Marching Bronco Xpress Achieves Top Ranking
Fayetteville State University’s Marching Bronco Xpress has achieved a significant milestone by being named the number one band among Division II historically Black colleges and universities, according to the October 2026 Red Lobster Band of the Year rankings. This accolade comes after the band advanced from its previous position of second place, scoring 376.8 points and surpassing Virginia State and Albany State universities.
Recognition for Musical Excellence
The announcement, made on October 20, highlights the band’s accomplishments across five performance categories: musicality, drill and design, percussion, drum majors, and auxiliaries. The Marching Bronco Xpress excelled in musicality and percussion, earning scores of 116.3 and 65 points respectively, and ranked among the top four in each category.
Austin Chalmers, the director of bands at Fayetteville State University, acknowledged the dedication and hard work of the student musicians. He expressed pride in seeing their efforts recognized at such a high level of competition within HBCU band performance.
Balancing Academics and Performance
The rigorous schedule of the Marching Bronco Xpress requires students to juggle their academic responsibilities alongside rehearsals and performances at various athletic and community events. Chalmers attributes the band’s success to a culture of accountability and a commitment to continuous improvement, with students and staff collaborating to enhance musical execution and precision.
Teamwork and Resilience
Cole Blackwell, a senior and head drum major, emphasized the band’s unity and resilience in overcoming challenges throughout the season. He stated, “The challenges we’ve encountered throughout this year haven’t discouraged us; if anything, they’ve brought our band closer together and pushed us to work even harder.”
This collective effort has been crucial in achieving national recognition, as the band focuses on musicianship while maintaining an engaging performance style.
Future Challenges Ahead
The current ranking is part of a larger competition, with the Red Lobster Band of the Year set to narrow the Division II field to five bands in November. Ultimately, two of these bands will compete for the national title in December at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Chalmers acknowledged that while reaching the top position is a commendable achievement, sustaining this level of excellence presents a new challenge. He reinforced the idea that maintaining momentum will require the same level of dedication that led to their current success.
Source: Fayetteville State University
