HBCU Football: A Legacy of Excellence and Tradition

The Black college football national championship, also named the HBCU football championship, is a national championship honor that, since 1920, has been regularly bestowed upon the best College football teams among historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) within the United States. HBCU football holds a special place in American sports, steeped in history, tradition, and cultural significance. The 2025 HBCU football season will bring excitement, great games, rivalries and more. For over a century, 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. This article explores the landscape of HBCU football, highlighting key aspects such as its historical roots, the significance of classic matchups and homecomings, the structure of conferences and championships, and the ongoing evolution of the sport.

Historical Overview

The first football game between HBCU schools was played on December 27, 1892. On that day Johnson C. Smith defeated Livingstone College. As it was the only game played by HBCU schools that year, Johnson C. Smith's team could no doubt claim to be that season's HBCU national champions by default. Initially, starting in 1920, HBCU national champions were designated by the Pittsburgh Courier at the end of the season. In 1921, others more directly associated with the schools themselves made their own attempts to crown a champion, coordinating their efforts under the auspices of the Champion Aggregation of All Conferences (CAAC). These early efforts laid the foundation for the organized competition and recognition that would follow. Black national champions have been crowned regularly in football for more than a century, and the concept has also caught on with other sports, including HBCU baseball and HBCU men and women's basketball teams.

The Significance of Classics and Homecomings

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.

Notable Classics in 2025

Several classic games are scheduled for the 2025 season, including:

Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic: Virginia Union vs. Miles (Aug)
Red Tails Classic: Tuskegee vs. Winston-Salem State (Aug)
Essence HBCU Classic: Morehouse College vs. Johnson C. Smith (Aug)
Morehouse-Tuskegee Classic: Morehouse vs. Tuskegee (Oct)
Fountain City Classic: Fort Valley State at Albany State (Nov)

These games not only provide exciting matchups but also serve as cultural events that celebrate the history and traditions of HBCUs.

Conferences and Championships

At present, most HBCUs are now members of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). There are 21 football programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) at the FCS level. There are 5 traditional HBCU conferences. In Division 1, the SWAC is original article. Along with the Ivy and the MEAC, its teams do not compete in the NCAA Football Championship, rather the East and West Divisions play for an opportunity to face the MEAC Champion in the Celebration Bowl. The MEAC encompasses Division 1 HBCU’s along the eastern seaboard, from Delaware to South Carolina, including Howard University in Washington, D.C. The CIAA is the oldest HBCU circuit and competes in Division 2. Its men’s basketball conference tournament draws over 100,000 fans annually. The SIAC is the CIAA’s long standing southern rival and traditionally leads NCAA Division 2 in football attendance.

Championship Structure

Attempts have been made over the years to determine a non-mythical national champion with an actual football game contested by leading teams among HBCUs throughout the United States. The Pelican Bowl, a bowl game that tried to match up the conference champions from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), was another such example-and actually did manage to last several seasons-but even this venture failed to draw enough attendance and lasted only a few years in the 1970s.

The MEAC and SWAC began negotiations in 2010 to create a successor called the "Legacy Bowl"-not to be confused with a like-named 2015 exhibition game-to begin during the 2011 postseason, but it was voted down by MEAC officials. Several seasons later, in 2015, the first Celebration Bowl was played, pitting the champions of the two conferences. However, with Tennessee State being a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC), the Celebration Bowl could not fully represent all HBCUs within the NCAA's Football Championship Subdivision. Further, Hampton and North Carolina A&T later withdrew from the MEAC (after the 2017 and 2019 seasons, respectively) to join the Big South Conference (both programs later joined CAA Football). Despite watching Tennessee State struggle to a losing record in games played since joining the OVC in 1988, these teams exited the MEAC primarily because of revenue sharing and the opportunity to play in the NCAA Division I championship tournament.

The 2025 HBCU football season concludes with the Celebration Bowl on Saturday, Dec, where MEAC Champ will face SWAC East Champ. Several bowl games have played a crucial role in determining HBCU national champions. Early poll rankings were for the best overall HBCU, while bowl games often matched champions of only two specific HBCU conferences. The impact of the Pelican, Heritage, and Celebration bowls cannot be overstated, however. In the 16 seasons (through 2018) that those bowl games were held, MEAC or SWAC schools were named overall HBCU champions almost exclusively; only in 1992 did a school with no ties to the MEAC or SWAC even earn a share of the overall HBCU championship-two selectors still chose a SWAC school as the overall champion but one selector did choose Central State (which had won the NAIA Division I national championship).

Team and Coaching Accomplishments

Noteworthy team accomplishments include the 16 HBCU championships won all-time by Florida A&M (under five different coaches) and Tennessee State (also under five different coaches) and the five won consecutively by Central State from 1986 to 1990 (all five under coach Billy Joe). Florida A&M has also won titles in nine different decades. Southern (1948), Prairie View A&M (1953), Tuskegee (2000 and 2007), and North Carolina A&T (2017) have each achieved the best single-season won-loss record of 12-0. Noteworthy coaching accomplishments include the nine HBCU championships won by Billy Joe (seven at Central State and two at Florida A&M), John Merritt (one at Jackson State and eight at Tennessee State), and Eddie Robinson (all nine at Grambling State). Rod Broadway is the only coach to have won titles at three different schools (two at North Carolina Central, one at Grambling, and two at North Carolina A&T).

