Eight weeks in, no Southwestern Athletic Conference football team has established itself as the clear top team in the league. While much of the conference rested during a week of byes this past weekend, top-ranked Jackson State lost on the road to Bethune-Cookman.

Before the defeat, JSU was No. 1 in the Black College Football Poll and No. 22 in all of FCS football. It marked the Tigers’ second conference loss this fall after losing to Grambling on Oct. 10.

With each SWAC team entering Week 9 with at least one SWAC loss and one SWAC win, here are The Advocate’s SWAC Week 9 football power rankings.

1. Jackson State

Record: 6-2, 3-2

Previous ranking: 1

Last week: 24-21 loss at Bethune-Cookman

This week: Bye

Extra points: Quarterback Jared Lockhart was sacked a season-high of 4 times for a loss of 31 yards in the loss to Bethune-Cookman. The Tigers are currently third in the SWAC East division with one more conference loss than Bethune-Cookman and Alabama A&M. JSU finishes the season against Mississippi Valley State, Alabama State and Alcorn State.

2. Alabama A&M

Record: 6-2, 3-1

Previous ranking: 2

Last week: Bye

This week: 2:30 p.m., Saturday vs. Alabama State (Magic City Classic in Birmingham)

Extra points: The Bulldogs look to keep their position at the top of the SWAC East Division in this week’s Magic City Classic against Alabama State. To defeat the Hornets, who sit in fourth place in the division, Alabama A&M will have to snap a four-game losing streak against its in-state rival this weekend.

3. Bethune-Cookman

Record: 5-3, 3-1

Previous ranking: 4

Last week: 24-21 win vs. Jackson State

This week: 3 p.m., Saturday at Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Extra points: Graduate linebacker Stephen Sparrow earned SWAC Defensive Player of the Week honors after tallying up 11 total tackles, two tackles for a loss, a pass breakup, a sack and a forced fumble in the upset win over Jackson State. Junior quarterback Tyler Jefferson earned SWAC Football Newcomer of the Week honors after he threw the game-winning touchdown pass with 40 seconds remaining.

4. Grambling

Record: 4-2, 2-2

Previous ranking: 3

Last week: Bye

This week: 7:30 p.m., Saturday at Texas Southern

Extra points: Grambling is second in the SWAC West division standings coming off of a bye. The Tigers have lost the last two games against upcoming opponent Texas Southern. Grambling has the third-highest scoring offense in the conference, while Texas Southern gives up the SWAC's most points per game. Grambling has the third-best passing game in the SWAC, and Texas Southern has the No. 10 pass defense.

5. Alabama State

Record: 4-3, 2-2

Previous ranking: 5

Last week: Bye

This week: 2:30 p.m., Saturday vs. Alabama A&M (Magic City Classic in Birmingham)

Extra points: The question of the week surrounding the Magic City Classic is whether starting quarterback Andrew Body returns to the field. Body has been sidelined wearing a hard cast since Week 2 against Troy when he injured his non-throwing arm. Coach Eddie Robinson Jr. won't publicly reveal Body’s status, but Alabama A&M coach Sam Shade told reporters he’s preparing for him to be available.

6. Prairie View

Record: 4-5, 3-2

Previous ranking: 7

Last week: 30-19 win at East Texas A&M

This week: Bye

Extra points: The Panthers are at the top of the SWAC West division heading into the bye week. In last week’s win, senior quarterback Tevin Carter completed 19 of 25 passes for 237 yards and 2 touchdowns. Redshirt sophomore Chase Bingmon rushed for 77 yards on 9 carries and 2 touchdowns. Of Prairie View’s final three games, only one is against a division opponent – Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

7. Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Record: 4-3, 2-2

Previous ranking: 6

Last week: 31-28 win at Florida A&M

This week: 2 p.m., Saturday vs. Bethune-Cookman

Extra points: The Golden Lions are 1-0 after head coach Alonzo Hampton made clear to a reporter that his team was still in the SWAC West division race. UAPB is fourth in the division and trails leader Prairie View, who has one more division victory. Arkansas-Pine Bluff has never beaten Bethune-Cookman in three matchups dating back to 2005.

8. Alcorn State

Record: 4-4, 2-2

Previous ranking: 8

Last week: Bye

This week: 2 p.m., Saturday at Mississippi Valley State

Extra points: Alcorn State has the No. 1 offense in the conference, averaging 41.9 points per game. Senior quarterback Jaylon Tolbert is now the second-leading passer in the FCS, behind Drake’s Riley Warzynski, after the Braves’ bye. Next up for Alcorn State is Mississippi Valley State, who it has beaten in the past 12 meetings. Alcorn State’s 2013 win was vacated by the NCAA because ineligible student-athletes participated.

9. Mississippi Valley State

Record: 3-5, 2-2

Previous ranking: 9

Last week: Bye

This week: 2 p.m., Saturday vs. Alcorn State

Extra points: In order to beat Alcorn State for the first time since 2012, fifth-year quarterback Josh Brown will need to lead the way. Despite having the highest-scoring offense in the conference and one of the best quarterbacks in FCS, Alcorn State is very vulnerable defensively. The Braves currently have the No. 10 defense in the SWAC, and the dual-threat Brown can exploit that.

10. Florida A&M

Record: 2-6, 1-3

Previous ranking: 11

Last week: 31-28 loss vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff

This week: 3 p.m., Saturday vs. Southern

Extra points: The Rattlers remain at home a week after the tragic homecoming shooting that injured 12 people this past weekend. History is on Florida A&M’s side against Southern, a program it has defeated in the past six meetings. Rattlers freshman quarterback Armond Parker is someone to watch, as he averages 225.5 total yards a game, the third-most of any quarterback in the SWAC.

11. Texas Southern

Record: 2-5, 1-3

Previous ranking: 12

Last week: 24-21 win vs. Southern

This week: 7:30 p.m., Saturday vs. Grambling

Extra points: Texas Southern running back Athean Renfro Jr. earned SWAC Offensive Player of the Week honors after rushing for 135 yards on 23 carries and a touchdown. His running led to two of the three longest-scoring drives of the game, which leads us to SWAC Special Teams Player of the Week, freshman kicker Miguel Arana III. Arana’s game-winning field goal against Southern was 46 yards.

12. Southern

Record: 3-5, 1-3

Previous ranking: 10

Last week: 24-21 loss at Texas Southern

This week: 2 p.m., Saturday at Florida A&M

Extra points: Jaguars head coach Marshall Faulk said he was encouraged by his team’s fight on the road against Texas Southern, which clinched the victory on a last-second, 46-yard field goal. Still, the program has strides to make as it has the second-worst run defense in the SWAC and also ranks last in the conference in field goals and kickoffs.