Every year HBCU football teams around the country play in games known as “classics”, showcasing the sport at select venues and even highlighting historic rivalries. Here’s a look at the history of some of HBCU football’s premier classic games.
All stats and records are updated through the 2022 college football season
Celebration Bowl
Location: Atlanta, GA
First game: 2015
Most recent result: 2022 — North Carolina Central def. Jackson State 41-34 in OT
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
North Carolina A&T | 4-0 | 1.00 |
South Carolina State | 1-0 | 1.00 |
North Carolina Central | 1-1 | .500 |
Grambling State | 1-1 | .500 |
Jackson State | 0-2 | 0.00 |
Alcorn State | 0-3 | 0.00 |
Notable games
MEAC/SWAC Challenge
Location: Atlanta, GA
First game: 2005
Most recent result: 2022 — Alabama State def. Howard 23-13
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Bethune-Cookman, Southern | 3-0 | 1.00 |
South Carolina State | 3-1 | .750 |
North Carolina A&T | 1-0 | 1.00 |
Florida A&M, Hampton, North Carolina Central, Prairie View A&M |
1-1 | .500 |
Alabama State | 1-2 | .333 |
Alabama A&M, Alcorn State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Delaware State, Howard, Mississippi Valley State |
0-1 | 0.00 |
Grambling State, Jackson State | 0-2 | 0.00 |
Notable games
Bayou Classic
Location: New Orleans, LA
Teams: Southern vs. Grambling State
First game: 1974
Most recent result: 2022 — Southern def. Grambling State 34-17
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Southern | 25-24 | .510 |
Grambling State | 24-25 | .490 |
Notable games
Florida Classic
Location: Orlando, FL
Teams: Bethune-Cookman vs. Florida A&M
First game: 1978
Most recent result: 2022 — Florida A&M def. Bethune-Cookman 41-20
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Florida A&M | 24-19 | .558 |
Bethune-Cookman | 19-24 | .442 |
Notable games
Orange Blossom Classic
Location: Miami, FL
Team: Florida A&M
First game: 1933
Most recent result: 2022 — Jackson State def. Florida A&M 59-3
Team | Record | Win PCT | |
---|---|---|---|
Florida A&M | 26-22-1 | .548 | |
Prairie View A&M | 4-1 | .800 | |
Jackson State | 3-1 | .750 | |
Morgan State | 2-0 | 1.00 | |
Grambling State | 2-3 | .400 | |
Alcorn State, Jacksonville State, Lincoln (PA) North Carolina A&T, Virginia Union |
1-0 | 1.00 | |
Wiley | 1-1 | .500 | |
Central State (OH) | 1-1-1 | .500 | |
Hampton, Kentucky State, Virginia State | 1-2 | .333 | |
Alabama A&M, Delaware State, Langston, North Carolina Central, South Carolina State, Tennessee State, Texas College, Tuskegee |
0-1 | 0.00 | |
Howard, Maryland-Eastern Shore | 0-2 | 0.00 |
Notable games
Labor Day Classic
Location: Montgomery, AL
Team: Alabama State
First game: 2017
Most recent result: 2022 — Alabama State def Miles 21-13
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Alabama State | 4-1 | .800 |
Tuskegee | 1-0 | 1.00 |
Miles | 0-4 | 0.00 |
Labor Day Classic
Teams: Prairie View A&M vs. Texas Southern
First game: 1985
Most recent result: 2022 — Prairie View A&M def. Texas Southern 40-23
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Texas Southern | 20-17 | .541 |
Prairie View A&M | 17-19 | .472 |
Hampton | 0-1 | 0.00 |
Aggie-Eagle Classic
Teams: North Carolina Central vs. North Carolina A&T
First game: 1922
Most recent result: 2022 — North Carolina Central def. North Carolina A&T 28-13
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
North Carolina A&T | 55–35–5 | .605 |
North Carolina Central | 35-55-5 | .395 |
Pete Richardson Classic
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Team: Southern
First game: 2018
Most recent result: 2022 — Southern def. Florida Memorial 86-0
