Since 1919, HBCUs across the country have gone head to head in football games that feature the amazing talent of their athletes, marching bands, and dance lines. The pride, history, and timeless traditions that make each HBCU Classic unique has drawn thousands of football fans to college stadiums for 100 years.
What is a HBCU Classic?
Every year, HBCU football teams compete against each other in an annual football game that is known as a classic. Unlike a bowl game, an HBCU Classic takes place during the regular season at a neutral site. HBCU Classics are not just about football: marching bands and auxiliary dance lines from both schools usually compete in a Battle of the Bands. Fans can attend concerts, parades, and parties before and after the football game.
A New Notable HBCU Classics Game for 2019
On September 1st, the first annual Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic played in Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium and airs on the NFL Network.
The game features Alabama A&M University vs. Morehouse College and will be the culmination of a weekend packed with all the experiences that a “classic” has to offer: Marching bands live performances, tailgating, a concert featuring Morris Day & the Time, Drumline and Dance Competition, golf tournament and other events.
Are you interested in attending an HBCU classic this fall? Take a look at the list below to find an HBCU Classic near you!
John Merritt Classic
Location: Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN
Matchup: Mississippi Valley State vs. Tennessee State
Date & Time: Aug 31, 2019 | 6 PM
MEAC/SWAC Challenge
Location: Georgia State Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Matchup: Bethune-Cookman vs. Jackson State
Date & Time: Sept 1, 2019 | 3 PM
Black College Hall of Fame Classic
Location: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton, OH
Matchup: Alabama A&M vs. Morehouse
Date & Time: September 1, 2019 | 3:30 PM
Labor Day Classic
Location: ASU Stadium, Montgomery, AL
Matchup: Tuskegee vs. Alabama State
Date & Time: Sept 7, 2019 | 5 PM
Louis Crews Classic
Location: Louis Crews Stadium, Huntsville, AL
Matchup: Alabama A&M vs. Arkansas Pine Bluff
Date & Time: Sept 7, 2019 | 6 PM
Jake Gaither Classic
Location: Bragg Memorial Stadium, Tallahassee, FL
Matchup: Florida A&M vs. Fort Valley State
Date & Time: Sept 14, 2019 | 6 PM
Prince Hall Americanism Football Classic
Location: Sloan-Alumni Stadium, Fairfield, AL
Matchup: Miles vs. Morehouse
Date & Time: Sept 14, 2019 | 4 PM
West End Classic
Location: Alumni Memorial Football Stadium, Salisbury, NC
Matchup: Livingstone College vs. Elizabeth City State
Date & Time: September 14, 2019 | 4 PM
Chicago Football Classic
Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
Matchup: Hampton vs. Howard
Date & Time: September 14, 2019 | 3:30 PM
Southern Heritage Classic
Location: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, TN
Matchup: Tennessee State vs. Jackson State
Date & Time: September 14, 2019 | 7 PM
Pete Richardson Classic
Location: A.W. Mumford Stadium, Baton Rouge, LA
Matchup: Southern vs. Edward Waters
Date & Time: September 14, 2019 | 6 PM
Willard Bailey Classic
Location: Hovey Field, Richmond, VA
Matchup: Virginia Union vs. Carson-Newman University
Date & Time: Sept 21, 2019 | 4 PM
Down East Classic
Location: Rocky Mount Athletic Complex, Rocky Mount, NC
Matchup: Elizabeth City State vs. Fayetteville State
Date & Time: September 28, 2019 | 4 PM
Gulf Coast Challenge
Location: Ladd Peebles Stadium, Mobile, AL
Matchup: Central State vs. Alabama A&M
Date & Time: September 28, 2019 | 6 PM
Circle City Classic
Location: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
Matchup: Kentucky State vs. Jackson State
Date & Time: September 28, 2018 | 3 PM
Upstate HBCU Classic
Location: Sirrine Stadium, Greenville, SC
Matchup: Fort Valley State vs Benedict
Date & Time: September 28, 2018 | 4 PM
State Fair Classic
Location: The Cotton Bowl, Dallas, TX
Matchup: Grambling State vs. Prairie View A&M
Date & Time: September 29, 2019 | 4 PM
Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic
Location: A. J. McClung Memorial Stadium, Columbus, GA
Matchup: Morehouse vs. Tuskegee
Date & Time: October 12, 2019 | 2 PM
Magic City Classic
Location: Legion Field, Birmingham, AL
Matchup: Alabama A&M vs. Alabama State
Date & Time: October 26, 2019 | 2:30 PM
Whitewater Classic
Location: Garrett-Harrison Stadium, Albany, GA
Matchup: Tuskegee vs. Lane College
Date & Time: Obtober 26, 2019 | 5 PM
Commemorative Classic
Location: Alumni Memorial Football Stadium, Salisbury, NC
Matchup: Livingstone vs. Johnson C. Smith
Date & Time: November 9, 2019 | 1:30 PM
Fountain City Classic
Location: A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium, Columbus, GA
Matchup: Fort Valley State vs. Albany State
Date & Time: November 9, 2019 | 2 PM
Raleigh Classic
Location: George Williams Athletic Complex, Raleigh, NC
Matchup: Saint Augustine’s vs. Shaw
Date & Time: November 9, 2019 | 1 PM
Florida Classic
Location: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL
Matchup: Bethune-Cookman vs. Florida A&M
Date & Time: November 23, 2019 | 3:30 PM
Ol’ Man River Classic
Location: Dome at America’s Center, St. Louis, MO
Matchup: Kentucky State vs. Lincoln (MO)
Date & Time: November 23, 2019 | 4 PM
Turkey Day Classic
Location: Hornet Stadium, Montgomery, AL
Matchup: Prairie View A&M vs. Alabama State
Date & Time: November 28, 2019 | 2 PM
Bayou Classic
Location: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Matchup: Southern vs. Grambling
Date & Time: November 30, 2019 | 4 PM
Celebration Bowl
Location: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA
Matchup: MEAC Conf. Champion vs. SWAC Conf. Champion
Date & Time: Dec 21, 2019 | 12 PM
That completes our 2019 HBCU Classics football schedule. If you have an HBCU Classic you would like to see added to this list or have feedback, message us on our contact form.
We hope to see you this fall at one of these HBCU events.
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