Jackson State received one less first place vote than defending Celebration Bowl champion South Carolina State but outpaced the Bulldogs by two points and top the BOXTOROW HBCU Preseason Media Poll.
Defending champion Bowie State received three first place votes and begin the 2022 season in the No. 4 spot.
Florida A&M begins the season No. 3 while defending SIAC champion Albany State rounds out the top five. Southern and North Carolina A&T who did not finish in the top 10 of the final poll of 2021 begin the season at No. 9 and No. 10, respectively.
The BOXTOROW Media Poll is administered by FROM THE PRESS BOX TO PRESS ROW and in its 16th year, is voted on by media members around the country who cover HBCU football.
2022 BOXTOROW Preseason HBCU Football Media Poll
| No. | Team | W-L | Pts | 2021 Final Rank |
| 1 | Jackson State (7) | 11-2 | 164 | 3 |
| 2 | SC State (8) | 7-5 | 162 | 2 |
| 3 | Florida A&M | 9-3 | 144 | 4 |
| 4 | Bowie State (3) | 12-2 | 101 | 1 |
| 5 | Albany State | 10-2 | 64 | 5 |
| 6 | Alabama A&M | 7-3 | 62 | 7 |
| 7 | Prairie View A&M | 7-5 | 55 | 6 |
| 8 | Alcorn State | 6-5 | 51 | 9 |
| 9 | Southern | 4-7 | 35 | NR |
| 10 | North Carolina A&T | 5-6 | 33 | NR |
Others receiving votes: Savannah State (8-2) 30, Fayetteville State (8-2) 23, North Carolina Central (6-5) 19, Norfolk State (6-5) 14, Tennessee State (5-6) 12, Alabama State (5-6) 8, Langston (7-3) 5, Grambling (4-7) 5, Kentucky State (7-4) 1, Benedict (5-5) 1.
(1st place votes in parentheses)