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Southern | 4-0 | 1.00 |
Florida Memorial | 0-1 | 0.00 |
Miles | 0-1 | 0.00 |
Edward Waters | 0-1 | 0.00 |
Langston | 0-1 | 0.00 |
Southern Heritage Classic
Location: Memphis, TN
Team: Tennessee State
First game: 1990
Most recent result: 2022 — Jackson State def. Tennessee State 16-3
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Tennessee State | 17-14 | .548 |
Jackson State | 12-17 | .414 |
Mississippi Valley State | 1-0 | 1.00 |
Grambling State | 1-0 | 1.00 |
Jake Gaither Classic
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Team: Florida A&M
First game: 2017
Most recent result: 2022 — Florida A&M def. Albany State 23-13
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Florida A&M | 4-0 | 1.00 |
Albany State | 0-1 | 0.00 |
Texas Southern | 0-1 | 0.00 |
Fort Valley State | 0-2 | 0.00 |
Battle of the Bay
Teams: Norfolk State vs. Hampton
First game: 1963
Most recent result: 2022 — Hampton def. Norfolk State 17-7
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Norfolk State | 27-27-1 | .500 |
Hampton | 27-27-1 | .500 |
HBCU New York Football Classic
Location: East Rutherford, NJ
First game: 2022
Most recent result: 2022 — Howard def. Morehouse 31-0
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Howard | 1-0 | 1.00 |
Morehouse | 0-1 | 0.00 |
Turkey Day Classic
Location: Montgomery, AL
Team: Alabama State
First game: 1924
Most recent result: 2022 — Arkansas-Pine Bluff def. Alabama State 19-14
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Tuskegee | 49-34-3 | .587 |
Alabama State | 43-52-3 | .454 |
Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Prairie View A&M | 1-0 | 1.00 |
Mississippi Valley State | 1-1 | .500 |
Edward Waters, Fayetteville State | 0-1 | 0.00 |
Johnson C. Smith, Miles, Stillman | 0-2 | 0.00 |
Louis Crews Classic
Location: Huntsville, AL
Team: Alabama A&M
First game: 2010
Most recent result: 2022 — Austin Peay def. Alabama A&M 28-3
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Alabama A&M | 8-4 | .667 |
Tuskegee | 1-4 | .200 |
Austin Peay, Prairie View A&M | 1-0 | 1.00 |
Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 1-1 | .500 |
Central State, Miles, South Carolina State, Texas Southern |
0-1 | 0.00 |
Grambling State | 0-2 | 0.00 |
Arlington Football Showdown
Location: Arlington, TX
Teams: Southern vs. Texas Southern
First game: 2021
Most recent result: 2022 — Texas Southern def. Southern 24-0
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Texas Southern | 2-0 | 1.00 |
Southern | 0-2 | 0.00 |
John Merritt Classic
Location: Nashville, TN
Team: Tennessee State
First game: 1999
Most recent result: 2022 — Lane def. Tennessee State 28-27 in OT
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Tennessee State | 2-0 | 1.00 |
Alabama A&M | 4-2 | .667 |
Eastern Illinois, Lane | 1-0 | 1.00 |
Bethune-Cookman | 1-1 | .500 |
Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Edward Waters, Florida A&M, Kentucky State, Mississippi Valley State, Prairie View A&M, South Carolina State |
0-1 | 0.00 |
Southern | 0-2 | 0.00 |
Alabama State | 0-4 | 0.00 |
State Fair Classic
Location: Dallas, TX
Teams: Grambling State vs. Prairie View A&M
First game: 1925
Most recent result: 2022 — Prairie View A&M def. Grambling State 34-14
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Prairie View A&M | 43-45-4 | .489 |
Grambling State | 27-11 | .711 |
Wiley | 8-22-5 | .300 |
Bishop | 9-8 | .529 |
Langston | 2-0-2 | .750 |
Tennessee State | 2-0 | 1.00 |
North Carolina A&T | 1-0 | 1.00 |
Elizabeth City State | 0-1 | 0.00 |
Texas Southern | 0-3 | 0.00 |
Truth & Service Classic
Location: Washington, D.C.