HBCU Football Programs

The following list contains athletic programs of HBCU:

Alabama

Alabama A&M University- Huntsville
Alabama State University- Montgomery
Bishop State Community College - Mobile
Concordia University-Alabama- Selma (closed 2018)
Gadsden State College- Gadsden
J.F. Drake State Technical College- Huntsville
Lawson State Community College- Birmingham
Miles College- Fairfield
Miles School of Law- Fairfield
*Oakwood University- Huntsville
Selma University- Selma
Shelton State Community College- Tuscaloosa
Stillman College- Tuscaloosa
Talladega College- Talladega
Tuskegee University- Tuskegee

Louisiana

H. Xavier University- New Orleans

Maryland

Bowie State University- Bowie
Coppin State University- Baltimore
University of Maryland- Eastern Shore- Princess Anne
Morgan State University- Baltimore

Michigan

Lewis College of Business- Detroit (Closed 2013)

Mississippi

Alcorn State University- Lorman
Coahoma Community College- Clarksdale
Hinds County Community College- Utica
Jackson State University- Jackson
Mississippi Valley State University- Itta Bena
Rust College- Holly Springs
Tougaloo College- Tougaloo

Missouri

Harris-Stowe State University- St. Louis
Lincoln University- Jefferson City

North Carolina

Barber-Scotia College**- Concord
Bennett College- Greensboro
Elizabeth City State University- Elizabeth City
Fayetteville State University- Fayetteville
Hood Theological Seminary*- Salisbury
Johnson C. Smith University- Charlotte
Livingstone College- Salisbury
North Carolina Central University- Durham
North Carolina A&T State University- Greensboro
Shaw University- Raleigh
St. Augustine's University- Raleigh
Winston-Salem State University- Winston Salem

Ohio

Central State University- Wilberforce
Payne Theological Seminary*- Wilberforce
Wilberforce University- Wilberforce

Oklahoma

Langston University- Langston

Pennsylvania

Cheyney University- Cheyney
The Lincoln University- Lincoln University

South Carolina

Allen University- Columbia
Benedict College- Columbia
Claflin University- Orangeburg
Clinton College- Rock Hill
Denmark Technical College- Denmark
Morris College- Sumter
South Carolina State University- Orangeburg
Voorhees University- Denmark

Tennessee

American Baptist University- Nashville
Fisk University- Nashville
Knoxville College**- Knoxville
Lane College- Jackson
LeMoyne Owen College- Memphis
Meharry Medical College
Tennessee State University- Nashville

Texas

Huston-Tillotson University- Austin
Jarvis Christian University- Hawkins
Paul Quinn College- Dallas
Prairie View A&M University- Prairie View
Southwestern Christian College- Terrell
St. Philip's College- San Antonio
Texas College- Tyler
Texas Southern University- Houston
Wiley University- Marshall

US Virgin Islands

University of the Virgin Islands- St. Thomas & St.

HBCU Power 5 Rankings - Week 6 / Run The Yard, HBCU Pass

Week 5 saw intense conference battles across the SWAC, pushing several teams to new heights in our Power 5 rankings, while a standout MEAC program continued its impressive run. With the stakes growing higher each week, which teams are poised to rise even further in Week 6? Here’s a look at the updated rankings heading into the weekend:

Jackson State (4-1): In a rematch of last year’s SWAC Championship, Jackson State made a statement with a dominant 38-13 win over Southern in Baton Rouge. The nationally ranked Tigers weathered an early surge before silencing the home crowd with a commanding performance. The defending HBCU national champions look to keep their momentum rolling as they prepare for a road test at Alabama A&M in Week 6.
Alabama State (4-1): The Hornets continue to buzz after a 42-14 road win over Florida A&M. Running back Jamarie Hostzclaw led the way with 135 rushing yards, while the offense totaled 405 yards and converted 8 of 12 third downs. Now firmly in the hunt for the No. 1 spot, Alabama State will look to keep pace as they host Bethune-Cookman in Week 6.
NCCU (3-1): The Eagles stood tall with a 50-42 road win over East Texas A&M in a high-scoring shootout. Quarterback Walker Harris threw for 288 yards and three total touchdowns, earning MEAC Offensive Player of the Week. NCCU enters a Week 6 bye with confidence and plenty of momentum to build on for the second half of the season.
SC State (2-3): The Bulldogs slide after a 31-24 defeat at Charleston Southern, their second straight loss. Despite out gaining their opponent and dominating time of possession, costly mistakes kept them from closing the gap. South Carolina State will look to regroup as conference play heats up.
Prairie View A&M (3-2): Prairie View returns to the Power 5 after a hard-fought win over Grambling State. The Panthers’ defense forced four turnovers and held Grambling to just 266 yards of offense. First-year Head Coach Tremaine Jackson has brought new energy to the program, quickly emerging as a rising star in the SWAC. Panther Nation has reason to be excited about the direction of this team.

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