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In HBCU football, a “classic” matchup has been a premier event for decades. HBCU homecomings can be even bigger, bringing together alumni to celebrate. Both classics and homecomings often see rivals play head-to-head and carry historical value. Fans, players, alumni and more all get excited for these games.

In 2026, there are multiple classics and homecomings that feature at least one HBCU team from the FCS level. Below, we’ll provide the scheduling information for these games, plus a few additional headliner HBCU football matchups, including the MEAC/SWAC Challenge and the Celebration Bowl, for instance.

Here is every HBCU homecoming and classic scheduled for 2026:

2026 HBCU homecoming schedule

Date
Homecoming Host
Opponent
Location

Sept. 19
Bethune-Cookman
Virginia Lynchburg
Daytona Beach, Fla.

Oct. 3
Grambling State
Alcorn State
Grambling, La.

 
Southern
Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Baton Rouge, La.

Oct. 10
Morgan State
Robert Morris
Baltimore

 
North Carolina Central
William & Mary
Durham, N.C.

 
Alabama State
Florida A&M
Montgomery, A.L.

 
Delaware State
Opponent TBA
Dover, Del.

 
Alcorn State
Arkansas Baptist
Lorman, Miss.

 
Texas Southern
Mississippi Valley State
Houston

 
Norfolk State
Virginia Lynchburg
Norfolk, Va.

Oct. 17
Howard
Morehouse
Washington, D.C.

 
Tennessee State
Morgan State
Nashville, Tenn.

 
Alabama A&M
Grambling State
Huntsville, Ala.

 
Prairie View A&M
Alcorn State
Prairie View, Texas

 
Jackson State
Florida A&M
Jackson, Miss.

 
Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Alabama State
Pine Bluff, Ark.

 
Mississippi Valley State
Bethune-Cookman
Itta Bena, Miss.

Oct. 24
Hampton
Monmouth
Hampton, Va.

 
South Carolina State
Norfolk State
Orangeburg, S.C.

 
Florida A&M
Arkansas Pine-Bluff
Tallahassee, Fla.

Oct. 31
North Carolina A&T
Elon
Greensboro, N.C.

Some notable DII homecoming games we’ll be tracking include:

October 10 | Albany State | Opponent: Lane College
October 10 | Virginia State | Opponent: Livingston College
October 17 | Clark Atlanta | Opponent: Allen (SC)
October 17 | Savannah State | Opponent: Fort Valley State
October 17 | Fayetteville State | Opponent: Elizabeth City State
October 24 | Bowie State | Opponent: Johnson C. Smith
November 7 | Winston-Salem State | Opponent: Fayetteville State
November 7 | Tuskegee| Opponent: Miles
Date TBD

2026 HBCU classic schedule

Classic
MAtchup
Date
Location

MEAC/SWAC Challenge
Alabama A&M vs. Howard
Aug. 29
Atlanta

John Merritt Classic
 Jackson State @ Tennessee State
Aug. 29
Nashville, Tenn.

Nature State Kickoff Classic
Morehouse vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Aug. 29
Little Rock, Ark.

Louis Crews Classic
Miles @ Alabama A&M
Sept. 5
Hunstville, Ala.

Pete Richardson Classic
Kentucky State @ Southern
Sept. 5
Baton Rouge, La.

HOPE Labor Day Classic
Edward Waters @ Jackson State
Sept. 5
Jackson, Miss.

Labor Day Classic
Lane @ Alabama State
Sept. 5
Montgomery, Ala.

Labor Day Classic
Texas Southern @ Prairie View A&M
Sept. 6
Prairie View, Texas

Orange Blossom Classic
Florida A&M vs. South Carolina State
Sept. 6
Miami Gardens, Fla.

Aggie-Eagle Classic
North Carolina A&T @ North Carolina Central
Sept. 12
Durham, N.C.

The Legacy Series
Tennessee State @ Alabama A&M
Sept. 12
Huntsville, Ala.

Southern Heritage Classic
Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. Alcorn State
Sept. 12
Memphis, Tenn.

Chicago Football Classic
TBD vs. Mississippi Valley State
Sept. 12
Chicago

Battle for Greater Baltimore
Morgan State @ Towson
Sept. 19
Towson, Md.