Team: Howard
First game: 2021
Most recent result: 2022 — Harvard def. Howard 41-25
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Hampton | 1-0 | 1.00 |
Harvard | 1-0 | 1.00 |
Howard | 0-2 | 0.00 |
BoomBox Classic
Teams: Southern vs. Jackson State
First game: 1929
Most recent result: 2022 — Jackson State def. Southern 35-0
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Southern | 35-32 | .522 |
Jackson State | 32-35 | .478 |
Magic City Classic
Location: Birmingham, AL
Teams: Alabama State vs. Alabama A&M
First game: 1940
Most recent result: 2022 — Alabama State def. Alabama A&M 24-17
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Alabama A&M | 41-35-4 | .538 |
Alabama State | 35-41-4 | .463 |
Soul Bowl — Capital City Classic
Teams: Jackson State vs. Alcorn State
First game: 1927
Most recent result: 2022 — Jackson State def. Alcorn State 24-13
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Jackson State | 48-37-2 | .565 |
Alcorn State | 37-48-2 | .435 |
W.C. Gorden Classic
Team: Jackson State
First game: 2008
Most recent result: 2022 — Jackson State def. Grambling State 66-24
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Jackson State | 9-6 | .600 |
Grambling State | 3-1 | .750 |
Alabama A&M, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Southern | 1-0 | 1.00 |
Alabama State, Concordia, Edward Waters, Florida A&M, Stillman, Texas Southern |
0-1 | 0.00 |
Delta State | 0-2 | 0.00 |
Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic
Location: Canton, OH
First game: 2019
Most recent result: 2022 — Central State def. Winston-Salem State 41-21
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Alabama A&M, Central State, Grambling State | 1-0 | 1.00 |
Morehouse, Tennessee State, Winston-Salem State | 0-1 | 0.00 |
Red Tails Classic
Location: Montgomery, AL
Teams: Fort Valley State vs. Tuskegee
First game: 2021
Most recent result: 2022 — Fort Valley State def. Tuskegee 21-6
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Fort Valley State | 2-0 | 1.00 |
Tuskegee | 0-2 | 0.00 |
Fountain City Classic
Location: Columbus, GA
Teams: Fort Valley State vs. Albany State
First game: 1989
Most recent result: 2022 — Fort Valley State def. Albany State 31-21
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Albany State | 24-9 | .727 |
Fort Valley State | 9-24 | .273 |
Morehouse-Tuskegee Classic
Location: Birmingham, AL
Teams: Morehouse vs. Tuskegee
First game: 1902
Most recent result: 2022 — Tuskegee def. Morehouse 31014
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Tuskegee | 73-30-7 | .696 |
Morehouse | 30-73-7 | .304 |
Down East Viking Football Classic
Location: Rocky Mount, NC
Team: Elizabeth City State
First game: 1998
Most recent result: 2022 — Livingstone def. Elizabeth City State 19-0
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Elizabeth City State | 9-13 | .409 |
Fayetteville State | 7-2 | .777 |
Benedict, Shaw, Winston-Salem State | 1-0 | 1.00 |
Livingstone, North Carolina Central | 1-1 | .500 |
Saint Augustine’s | 1-2 | .333 |
Chowan, Morehouse | 0-1 | 0.00 |
Eddie C. McGirt Classic
Location: Charlotte, NC
Team: Johnson C. Smith
First game: 2013
Most recent result: 2022 — Lincoln (PA) def. Johnson C. Smith 29-28
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Johnson C. Smith | 3-2 | .600 |
Lincoln (PA) | 1-0 | 1.00 |
Bowie State | 1-1 | .500 |
Elizabeth City State, Kentucky State | 0-1 | .000 |
Gulf Coast Challenge
Location: Mobile, AL
Team: Alabama A&M
First game: 2018
Most recent result: 2022 — Jackson State def. Alabama A&M
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Alabama A&M | 2-2 | .500 |
Jackson State, Southern | 1-0 | 1.00 |
Central State, Tuskegee | 0-1 | 0.00 |
Circle City Classic
Location: Indianapolis, IN
First game: 1984
Most recent result: 2021 — Kentucky State def. Benedict 34-28
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Kentucky State | 6-1 | .857 |
Central State | 4-4 | .500 |
Alcorn State | 3-0 | 1.00 |
Mississippi Valley State | 2-0 | 1.00 |
Florida A&M | 2-2-1 | .500 |
Alabama A&M, North Carolina A&T, South Carolina State | 2-2 | .500 |
Tennessee State | 2-5 | .400 |
Albany State, , North Carolina Central, Winston-Salem State | 1-0 | 1.00 |
Tuskegee | 1-1 | .500 |
Grambling State | 1-2 | .333 |
Howard | 1-3 | .250 |
Jackson State | 1-3-1 | .300 |
Alabama State, Benedict | 0-1 | 0.00 |
Bethune-Cookman, Hampton, Southern | 0-2 | 0.00 |
Commemorative Classic
Teams: Livingstone vs. Johnson C. Smith
First game: 1892
Most recent result: 2022 — Livingston def. Johnson C. Smith 26-20 in OT
