The 2025 FCS playoff bracket was revealed on November 23, and for the first time since 2022, not a single HBCU program made the cut. Despite finishing 10-2 overall and 7-1 in the SWAC, the Alabama State Hornets were excluded from the 24-team field - a decision that has ignited fierce debate about playoff selection criteria, strength of schedule, and whether HBCU programs are being systematically overlooked.
The Numbers Don't Lie - Or Do They?
Let's start with the facts. Alabama State finished the 2025 season with a 10-2 overall record and 7-1 in SWAC play, claiming first place in the SWAC East Division. They capped their season with a resounding 58-21 demolition of Tuskegee in the 101st Turkey Day Classic on November 27.
This wasn't just a good season - it was historic. The Hornets posted their first 10-win campaign since 2004, boasted the top-ranked offense in the SWAC, and finished ranked 26th in the FCS Coaches Poll, receiving the most votes among unranked teams. Their only conference loss? A nail-biting 38-34 road defeat to No. 12 Jackson State - a team that earned national respect all season long.
Yet when the FCS playoff committee made their selections, Alabama State's name was nowhere to be found. Neither was any other HBCU program, marking the first playoff bracket without HBCU representation since 2022.
The Classic Conundrum: Profit vs. Playoffs
Here's where things get complicated. HBCU football operates in a unique ecosystem where lucrative "classic" games - the Turkey Day Classic, Magic City Classic, Bayou Classic, and others - generate massive revenue and cultural significance for these institutions. But there's a catch: many of these games are against Division II opponents or non-conference FCS teams that don't boost strength of schedule metrics.
Alabama State's 2025 schedule included two Division II opponents: Miles College and Tuskegee University. While these games are tradition-rich and financially beneficial, they work against teams in the eyes of the FCS playoff selection committee, which prioritizes strength of schedule alongside win-loss records.
The committee evaluates teams based on overall record, strength of schedule, quality wins, head-to-head results, and performance against common opponents. Playing Division II teams - even dominant wins - generally lowers perceived strength of schedule because they're considered lower-tier competition compared to FCS programs.
This creates an impossible choice for HBCU athletic directors: schedule the classics that fund your entire athletic department and preserve cultural traditions, or chase playoff-friendly schedules that might leave you financially strapped but selection-committee approved?
Eddie Robinson Jr. Speaks Out
Alabama State head coach Eddie Robinson Jr. - son of the legendary Grambling coach - didn't mince words about the snub. Robinson questioned the committee's decision, emphasizing that the issue extends beyond just Alabama State to how HBCU programs from the SWAC and MEAC are systematically evaluated.
"This isn't just about us," Robinson said, pointing to Jackson State's No. 12 national ranking as proof that the SWAC deserved more respect. He advocated for at-large bids for strong HBCU teams beyond conference champions, arguing that Alabama State's resume - including a competitive showing against FBS opponent UAB (a narrow loss) and only one conference defeat to a top-15 team - should have warranted serious consideration.
Robinson's frustration is understandable. The Hornets went 10-2. They dominated their division. They beat quality SWAC opponents. And they showed they could compete with higher-division teams. But in the committee's eyes, it wasn't enough.
The HBCU Playoff Drought
The 2025 playoff bracket's complete absence of HBCU teams is particularly jarring given recent history. In 2022, 2023, and 2024, HBCU programs like Jackson State and South Carolina State represented their conferences as automatic qualifiers, though they struggled to advance past the first round.
The MEAC holds a 6-28 all-time record in FCS playoff games since 1981, highlighting the uphill battle HBCU programs face in postseason play. But exclusion from the field entirely? That's a different story - and a troubling one for fans who believe these programs deserve their shot.
The reality is that SWAC and MEAC teams often face a double standard. They're criticized for scheduling Division II opponents, yet those games are essential revenue generators. They're told to improve their strength of schedule, yet power FCS conferences rarely schedule home-and-home series with HBCU schools. And when they do post 10-win seasons with quality conference wins, they're still left out.
What's Next for Alabama State?
Despite the playoff snub, Alabama State's 2025 season was undeniably a success. The Hornets proved they belong in conversations about elite FCS programs. They energized their fan base. They brought national attention to HBCU football. And they sent a message that they're not going anywhere.
But the question remains: what does it take for a SWAC team to earn an at-large playoff bid? Is 10-2 not good enough? Do HBCU programs need to go undefeated and schedule exclusively FCS opponents? And if so, can they afford to abandon the classics that sustain their programs?
The FCS playoff committee owes HBCU football - and Alabama State specifically - answers. Because right now, it feels like the goalposts keep moving, and no matter how many wins these programs rack up, it's never quite enough.
Alabama State finished 10-2 and won their division. They deserved better than being left out in the cold. The committee needs to do better - and HBCU football deserves a fair shot at the postseason.
Stinger Up. Hornet Pride. And a whole lot of unfinished business for 2026.
