Stan Becton | NCAA.com | August 24, 2025

A history of every HBCU football classic

The moments after North Carolina Central won the 2025 MEAC/SWAC Challenge

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 2024 college football season

Celebration Bowl

Location: Atlanta, GA
First game: 2015
Most recent result: 2024 — Jackson State def. South Carolina State 28-7

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
North Carolina A&T	4-0	1.00
Florida A&M	1-0	1.00
South Carolina State	1-1	.500
North Carolina Central	1-1	.500
Grambling State	1-1	.500
Jackson State	1-2	.333
Howard	0-1	0.00
Alcorn State	0-3	0.00

Notable games

MEAC/SWAC Challenge

Location: Atlanta, GA
First game: 2005
Most recent result: 2024 — Florida A&M def. Norfolk State 24-23

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Bethune-Cookman, Southern	3-0	1.00
South Carolina State	3-2	.600
Florida A&M	2-1	.667
North Carolina A&T	1-0	1.00
Hampton, North Carolina Central, Prairie View A&M	1-1	.500
Alabama State, Jackson State	1-2	.333
Alabama A&M, Alcorn State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Delaware State, Howard, Mississippi Valley State, Norfolk State	0-1	0.00
Grambling State	0-2	0.00

Notable games

Bayou Classic

Location: New Orleans, LA
Teams: Southern vs. Grambling State
First game: 1974
Most recent result: 2024 — Southern def. Grambling State 24-14

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Southern	27-24	.529
Grambling State	24-27	.471

Notable games

Click or tap here to see memorable moments, all-time history of the Bayou Classic

Florida Classic

Location: Orlando, FL
Teams: Bethune-Cookman vs. Florida A&M
First game: 1978
Most recent result: 2024 — Florida A&M def. Bethune-Cookman 41-38

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Florida A&M	26-19	.577
Bethune-Cookman	19-26	.422

Notable games

Click or tap here to see memorable moments, all-time history of the Florida Classic

Orange Blossom Classic

Location: Miami, FL
Team: Florida A&M
First game: 1933
Most recent result: 2024 — North Carolina Central def. Alabama State 31-24

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record		Win PCT
Florida A&M	27-22-1		.550
Prairie View A&M	4-1		.800
Jackson State	3-2		.600
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
North Carolina Central, Wiley	1-1		.500
Central State (OH)	1-1-1		.500
Hampton, Kentucky State, Virginia State	1-2		.333
Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Delaware State, Langston, South Carolina State, Tennessee State, Texas College, Tuskegee	0-1		0.00
Howard, Maryland-Eastern Shore	0-2		0.00

Notable games

2022 — Jackson State routs Florida A&M 59-3
2023 — Florida A&M defeats Jackson State 28-10

Florida Beach Bowl

Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
First game: 2023
Most recent result: 2023 — Fort Valley State def. Johnson C. Smith 23-10

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Fort Valley State	1-0	1.00
Johnson C. Smith	0-1	0.00

Labor Day Classic

Location: Montgomery, AL
Team: Alabama State
First game: 2017
Most recent result: 2023 — Alabama State def Southern 14-10

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Alabama State	5-1	.833
Tuskegee	1-0	1.00
Miles	0-4	0.00
Southern	0-1	0.00

Labor Day Classic

Teams: Prairie View A&M vs. Texas Southern
First game: 1985
Most recent result: 2024 — Texas Southern def. Prairie View A&M 27-9

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Texas Southern	21-18	.538
Prairie View A&M	18-20	.474
Hampton	0-1	0.00

Aggie-Eagle Classic

Teams: North Carolina Central vs. North Carolina A&T
First game: 1922
Most recent result: 2024 — North Carolina Central def. North Carolina A&T 66-24

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
North Carolina A&T	55–37–5	.593
North Carolina Central	37-55-5	.407

Pete Richardson Classic

Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Team: Southern
First game: 2018
Most recent result: 2024 — Southern def. Savannah State 42-10

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Southern	5-1	.833
Jackson State	1-0	1.00
Florida Memorial	0-1	0.00
Miles	0-1	0.00
Edward Waters	0-1	0.00
Langston	0-1	0.00
Savannah State	0-1	0.00

Southern Heritage Classic

Location: Memphis, TN
Team: Tennessee State
First game: 1990
Most recent result: 2024 — Tennessee State def. Arkansas-Pine Bluff 41-28

