College football team follows UCF model, declares itself 'national champions' after 9-3 season
A few years ago, the UCF Knights declared themselves national champions after finishing off an unbeaten season with a Peach Bowl victory over Auburn.
Well, apparently you don’t have to go 13-0 like the Knights to declare yourself a national champion.
As you can see below, Florida A&M has named itself national champion for the 2021 HBCU season after finishing atop the HBCU power rankings on NCAA.com:
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? https://t.co/qiDRXOfxtR#FAMU | #Rattlers | #LeaveNoDoubt | #NationalChampions pic.twitter.com/d9EBl27Aju
— Florida A&M Football ? (@FAMU_FB) December 19, 2021
Florida A&M lost to Jackson State, USF and Southeastern Louisiana, with the last of those 3 losses coming in the first round of the FCS playoffs.
So, yeah, it’s safe to say fans had some questions about the “national champions” designation:
Someone writing an article does not make you a national champion https://t.co/alcCi93Ng3
— Jordan (@JLew_5) December 19, 2021
This must be a Florida thing. Remember when UCF declared themselves national champions and bought rings in 2017. https://t.co/FhMgZm4mWl
— Ms. Jones (@SaxyladyinMD) December 19, 2021
“The Rattlers finished the season with a loss in the FCS playoffs after winning eight straight games to get there.”
“National Champions” https://t.co/ecGlodcWsd
— Garrett- President of the Hartman Truther Club (@BOOSKER4) December 19, 2021
FAMU not wasting time waiting for one of the normal designating polls to put them at #1 before claiming a share of the HBCU title.
Should be fun to watch play out. https://t.co/jzlaP2OXyI pic.twitter.com/y1kSh2Sjie
— RedditFCS (@Reddit_FCS) December 19, 2021
When you see other schools following after your example https://t.co/98Pl8FlWPz pic.twitter.com/KswPVyCcmg
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) December 19, 2021
It seems likely some other HBCU schools will have something to say about this bold declaration from Florida A&M.
