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In HBCU football, a “classic” matchup has been a premier event for decades. An HBCU homecoming can be even bigger, bringing together alumni to celebrate. Both classics and homecomings can often see rivals play head-to-head and carry historical value. Fans, players, alumni and more all get excited for these games.
In 2025, 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 2025:
2025 HBCU homecoming schedule
Date
Homecoming Host
Opponent
Location
Oct. 4
Alabama State
Bethune-Cookman
Montgomery, AL
South Carolina State
Savannah State
Orangeburg, SC
Oct. 11
Alabama A&M
Mississippi Valley State
Hunstville, AL
Alcorn State
Lincoln (CA)
Lorman, MS
Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Westgate University
Pine Bluff, AR
Delaware State
Southern Connecticut State
Dover, DE
Grambling State
Texas Southern
Grambling, LA
Jackson State
Alabama State
Jackson, MS
Morgan State
Virginia-Lynchburg
Baltimore, MD
North Carolina A&T
South Carolina State
Greensboro, NC
Oct. 18
Florida A&M
Alcorn State
Tallahassee, FL
Mississippi Valley State
Lincoln (CA)
Itta Bena, MS
Southern
Prairie View A&M
Baton Rouge, LA
Tennessee State
Howard
Nashville, TN
Texas Southern
Virginia-Lynchburg
Houston, TX
Oct. 25
Bethune-Cookman
Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Daytona Beach, FL
Hampton
Monmouth
Hampton, VA
Howard
Morgan State
Washington, DC
Norfolk State
South Carolina State
Norfolk, VA
North Carolina Central
Delaware State
Durham, NC
Prairie View A&M
Lincoln (CA)
Prairie View, TX
Some notable DII homecoming games we’ll be tracking include:
Oct. 11 | Fayetteville State | Opponent: Livingstone
Oct. 18 | Morehouse | Opponent: Lane
Oct. 18 | Winston-Salem State | Opponent: Livingstone
Oct. 18 | Virginia Union | Opponent: Lincoln (PA)
Oct. 25 | Clark Atlanta | Opponent: Edward Waters
Oct. 25 | Virginia State | Opponent: Bluefield State
Oct. 25 | Lincoln (PA) | Opponent: Elizabeth City State
Oct. 25 | Savannah State | Opponent: Morehouse
Nov. 1 | Bowie State | Opponent: Elizabeth City State
Nov. 1 | Tuskegee | Opponent: Lane
It’s official! We will see Delaware State head coach DeSean Jackson face Norfolk State head coach Michael Vick for the first time on Saturday November 1, 2025 at DSU 🍿
The former NFL Quarterback – Wide Receiver duo played together with the Philadelphia Eagles pic.twitter.com/PssoqEsoYA
— Stan Becton (@stan_becton) February 19, 2025
2025 HBCU classic schedule
Classic
MAtchup
Date
Location
MEAC/SWAC Challenge
Southern vs. North Carolina Central
Aug. 23
Atlanta, GA
John Merritt Classic
North Carolina A&T @ Tennessee State
Aug. 30
Nashville, TN
Labor Day Classic
Prairie View A&M vs. Texas Southern
Aug. 30
Houston, TX
Orange Blossom Classic
Florida A&M vs. Howard
Aug. 30
Miami Gardens, FL
Louis Crews Classic
Alcorn State @ Alabama A&M
Sept. 6
Hunstville, AL
Battle for Greater Baltimore
Towson @ Morgan State
Sept. 6
Baltimore, MD
Pete Richardson Classic
Alabama State @ Southern
Sept. 6
Baton Rouge, LA
The Legacy Series
Alabama A&M @ Tennessee State
Sept. 13
Nashville, TN
W.C. Gorden Classic
Tuskegee @ Jackson State
Sept. 13
Jackson, MS
HBCU New York Football Classic
Morehouse vs. Howard
Sept. 13
East Rutherford, NJ
Aggie-Eagle Classic
North Carolina A&T @ North Carolina Central
Sept. 20
Greensboro, NC
Battle of the Real HU —
Truth and Service Classic
Hampton vs. Howard
Sept. 20
Washington, D.C.
Boombox Classic
Jackson State @ Southern
Sept. 27
Baton Rouge, LA
Southern Heritage Classic
Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. Alcorn State
Sept. 27
Memphis, TN
State Fair Classic
Grambling State vs. Prairie View A&M
Sept. 27
Dallas, TX
Circle City Classic
Morgan State vs. Miles
Sept. 27
Indianapolis, IN
Gulf Coast Challenge
Alabama A&M vs. Jackson State
Oct. 4
Mobile, AL
Battle of the Bay
Norfolk State @ Hampton
Oct. 4
Hampton, VA
Las Vegas HBCU Classic
Grambling State vs. Jackson State
Oct. 25
Las Vegas, NV
Magic City Classic
Alabama A&M vs. Alabama State
Oct. 25
Birmingham, AL
Port City Classic
Alabama State vs. Mississippi Valley State
Nov. 15
Mobile, AL
Soul Bowl —
Capital City Classic
Alcorn State @ Jackson State
Nov. 22
Jackson, MS
Florida Classic
Bethune-Cookman vs. Florida A&M
Nov. 22
Orlando, FL
Turkey Day Classic
Tuskegee @ Alabama State
Nov. 27
Montgomery, AL
Bayou Classic
Grambling State vs. Southern
Nov. 29
New Orleans, LA
SWAC Championship
SWAC East Champ vs. SWAC West Champ
Dec. 6
TBD
Celebration Bowl
MEAC Champ vs. SWAC Champ
Dec. 13
Atlanta, GA
Here are some notable classics featuring DII schools that we’ll be tracking:
Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic | Virginia Union vs. Miles | Aug. 31 | Location: Canton, OH
Red Tails Classic | Tuskegee vs. Winston-Salem State | Aug. 31 | Location: Montgomery, AL
Morehouse-Tuskegee Classic | Morehouse vs. Tuskegee | Oct. 4 | Location: Montgomery, AL
Fountain City Classic | Fort Valley State at Albany State | Nov. 8 | Location: Albany, GA
Chicago Football Classic | Teams and Date TBA
CIAA Championship | Nov. 15 | Location: Durham, NC
Regular season MEAC vs. SWAC contests
In addition to the MEAC-SWAC Challenge played in Week Zero, there are four 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. 23
North Carolina Central
Southern
Atlanta, GA
Aug. 30
Howard
Florida A&M
Miami, FL
Sept. 13
South Carolina State
Bethune-Cookman
Orangeburg, SC
Oct. 11
North Carolina Central
Florida A&M
Tallahassee, FL
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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