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Tennessee State	19-14	.576
Jackson State	12-17	.414
Mississippi Valley State	1-0	1.00
Grambling State	1-0	1.00
Arkansas-Pine Bluff	0-1	0.00

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

**All-time win-loss record by team**
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: 2024 — Hampton def. Norfolk State 37-7

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Norfolk State	28-28-1	.500
Hampton	28-28-1	.500

HBCU New York Football Classic

Location: East Rutherford, NJ
First game: 2022
Most recent result: 2024 — Howard def. Morehouse 35-21

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Howard	2-0	1.00
Albany State	1-0	1.00
Morehouse	0-3	0.00

Turkey Day Classic

Location: Montgomery, AL
Team: Alabama State
First game: 1924
Most recent result: 2024 — Alabama State def. Tuskegee 34-6

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Tuskegee	49-36-3	.574
Alabama State	45-52-3	.465
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: 2024 — Alabama A&M def.Kentucky State 49-7

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Alabama A&M	10-4	.714
Tuskegee	1-4	.200
Austin Peay, Prairie View A&M	1-0	1.00
Arkansas-Pine Bluff	1-1	.500
Central State, Kentucky State, Miles, Lane, 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

**All-time win-loss record by team**
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: 2024 — Tennessee State def. Mississippi Valley State 41-21

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Tennessee State	4-1	.800
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, Gardner-Webb, Kentucky State, Prairie View A&M, South Carolina State	0-1	0.00
Mississippi Valley State, 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: 2024 — Prairie View A&M def. Grambling State 36-34 (5OT)

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Prairie View A&M	44-46-4	.489
Grambling State	28-12	.700
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: 2024 — Hampton def. Howard 27-20

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Hampton	3-0	1.00
Harvard	1-0	1.00
Howard	0-4	0.00

BoomBox Classic

Teams: Southern vs. Jackson State
First game: 1929
Most recent result: 2024 — Jackson State def. Southern 41-13

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Southern	35-35	.500
Jackson State	35-35	.500

Magic City Classic

Location: Birmingham, AL
Teams: Alabama State vs. Alabama A&M
First game: 1940
Most recent result: 2024 — Alabama State def. Alabama A&M 27-19

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Alabama A&M	41-37-4	.524
Alabama State	37-41-4	.476

Soul Bowl — Capital City Classic

Teams: Jackson State vs. Alcorn State
First game: 1927
Most recent result: 2024 — J ackson State def. Alcorn State 48-10

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Jackson State	49-38-2	.562
Alcorn State	38-49-2	.438

W.C. Gorden Classic

Team: Jackson State
First game: 2008
Most recent result: 2023 — Jackson State def. Bethune-Cookman 22-16

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Jackson State	10-6	.625
Grambling State	3-1	.750
Alabama A&M, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Southern	1-0	1.00
Alabama State, Bethune-Cookman, 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: 2024 — Virginia State def. Benedict 23-7

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Alabama A&M, Central State, Grambling State, Virginia State, Virginia Union	1-0	1.00
Benedict, Tennessee State, Winston-Salem State	0-1	0.00
Morehouse	0-2	0.00

Red Tails Classic

Location: Montgomery, AL
Teams: Tuskegee
First game: 2021
Most recent result: 2024 — Johnson C. Smith def. Tuskegee 21-13

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Johnson C. Smith	1-0	1.00
Fort Valley State	2-1	.670
Tuskegee	1-3	.250

Fountain City Classic

Location: Columbus, GA
Teams: Fort Valley State vs. Albany State
First game: 1989
Most recent result: 2024 — Albany State def. Fort Valley State 20-15

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Albany State	26-9	.743
Fort Valley State	9-26	.257

Morehouse-Tuskegee Classic

Location: Birmingham, AL
Teams: Morehouse vs. Tuskegee
First game: 1902
Most recent result: 2024 — Tuskegee def. Morehouse 42-0

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Tuskegee	75-30-7	.701
Morehouse	30-75-7	.299

Down East Viking Football Classic

Location: Rocky Mount, NC
Team: Elizabeth City State
First game: 1998
Most recent result: 2024 — Fayetteville State def. Elizabeth City State 31-7

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Elizabeth City State	10-14	.417
Fayetteville State	8-2	.800
Benedict, Shaw, Winston-Salem State	1-0	1.00
Livingstone, North Carolina Central	1-1	.500
Saint Augustine's	1-3	.250
Chowan, Morehouse	0-1	0.00

