A Comprehensive Guide to HBCU Football Teams

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have a rich athletic tradition, particularly in football. For over a century, these institutions have provided opportunities for students to excel both academically and athletically. This article offers a comprehensive overview of HBCU football programs, conferences, and the unique culture surrounding them.

The Significance of HBCU Athletics

The chance to study and compete at an HBCU is an invitation to join the incredibly rich athletic tradition central to the culture of these schools for the past century. HBCU athletic programs are more than just sports teams; they are integral parts of the schools' identities and play a significant role in fostering community and pride.

HBCU Athletic Conferences

There are five traditional HBCU conferences, each with its own distinct history and competitive landscape:

Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC): A Division I conference with a storied history. Along with the Ivy League and the MEAC, its teams do not compete in the NCAA Football Championship. Instead, the East and West Divisions vie for the opportunity to face the MEAC Champion in the Celebration Bowl. The SWAC champions also receive an automatic bid to the NCAA championships in Division 1 for baseball.
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC): Encompasses Division I HBCUs along the eastern seaboard, from Delaware to South Carolina, including Howard University in Washington, D.C. Like the SWAC, its football champion participates in the Celebration Bowl.
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA): The oldest HBCU circuit, competing in Division II. The CIAA's men’s basketball conference tournament is a major event, drawing over 100,000 fans annually.
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC): A long-standing southern rival of the CIAA, traditionally leading NCAA Division II in football attendance. The SIAC champion earns a spot in the Division 2 championship for baseball. The SIAC is a NCAA athletic conference consisting primarily of historically black colleges and universities with headquarters in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The SIAC includes 15 member institutions (Albany State University, Allen University, Benedict College, Central State University, Clark Atlanta University, Edward Waters University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Miles College, Morehouse College, Savannah State University, Spring Hill College, and Tuskegee University), which are located within a contiguous seven-state footprint (Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Ohio). The SIAC sponsors nine men’s and seven women’s sports and is a proud member of the NCAA Division II.
Red River Athletic Conference: While not exclusively an HBCU conference, it features HBCUs and is significant in the NAIA, particularly for baseball.

Note: The conference listed for each institution is the primary affiliation of the athletic program.

Prominent HBCU Football Teams

Here is a list of HBCUs that field football teams, organized by state:

Read also: HBCU Football Legacy

Alabama

Alabama A&M University
Alabama State University
Tuskegee University

Arkansas

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Arkansas Baptist College

Delaware

Delaware State University

Florida

Bethune-Cookman University
Edward Waters University
Florida A&M University
Florida Memorial University

Georgia

Albany State University
Clark Atlanta University
Fort Valley State University
Morehouse College

Kentucky

Kentucky State University

Louisiana

Grambling State University
Southern University and A&M College

Maryland

Bowie State University
Coppin State University
Morgan State University
University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Mississippi

Alcorn State University
Coahoma Community College
Jackson State University
Mississippi Valley State University
Rust College
Tougaloo College

Missouri

Harris-Stowe State University
Lincoln University

North Carolina

Elizabeth City State University
Fayetteville State University
Johnson C. Smith University
Livingstone College
North Carolina A&T State University
North Carolina Central University
Shaw University

Ohio

Central State University

Pennsylvania

Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Lincoln University

South Carolina

Allen University
Benedict College
South Carolina State University

Tennessee

Lane College
LeMoyne-Owen College
Tennessee State University

Texas

Prairie View A&M University

Key Figures in HBCU Football

Several individuals have made significant contributions to HBCU football, both on and off the field:

Coaches: Coach Johnson is a proven winner at Jackson State is a consistent 30 game winner who also has a record of consistently inspiring high level academic achievement. The program has moved from strength to strength, is recruiting at a high level and is a perennial SWAC contender. Coach Hemmings took over the Albany State program when Dalton State's team was merged into Albany athletic department in 2017. He had lead Dalton to its first ever NJCAA World Series in 2016 and the program has since moved from strength to strength. The Trojans continue to field a talented team and play at a highly competitive level despite the CIAA dropping the baseball as a conference sport.
Players: The offensive side of the ball, 2024 First-Team All-CIAA wide receiver Brevin Caldwell from Johnson C. Smith University.
Kyle T. Mosley: The Founder, Managing Editor, and Chief Reporter for the HBCU Legends.

Recent Highlights and Developments

Virginia Union remains in the top spot. The Tigers are coming off a 10-0 victory over Fayetteville State in Saturday's season opener. Virginia Union remains in the top spot. The Tigers are off this week, and return to action on Sept. Johnson C.
All-Conference Selections: Examples of outstanding players include RB: Jacorian Sewell, Alcorn State, Gr. OL: Trevon Humphrey, North Carolina Central r-Jr. OL: D’Andre Townes-Blue, Jackson State Sr. WR: Brevin Caldwell, Johnson C. LB: Erick Hunter, Morgan State, Sr. DB: Michael King Jr. Tuskegee Sr. DB: Keane Lewis Alabama State Sr. DB: Jarod Washington, South Carolina State r-Sr. PR: Travis Terrell Jackson State Soph. KR: Travis Terrell Jackson State Soph.

HBCU Baseball

Historically Black Colleges and Universities have sponsored vibrant and successful baseball programs for over a century, and much like at the professional level, the history of these programs is one of incredible achievement. In the modern era, the strength of HBCU baseball is concentrated in the SWAC, SIAC, and in the NAIA, the Red River Athletic Conference. The SWAC champions get an automatic bid to the NCAA championships in Division 1, while the SIAC champion earns a spot in the Division 2 championship. For more information on HBCU baseball across all divisions, Black College Nines is our suggested "go-to" source with coverage from members of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

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