Fayetteville State University's Marching Bronco Xpress Marches to No. 1 in National Band Rankings

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The powerful sound of the brass section. The thunderous rhythm of the drumline. The precision of every step and the energy that brings a crowd to its feet. For Fayetteville State University's Marching Bronco Xpress (MBX), every performance is an opportunity to showcase the talent, discipline and unmistakable Bronco pride that define the program. Now, that commitment to excellence has earned the band national recognition. 

Fayetteville State University’s Marching Bronco Xpress rose to No. 1 among Division II historically Black colleges and universities in the October 2026 Red Lobster Band of the Year rankings. Climbing from No. 2 in September, MBX scored 376.8 points to move ahead of Virginia State and Albany State universities.

The recognition, announced Oct. 20, reflects the band's excellence across five performance categories: musicality; pictures, drill and design; percussion; drum majors; and auxiliaries. MBX led in musicality and percussion, earning 116.3 and 65 points, respectively and placed among the top four in every category. 

For Austin Chalmers, FSU's director of bands, the ranking reflects countless hours of preparation, the sacrifices made by student musicians and a shared commitment to raising the standard of excellence. 

"As Director of Bands, there is no greater reward than seeing our students' hard work and commitment to excellence recognized on this level of HBCU band performance," he said. 

Behind the high-energy performances and signature MBX sound is a demanding schedule that requires students to balance academics, rehearsals and appearances at athletic and community events throughout the year. Chalmers credits the band's progress to a culture of accountability, consistency and continuous improvement, with students and staff working together to sharpen musical execution, strengthen ensemble balance and improve precision. 

That collective commitment has helped transform individual effort into a nationally recognized performance. 

For Cole Blackwell, a senior business administration major from Ahoskie and head drum major of the Marching Bronco Xpress, the achievement reflects the band's resilience and unity throughout the season. 

"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," Blackwell said. "That collective effort is what propelled us to the top spot, and we believe this recognition is well deserved." 

The band's success is rooted in a philosophy that places musicianship at the center of every performance. While MBX is known for the excitement and showmanship associated with HBCU marching bands, Chalmers emphasizes the importance of tone quality, rhythmic accuracy, ensemble balance and technical precision in creating its distinctive sound. 

The No. 1 ranking also reflects the program's continued growth and the university's investment in student success. Beyond performances on the field, MBX gives students opportunities to develop leadership, discipline and teamwork while representing Fayetteville State throughout the community and beyond. 

Still, the band's journey is far from over. 

The October rankings are part of the larger Red Lobster Band of the Year competition, which will narrow the Division II field to five programs in November. Two bands will ultimately advance to compete for the national title in December at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. 

For Chalmers, maintaining the momentum will require the same dedication that brought MBX to the top. 

"We are proud of this accomplishment, but we also understand that reaching No. 1 is only part of the journey," Chalmers said. "Maintaining that level of excellence is the greater challenge, and that is what we will continue striving toward." 

And if the MBX has anything to say about it, the journey ahead will be anything but quiet. "You can either get on board the Xpress or get left behind," Blackwell said.