The Southwestern Athletic Conference’s 2026 football season has truly been a journey to watch evolve from week to week, and the latest development comes from Huntsville, Alabama. Previously-ranked No. 1 Alabama A&M lost to Prairie View, and the conference powers have shifted again.

Here are The Advocate’s SWAC Week 11 football power rankings.

1. Jackson State

Record: 7-2, 4-2

Previous ranking: 2

Last week: 38-7 win vs. Mississippi Valley State

This week: 2 p.m., Saturday at Alabama State

Extra points: The Tigers benefited the most from Alabama A&M’s loss, both in the power rankings and SWAC East division standings. Jackson State now leads the East and owns the tiebreaker over the Bulldogs because of its 31-28 victory over Alabama A&M on Oct. 3. During senior day against Mississippi Valley State, defensive back Jalen Foster earned Defensive Player of the Week honors after grabbing two interceptions.

2. Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Record: 6-3, 4-2

Previous ranking: 3

Last week: 35-32 win at Grambling

This week: 2 p.m., Saturday vs. Prairie View

Extra points: The Golden Lions have won three games in a row since a reporter suggested they were out of the SWAC West race. UAPB is also in a three-way tie for the division lead. This weekend’s Prairie View game is easily the biggest in the conference. The Golden Lions have the top punt return attack in the SWAC, led by DaeDae Allen. PVAMU ranks second.

3. Prairie View

Record: 5-5, 4-2

Previous ranking: 5

Last week: 31-10 win vs. Alabama A&M

This week: 2 p.m., Saturday at Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Extra points: Prairie View is also in the three-way tie with Alcorn State and Arkansas-Pine Bluff for the SWAC West division title. Last season, the Panthers beat the Golden Lions 56-9 after losing 21-17 in 2024. Prairie View has the No. 10 pass defense in the SWAC, but it held Alabama A&M quarterback Cornelius Brown to 124 passing yards and 2 interceptions last week.

4. Alabama A&M

Record: 7-3, 4-2

Previous ranking: 1

Last week: 31-10 loss at Prairie View

This week: 2 p.m., Saturday vs. Texas Southern

Extra points: Alabama A&M looks to bounce back this week against Texas Southern. With Jackson State and Mississippi Valley State left on the schedule, the fate of their postseason hopes depends on JSU getting upset by either Alabama State or Alcorn State. Alabama A&M still has the third-highest scoring and third-lowest points allowed in the SWAC.

5. Alcorn State

Record: 6-4, 4-2

Previous ranking: 6

Last week: 38-20 win vs. Florida A&M

This week: 2 p.m., Saturday at Southern

Extra points: Alcorn State is a part of the three-way tie for the SWAC West division championship. The Braves hold the tiebreaker over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, thanks to a Sept. 12 win. However, Prairie View holds the tiebreaker over Alcorn after the Panthers’ Oct. 17 win over the Braves. Alcorn State can’t scoreboard watch too much this weekend, however, as it faces a confident Southern team on the road.

6. Alabama State

Record: 5-4, 3-3

Previous ranking: 9

Last week: 34-31 win at Texas Southern

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

Extra points: The Hornets have an outside shot at winning the SWAC East division, but the odds are much higher if they upset the Tigers, whom they haven't beaten since 2023, this weekend. Freshman quarterback Aaron Frye just earned SWAC Newcomer of the Week honors, but reigning SWAC Offensive Player of the Year Andrew Body has been cleared to play for ASU for the first time since Week 2.

7. Southern

Record: 5-5, 3-3

Previous ranking: 10

Last week: 45-17 win vs. Bethune-Cookman

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

Extra points: Southern is peaking at the right time with back-to-back wins in the SWAC nearing the end of the regular season, giving the Jaguars an outside shot at winning the West division. Running back Trey Holly leads the charge as the top rusher in the SWAC, also coming off a 206-yard, two touchdown performance against Bethune-Cookman.

8. Texas Southern

Record: 3-6, 2-4

Previous ranking: 7

Last week: 34-31 loss vs. Alabama State

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

Extra points: The Tigers get the opportunity to play spoiler against Alabama A&M this weekend on the road. Texas Southern defeated Alabama A&M 24-7 last season after losing to the Bulldogs in every game 2016-2024. This week is a test for Athean Renfro Jr., the SWAC’s second-leading rusher, against Alabama A&M, the SWAC’s No. 2 ranked run defense.

9. Bethune-Cookman

Record: 5-5, 3-3

Previous ranking: 4

Last week: 45-17 loss at Southern

This week: 12 p.m., Saturday vs. Grambling

Extra points: The Wildcats finish the season against Grambling and Florida A&M. Bethune-Cookman has split the last four games against the Tigers. Grambling has the third-worst run defense in the SWAC, while freshman running back Rashon Brown is the third-leading rusher in the conference, averaging 88.2 yards on the ground per contest. Five different Bethune-Cookman quarterbacks have thrown six interceptions in BCU’s past two losses.

10. Grambling

Record: 4-5, 2-4

Previous ranking: 8

Last week: 35-32 loss vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff

This week: 12 p.m., Saturday at Bethune-Cookman

Extra points: Grambling is at the bottom of the SWAC West division rankings, and is currently in the headlines more for on-field altercations than actual play. While featuring a top 5 offense in the conference, Grambling gives up the second-most points per game in the SWAC on defense. This week, the team faces Bethune-Cookman running back Rashon Brown before gearing up for the 53rd Annual Bayou Classic.

11. Mississippi Valley State

Record: 3-7, 2-4

Previous ranking: 11

Last week: 38-7 loss at Jackson State

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

Extra points: The Delta Devils have lost three games in a row, but they’ve managed to avoid the last spot in the Week 11 power rankings. This week’s opponent is Florida A&M, which is likely Mississippi Valley State’s best chance to avoid finishing last in the conference before the season finale against Alabama A&M the following week.

12. Florida A&M

Record: 2-8, 1-5

Previous ranking: 12

Last week: 38-20 loss at Alcorn State

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

Extra points: Florida A&M and first-year head coach Quinn Gray have experienced a lot of lows this fall, but a home matchup against Mississippi Valley State could give the Rattlers a chance to rebound late in the season. History isn’t automatically on FAMU’s side, as the Delta Devils have won the last two games in the head-to-head.