Battle of the Bay
Hampton @ Norfolk State
Sept. 19
Norfolk, Va.

W.C. Gorden Classic
Tuskegee @ Jackson State
Sept. 19
Jackson, Miss.

State Fair Classic
Grambling State vs. Prairie View A&M
Sept. 26
Dallas

Boombox Classic
Southern @ Jackson State
Sept. 26
Jackson, Miss.

Battle of the Real HU
Truth and Service Classic
Hampton vs. Howard
Oct. 3
Washington, D.C.

Gulf Coast Challenge
Alabama A&M vs. Jackson State
Oct. 3
Mobile, Ala.

Magic City Classic
Alabama A&M vs. Alabama State
Oct. 31
Birmingham, Ala.

Florida Classic
Bethune-Cookman vs. Florida A&M
Nov. 21
Orlando, Fla.

Soul Bowl —
Capital City Classic
Jackson State @ Alcorn State
Nov. 21
Lorman, Miss.

Turkey Day Classic
Tuskegee @ Alabama State
Nov. 26
Montgomery, Ala.

Bayou Classic
Grambling State vs. Southern
Nov. 28
New Orleans

SWAC Championship
SWAC East Champ vs. SWAC West Champ
Dec. 5
Campus Site

Celebration Bowl
MEAC Champ vs. SWAC Champ
Dec. 12
Atlanta

Here are some notable classics featuring DII schools that we’ll be tracking:

Red Tails Classic | Tuskegee vs. West Alabama | Aug. 30 | Location: Montgomery, Ala.
Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic | Albany State vs. Johnson C. Smith | Sept. 6 | Location: Canton, Ohio
Port City Classic | Tuskegee vs. Fort Valley State | Sept. 5 | Location: Mobile, Ala.
Morehouse-Tuskegee Classic | Morehouse vs. Tuskegee | Oct. 3 |  Location: Montgomery, Ala.
Fountain City Classic | Fort Valley State vs. Albany State | Nov. 8 | Location: Columbus, Ga.
CIAA Championship | Nov. 14 | Location: Durham, N.C.
SIAC Championship | Nov. 14 | Location: TBD

Here are some classics from last season that aren’t on the slate for 2026 so far

Circle City Classic in Indianapolis. The game is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 26
Las Vegas HBCU Classic
HBCU New York Football Classic in East Rutherford, N.J.. The game has traditionally featured Morehouse and Howard
Essence HBCU Classic in Boston

Nonconference HBCU matchups to watch

There are nine nonconference regular-season games between two FCS HBCUs this year. See the matchups below

Aug. 29 | Morgan State at North Carolina A&T
Aug. 29 | North Carolina Central at Texas Southern
Aug. 29 | Howard vs. Alabama A&M
Sept. 6 | South Carolina State vs. Florida A&M
Sept. 19 | Hampton at Norfolk State (Battle of the Bay)
Sept. 19 | Tennessee State at Florida A&M
Sept. 26 | South Carolina State at Bethune-Cookman
Oct. 3 | Hampton vs. Howard (Battle of the Real HU)
Oct. 17 | Morgan State at Tennessee State

Regular season MEAC vs. SWAC contests

In addition to the MEAC-SWAC Challenge played in Week Zero, there are four total regular season games where MEAC and SWAC teams will meet on the gridiron.

Every MEAC vs. SWAC regular season game

Date
MEAC Team
SWAC Team
Location

Aug. 29
Howard
Alabama A&M
Atlanta

Aug. 29
North Carolina Central
Texas Southern
Houston

Sept. 6
South Carolina State
Florida A&M
Miami

Sept. 26
South Carolina State
Bethune-Cookman
Daytona Beach, Fla.

Stan Becton joined NCAA.com in 2021 and has since served as a college football, FCS football, track and field, cross country and HBCU beat reporter. He has covered numerous NCAA championship events, including the FCS Championship, DI Track & Field Championships and Men’s Frozen Four. Additionally, he has covered the College Football Playoff and HBCU sporting events like the Celebration Bowl, MEAC/SWAC Challenge and Legacy Classic. Stan graduated from Carnegie Mellon University, earning a degree in Professional Writing and playing football as a five-year letterman. You can follow him on Twitter @stan_becton.

The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NCAA or its member institutions.

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