September 2024

 

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	Drum Major	Percussion	Musicality	Drill and Design	Auxiliary
1	North Carolina A&T University	323.5	10	1	4	4	3
2	Southern University	321	12	4	5	6	1
3	Norfolk State University	319	5	3	1	4	9
4	Jackson State University	313	4	8	3	5	11
5	Bethune Cookman University	309.5	2	7	9	1	16
6	Florida A&M University	309	16	2	2	2	17
7	Texas Southern University	305.5	1	17	8	7	7
8	Prairie View A&M University	298	11	9	11	12	5
9	Alabama State University	297.5	8	10	7	8	18
10	Tennessee State University	295	7	15	6	13	6
11	Alcorn State University	289	15	11	10	11	14
12	Alabama A&M University	287.5	14	5	13	17	4
13	University of Arkansas Pine Bluff	278.5	6	19	20	9	13
14	Grambling State University	278	20	18	15	10	2
15	North Carolina Central University	278	3	14	17	18	10
Drum Major Top 10   Percussion Top 10   Musicality Top 10 1 Texas Southern University 1 North Carolina A&T University 1 Norfolk State University 2 Bethune Cookman University 2 Florida A&M University 2 Florida A&M University 3 North Carolina Central University 3 Norfolk State University 3 Jackson State University 4 Jackson State University 4 Southern University 4 North Carolina A&T University 5 Norfolk State University 5 Alabama A&M University 5 Southern University 6 University of Arkansas Pine Bluff 6 South Carolina State University 6 Tennessee State University (Independent) 7 Tennessee State University 7 Bethune- Cookman University 7 Alabama State University 8 Alabama State University 8 Jackson State University 8 Texas Southern University 9 Howard University 9 Prairie View A&M University 9 Bethune- Cookman University 10 North Carolina A&T University 10 Alabama State University 10 Alcorn State University               Pics. Drill & Design Top 10   Dance Top 10   Flag Top 10 1 Bethune- Cookman University 1 Texas Southern University 1 North Carolina A&T University 2 Florida A&M University 2 Southern University 2 Norfolk State University 3 Norfolk State University 3 Grambling State University 3 North Carolina Central University 4 North Carolina A&T University 4 Alabama A&M University 4 South Carolina State University 5 Jackson State University 5 North Carolina A&T University 5 Alabama A&M University 6 Southern University 6 Prairie View A&M University 6 Prairie View A&M University 7 Texas Southern University 7 Howard University 7 Hampton University (Independent) 8 Alabama State University 8 University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff 8 Howard University 9 University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff 9 Tennessee State University (Independent) 9 Morgan State University 10 Grambling State University 10 Alabama State University 10 Alcorn State University               Majorette Top 3         1 Hampton University (Independent)         2 Howard University         3 South Carolina State University

 

 

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

 

	Division II Overall Top 15	Total Points	Drum Major	Percussion	Musicality	Pic. Drill & Design	Auxiliary
1	Miles College	293	1	1	4	2	12
2	Florida Memorial	286	2	2	8	1	5
3	Virginia State University	284.6	16	4	1	10	3
4	Winston- Salem State University	269.5	10	14	2	12	8
5	Tuskegee College	267	12	7	3	21	2
6	Albany State University	258	11	12	7	5	7
7	Langston University (Independent)	256	4	16	9	3	11
8	Talladega College (Independent)	251	6	6	17	8	13
9	Central State University	249	3	9	21	6	10
10	Morehouse College	248.5	9	15	10	11	1
11	Fayetteville State University	245	13	3	14	9	17
12	Savannah State	244.5	5	20	11	4	16
13	Elizabeth City State University	239.5	7	17	18	7	4
14	Benedict College	238.5	8	11	6	14	20
15	Edward Waters College (Independent)	233.5	21	13	5	15	14
	Major Top 10		Percussion Top 10		Musicality Top 10
1	Miles College	1	Miles College	1	Virginia State University
2	Florida Memorial	2	Florida Memorial	2	Winston Salem State University
3	Central State University	3	Fayetteville State University	3	Tuskegee College
4	Langston University (Independent)	4	Virginia State University	4	Miles College
5	Savannah State	5	Lincoln University	5	Edward Waters College (Independent)
6	Talladega College (Independent)	6	Talladega College (Independent)	6	Benedict College
7	Elizabeth City State University	7	Tuskegee College	7	Albany State University
8	Benedict College	8	Shaw University	8	Florida Memorial
9	Morehouse College	9	Central State University	9	Langston University (Independent)
10	Winston- Salem State University	10	Bowie State University	10	Morehouse College
	Pic. Drill and Design Top 10		Dance Top 10		Flag Top 10
1	Florida Memorial	1	Morehouse College	1	Virginia State University
2	Miles College	2	Tuskegee College	2	Florida Memorial
3	Langston University	3	Elizabeth City State University	3	Morehouse College
4	Savannah State	4	Albany State University	4	Elizabeth City State University
5	Albany State University	5	Fort Valley State University	5	Tuskegee College
6	Central State University	6	Central State University	6	Winston Salem State University
7	Elizabeth City State University	7	Florida Memorial	7	Bowie State University
8	Talladega	8	Bowie State University	8	Shaw University
9	Fayetteville State University	9	Langston University	9	Albany State University
10	Virginia State University	10	Winston Salem State University	10	Miles College
	Majorette Top 2
1	Virginia State University
2	Florida Memorial