The moments after SC State won the 2025 Celebration Bowl
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
- Morehouse
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.
| 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. |
🌟 HBCU Sports 🌟
🏈: Recapping the 2024 HBCU football season
📲 B/R:
📚 Football History: Top MEAC/SWAC Challenge moments | Individual stars | | Recapping 2022 | Recapping 2021
Championships: Jackson State wins 2024 Celebration Bowl | Tennessee State, NC Central win tennis title | Football title history | Track champions
🏟 Classics: Every HBCU Football Classic's history | Florida Classic | Bayou Classic | Can't miss atmospheres
🏀 HBCU hoops: Pac-12/SWAC series |1980s Alcorn State | NBA draft picks | Hall of Famers
👀 March Madness: Men's history | Women's history | Two HBCU wins in 2021 | HBCU vs. HBCU | Tournament upsets
🏈: Recapping the 2024 HBCU football season
📲 B/R:
📚 Football History: Top MEAC/SWAC Challenge moments | Individual stars | | Recapping 2022 | Recapping 2021
Championships: Jackson State wins 2024 Celebration Bowl | Tennessee State, NC Central win tennis title | Football title history | Track champions
🏟 Classics: Every HBCU Football Classic's history | Florida Classic | Bayou Classic | Can't miss atmospheres
🏀 HBCU hoops: Pac-12/SWAC series |1980s Alcorn State | NBA draft picks | Hall of Famers
👀 March Madness: Men's history | Women's history | Two HBCU wins in 2021 | HBCU vs. HBCU | Tournament upsets
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NCAA or its member institutions.