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Johnson C. Smith | 48-33-3 | .589 |
Livingstone | 33-48-3 | .411 |
Raleigh Classic
Teams: Saint Augustine’s vs. Shaw
First game: 2016
Most recent result: 2022 — Shaw def. Saint Augustine’s 30-27 in 2OT
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Shaw | 4-2 | .667 |
Saint Augustine’s | 2-4 | .333 |
Heritage Bowl
Location: Atlanta, GA
First game: 1991
Most recent result: 1999 — Hampton def. Southern 24-3
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Southern | 4-2 | .667 |
Grambling State | 1-1 | .500 |
South Carolina State | 1-2 | .333 |
Alabama State, Hampton, Howard | 1-0 | 1.00 |
Bethune-Cookman, North Carolina A&T | 0-1 | 0.00 |
Florida A&M | 0-2 | 0.00 |
Pelican Bowl
Location: New Orleans, LA
First game: 1972
Most recent result: 1975 — Southern def. South Carolina State 15-12
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Grambling State | 2-0 | 1.00 |
Southern | 1-0 | 1.00 |
North Carolina Central | 0-1 | 0.00 |
South Carolina State | 0-2 | 0.00 |
Two Rivers Classic
Teams: Fayetteville State vs. UNC-Pembroke
First game: 2009
Most recent result: 2022 — Fayetteville State def. UNC-Pembroke 15-13
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
UNC-Pembroke | 8-1 | .888 |
Fayetteville State | 1-8 | .111 |
Willard Bailey Classic
Location: Richmond, VA
Team: Virginia Union
First game: 2017
Most recent result: 2022 — Virginia Union def. Virginia University of Lynchburg 77-0
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Virginia Union | 3-2 | .600 |
Carson-Newman, Winston-Salem State | 1-0 | 1.000 |
Johnson C. Smith | 0-1 | 0.00 |
Virginia University of Lynchburg | 0-2 | 0.00 |
L. Douglas Wilder Classic
Teams: Virginia Union vs. Virginia State
First game: 2022
Most recent result: 2022 — Virginia Union def. Virginia State 33-21
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Virginia Union | 1-0 | 1.00 |
Virginia State | 0-1 | 0.00 |
Palmetto Capital City Classic
Team: Benedict
First game: 2002
Most recent result: 2018 — Benedict def. Fort Valley State 28-20
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Benedict | 8-9 | .471 |
South Carolina State | 5-0 | 1.00 |
Virginia State, Virginia Union | 1-0 | 1.00 |
Morehouse | 1-1 | .500 |
Livingstone | 1-3 | .250 |
Fort Valley State, Johnson C. Smith, Savannah State, West Virginia State | 0-1 | 0.00 |
Carolinas Classic
Team: Benedict
First game: 2019
Most recent result: 2022 — Benedict def. Elizabeth City State 58-14
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Benedic | 2-1 | .667 |
Johnson C. Smith | 1-0 | 1.00 |
Allen (SC), Elizabeth City State | 0-1 | 0.00 |
Chicago Football Classic
Location: Chicago, IL
First game: 1997
Most recent result: 2019 — Hampton def. Howard 41-20
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Morehouse | 3-0 | 1.00 |
Grambling State, Hampton, Jackson State, | 2-0 | 1.00 |
Alcorn State, Southern | 2-1 | .667 |
Mississippi Valley State | 2-4 | .333 |
Albany State, , Morgan State, Texas Southern, West Virginia State | 1-0 | 1.00 |
Alabama A&M, Clark Atlanta | 1-1 | .500 |
Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 1-2 | .333 |
Alabama State, Kentucky State, Miles, Virginia State | 0-1 | 0.00 |
Central State, Howard | 0-4 | 0.00 |
5th Quarter Classic
Location: Mobile, AL
First game: 2016
Most recent result: 2017 — Tuskegee def. Jackson State 33-7
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Tuskegee | 2-0 | 1.00 |
Florida A&M, Jackson State | 0-1 | 0.00 |
White Water Classic
Location: Phenix City, AL
First game: 2014
Most recent result: 2019 — Tuskegee def. Lane 29-10
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Tuskegee | 4-1 | .800 |
Albany State | 1-4 | .200 |
Lane | 0-1 | 0.00 |
AT&T Nation’s Football Classic
Location: Washington, D.C
First game: 2014
Most recent result: 2015 — Hampton def. Howard 37-19
Team | Record | Win PCT |
---|---|---|
Howard | 4-1 | .800 |
Hampton | 1-0 | 1.00 |
Morehouse | 0-1 | 0.00 |
Brick City Classic
Location: Harrison, NJ
First game: 2023 — Grambling State vs. Hampton
Most recent result: TBD
Port City Classic
Location: Mobile, AL
First game: 2023 — Grambling State vs. Alabama State
Most recent result: TBD
Coastal City Classic
Location: Brunswick, GA
First game: 2023 — Savannah State vs. Albany State
Most recent result: TBD
Other notable classics
Here are some other notable classics from throughout HBCU football history that no longer exist:
- New York Urban League Classic (1968-2012)
- Gateway Classic (1994-2010)
- Textile Football Classic
- Detroit Football Classic