Eddie C. McGirt Classic

Location: Charlotte, NC
Team: Johnson C. Smith
First game: 2013
Most recent result: 2024 — J ohnson C. Smith def. Lincoln (PA) 52-6

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Johnson C. Smith	4-3	.571
Walsh (OH)	1-0	1.00
Bowie State, Lincoln (PA)	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: 2024 — Jackson State def. Alabama A&M 45-38

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Jackson State	3-0	1.00
Southern	1-0	1.00
Alabama A&M	2-4	.333
Central State, Tuskegee	0-1	0.00

Circle City Classic

Location: Indianapolis, IN
First game: 1984
Most recent result: 2024 — North Carolina Central def. Norfolk State 37-10

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Kentucky State	6-1	.857
Central State	4-4	.500
Alcorn State, North Carolina Central	3-0	1.00
Mississippi Valley State	2-1	.670
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, 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, Norfolk State	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: 2024 — Livingstone def. Johnson C. Smith 15-10

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Johnson C. Smith	49-34-3	.587
Livingstone	34-49-3	.413

Raleigh Classic

Teams: Saint Augustine's vs. Shaw
First game: 2016
Most recent result: 2023 — Shaw def. Saint Augustine's 21-14

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Shaw	4-3	.571
Saint Augustine's	3-4	.429

Heritage Bowl

Location: Atlanta, GA
First game: 1991
Most recent result: 1999 — Hampton def. Southern 24-3

**All-time win-loss record by team**
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

**All-time win-loss record by team**
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: 2024 — Fayetteville State def. UNC-Pembroke 35-31

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
UNC-Pembroke	9-2	.818
Fayetteville State	2-9	.182

Willard Bailey Classic

Location: Richmond, VA
Team: Virginia Union
First game: 2017
Most recent result: 2024 — V irginia Union def. Shaw 42-7

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Virginia Union	4-3	.571
Carson-Newman, Fayetteville State, Winston-Salem State	1-0	1.000
Johnson C. Smith, Shaw	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: 2023 — Virginia Union def. Virginia State 30-20

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Virginia Union	2-0	1.00
Virginia State	0-2	0.00

Palmetto Capital City Classic

Team: Benedict
First game: 2002
Most recent result: 2018 — Benedict def. Fort Valley State 28-20

**All-time win-loss record by team**
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: 2023 — Benedict def. Shaw 52-0

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Benedict	3-1	.750
Johnson C. Smith	1-0	1.00
Allen (SC), Elizabeth City State, Shaw	0-1	0.00

Chicago Football Classic

Location: Chicago, IL
First game: 1997
Most recent result: 2024 — Morehouse def. Kentucky State 31-28

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Morehouse	4-0	1.00
Grambling State, Hampton, Jackson State,	2-0	1.00
Alcorn State, Southern	2-1	.667
Mississippi Valley State	2-5	.286
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
Central State	1-4	.200
Alabama State, Miles, Virginia State	0-1	0.00
Kentucky State	0-2	0.00
Howard	0-4	0.00

5th Quarter Classic

Location: Mobile, AL
First game: 2016
Most recent result: 2017 — Tuskegee def. Jackson State 33-7

**All-time win-loss record by team**
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

**All-time win-loss record by team**
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

**All-time win-loss record by team**
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
Most recent result: 2023 — Hampton def. Grambling State 35-31

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Hampton	1-0	1.00
Grambling State	0-1	0.00

Port City Classic

Location: Mobile, AL
First game: 2023
Most recent result: 2024 — Alabama State def. Alcorn State 21-17

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Alabama State	2-0	1.00
Alcorn State, Grambling State	0-1	0.00

Coastal City Classic

Location: Brunswick, GA
First game: 2023
Most recent result: 2023 — Albany State def. Savannah State 15-12

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Albany State	1-0	1.00
Savannah State	0-1	0.00

Frederick Douglas Classic

Location: Rochester, NY
First game: 2024
Most recent result: 2024 — Albany State def. Central State 28-7

**All-time win-loss record by team**
Team	Record	Win PCT
Albany State	1-0	1.00
Central State	0-1	0.00

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

🌟 HBCU Sports 🌟

🏈: Recapping the 2024 HBCU football season
📲 B/R: Follow HBCU sports on Bleacher Report
📚 Football History: Top MEAC/SWAC Challenge moments | Individual stars | Recapping 2023 | 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