Here’s every 2026 HBCU football homecoming and classic in the FCS

07 Apr Here’s every 2026 HBCU football homecoming and classic in the FCS

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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 Franklin Pierce 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 | Morehouse | Opponent: Savannah State
  • October 10 | Albany State | Opponent: Lane
  • October 10 | Virginia State | Opponent: Livingstone
  • 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

2026 HBCU classic schedule

DATE HOMECOMING HOST OPPONENT LOCATION
Aug. 29 MEAC/SWAC Challenge Alabama A&M vs. Howard Atlanta
Aug. 29 John Merritt Classic Jackson State @ Tennessee State Nashville, Tenn.
Aug. 29 Nature State Kickoff Classic Morehouse vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff Little Rock, Ark.
Sept. 5 Louis Crews Classic Miles @ Alabama A&M Huntsville, Ala.
Sept. 5 Pete Richardson Classic Kentucky State @ Southern Baton Rouge, La.
Sept. 5 HOPE Labor Day Classic Edward Waters @ Jackson State Jackson, Miss.
Sept. 5 Labor Day Classic Lane @ Alabama State Montgomery, Ala.
Sept. 6 Labor Day Classic Texas Southern @ Prairie View A&M Prairie View, Texas
Sept. 6 Orange Blossom Classic Florida A&M vs. South Carolina State Miami Gardens, Fla.
Sept. 12 Aggie-Eagle Classic North Carolina A&T @ North Carolina Central Durham, N.C.
Sept. 12 The Legacy Series Tennessee State @ Alabama A&M Huntsville, Ala.
Sept. 12 Southern Heritage Classic Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. Alcorn State Memphis, Tenn.
Sept. 12 Chicago Football Classic Lincoln (PA) vs. Mississippi Valley State Chicago, Ill.
Sept. 19 Battle for Greater Baltimore Morgan State @ Towson Towson, Md.
Sept. 19 Battle of the Bay Hampton @ Norfolk State Norfolk, Va.
Sept. 19 W.C. Gorden Classic Tuskegee @ Jackson State Jackson, Miss.
Sept. 26 State Fair Classic Grambling State vs. Prairie View A&M Dallas, Tex.
Sept. 26 Boombox Classic Southern @ Jackson State Jackson, Miss.
Oct. 3 Battle of the Real HU Hampton vs. Howard Washington, D.C.
Oct. 3 Gulf Coast Challenge Alabama A&M vs. Jackson State Mobile, Ala.
Oct. 31 Magic City Classic Alabama A&M vs. Alabama State Birmingham, Ala.
Nov. 21 Florida Classic Bethune-Cookman vs. Florida A&M Orlando, Fla.
Nov. 21 Soul Bowl Jackson State @ Alcorn State Lorman, Miss.
Nov. 26 Turkey Day Classic Tuskegee @ Alabama State Montgomery, Ala.
Nov. 28 Bayou Classic Grambling State vs. Southern New Orleans
Dec. 5 SWAC Championship SWAC East Champ vs. SWAC West Champ Campus Site
Dec. 12 Celebration Bowl MEAC Champ vs. SWAC Champ Atlanta
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, Ala.
Delaware State Franklin Pierce 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.
Oct. 24 Hampton Monmouth Hampton, Va.
Oct. 31 North Carolina A&T Elon Greensboro, N.C.

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 HOMECOMING HOST OPPONENT 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.