Power Rankings (High Major/Division 1) – October 2023

1) – The Marching Spartan Legion (Norfolk St. University)

The Spartan Legion has been a bit of an unknown quantity to some southern audiences outside of MEAC and CIAA country for a good deal of their existence. That’s definitely NOT the case this season. There isn’t a better blend of on-field sound quality, execution, show cohesiveness, and overall attention to detail, than the Legion’s on-field product through the first quarter of the performance season. In a season where great field show presentations are at a premium, The Legion may have the best overall esprit de corps and field presence for general audiences to enjoy. Heck of a start to the season for the Legion. They’re going to be a factor all the way up to Championship Weekend in the “ATL”.

2) – The Blue & Gold Marching Machine (North Carolina A&T St. Univ.)

The BGMM has earned a reputation for being an innovative band on the field. The first half of this season has done nothing to change that narrative for the folks from Greensboro. Lots of blending between traditional show-style and Corps-style drilling concepts combined with a mastery of presenting themed shows give the Machine the ability to present audiences with a fluid halftime experience from start to finish. From the announcer to the integration of auxiliary and overall show themes, There aren’t many programs out there that can give you the kind of show the BGMM can do from start to finish. Will that be enough to keep A&T in one of the slots for Championship Weekend? It’s definitely going to take a lot of attention to detail to dislodge them.

3) – The Human Jukebox (Southern University)

The Jukebox’s execution of the traditional, squad-based, goalline-to-goalline, Moffitt-style (Patterns In Motion) drill concept is second to none. It’s one of the most iconic signatures in HBCU Bandom, and it’s going to keep the Jukebox a consistent threat to take home that inaugural title on Celebration Bowl weekend. Past editions of the Jukebox may have a hair more sound clarity on the field than this year’s version of the band, but that doesn’t change the fact that the sound concept itself is arguably the most recognizable in the entire craft.

4) – The Ocean Of Soul (Texas Southern University)

The growth and maturation of Brian Simmons and that staff are front and center with the shows that the Ocean’s put together during the first quarter of this season. It’s hard to retain sound clarity and quality while performing Moffitt-style drills with the intensity that TSU has in their sound concept, but they’ve been excellent at it so far this year. To go further, they’ve been arguably the BEST drill executing band, pound-for-pound, in the SWAC for what they do conceptually. It hasn’t gone unnoticed here. It’s also made them a serious contender for making Celebration Bowl weekend.

5) – The Sonic Boom Of The South (Jackson St. University)

The Boom’s on-field entertainment “WOW” factor is the most dynamic of the bands in this first edition of the VFTS Power Rankings. When they’re executing well, there isn’t a more entertaining band to watch in all of HBCU Bandom if you’re a casual fan. The sound quality on the field has also been top-notch, though there have been some shows where the intensity has been a bit uneven. Those small nuances notwithstanding, the Boom is always one great show away from wowing an audience, and possibly getting to Atlanta as a result.

6) – The Incomparable Marching 100 (Florida A&M University)

The Incomparable Marching 100…In concert formation…There isn’t a more audibly satisfying sound in all of the craft than FAMU turning on the stereophonic sound for one of their signature ballads. There’s always been an “elite” aura around the presence the Marching 100 puts on the field before a show. The history of the program lends a lot to that aura. This year’s edition of the 100 has the same sound quality and high level of show cohesiveness, though some of the visual attention to detail-oriented items that FAMU has made famous have been slightly inconsistent from show to show. I wouldn’t bet against the “100” not making the adjustments, though. They may be #6 in this first poll, but the field presence and sound concept make them a serious contender to move up the rankings and become a legit threat to showcase on Championship Weekend.

7) – The Marching Wildcats (Bethune Cookman University)

It’s no surprise to see the Marching Wildcats smack dab in the middle of the first VFTS Power Ranking of the season. Visual attention to detail is something that makes good programs GREAT on the field, and the Marching Wildcats are bonafide masters at it. Outside of Norfolk State, there isn’t a more uniform and disciplined visual field concept than BCU. NOBODY is out of the pocket on drills, though their penchant for not pushing the creative envelope in that department may be a point of concern as the season goes along. Make no mistake though; The Wildcats have the right ingredients to make a push for the final two before the season is done with.

8) – The Mighty Marching Hornets (Alabama State University)

There’s a lot to be said about staff development and maturation when it comes to the on-field success of an HBCU band program. The MMH has been the poster child for everything good with that sentiment going into this season. The sound quality of the band on the field this season has become the hallmark of their performances. Show pacing and speed have varied from performance to performance, but it hasn’t had a negative overall effect on audiences watching. The Stingettes, Honeybees, and the creative nature of how those auxiliary units are integrated with MMH field offerings add an extra bit of pop to halftime shows, that many programs may be hard-pressed to match. With the Magic City Classic coming up (along with other opportunities at Jackson State, etc.), the Mighty Marching Hornets have the opportunity to stake their claim and move up the polls to challenge those top two qualifying slots for Atlanta.

9) – The Aristocrat Of Bands (Tennessee State University)

Making Grammy-Award winning dreams come true turned out to be light work for the Aristocrats which, of course, set the expectations for the program coming into this season pretty high. They haven’t disappointed. If the halftime shows in South Bend ( Notre Dame) and Atlanta (Atlanta Falcons Halftime) are indicators, the Crats are starting to round into mid-season form. Shows have been high-energy, though tempo and sound projection for some of those performances during the drill have been a bit inconsistent. Shore those things up and you’ve got an instant contender to move up the poll.

10) – The World Famed (Grambling State University)

Grambling’s entire on-field presentation and identity are centered around really visually engaging the audience throughout the ENTIRETY of a given halftime show, sometimes to a fault. The halftime product this season is more of that same M.O. The difference this year is the sound quality that The World Famed has brought to these performances. When the band is projecting the way they’re supposed to, they sound great. The entertainment factor is definitely there, though. With those elements in the right balance, the World Famed is capable of really putting together a compelling halftime product. they’re also capable of moving up the poll if the overall consistency gets better.

Next Bands Up:

PVAMU, Alabama A&M, Alcorn State, Mississippi Valley State