Statewide HBCU Football Schedule (August – December)

More Than a Game: How HBCU Football Season Fuels Campus and Community Economies

When the drums start rolling, the grills fire up, and the marching bands take the field, you know it’s football season at an HBCU. But beyond the touchdowns, tailgates, and halftime shows, there’s something even bigger happening: money is moving—and it’s moving in a way that powers entire campuses and cities.

Let’s break down why HBCU football season is not just a sport—it’s a full-blown economic engine.

Game Day = Big Pay

Every home game is more than just a chance to cheer on your alma mater. It’s a revenue generator. Think ticket sales, concessions, parking, merch tables, and stadium vendors. For the bigger HBCUs, a single game can bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Then you’ve got the classic games—like the Magic City Classic or the Bayou Classic—which aren’t just matchups, they’re full-scale economic explosions. The 2023 Magic City Classic, for instance, dropped over $25 million into the Birmingham economy in one weekend.

Prime Time, Big Time

HBCU games are increasingly showing up on major networks like ESPN, CBS Sports, Peacock, and HBCU GO, pulling in national sponsorships from big brands like Nissan, Cricket Wireless, Coca Cola and Pepsi.

When your team is playing under the lights—and the bands are doing their thing at halftime—eyes are watching, and dollars follow. That spotlight boosts not only athletic budgets, but school pride and enrollment too.

Homecoming = Hotel Heaven

It’s not just the schools winning during football season. Local businesses—from hotels and restaurants to barbershops and boutiques—see a major surge in revenue on game weekends.
Homecoming? That’s a whole different level. Cities with HBCUs often prepare months in advance for the flood of alumni, families, and fans who roll into town. It’s a mini economic boom, year after year.

More Than Athletics

Think football only benefits the athletic department? Think again. Game day magic spills over to:

• Scholarships and band programs
• Non-revenue sports like volleyball and tennis
• Campus facilities and tech upgrades
• Admissions and student recruitment (nothing makes a student want to attend more than a packed stadium and a booming band)

Culture, Commerce & Community

The heartbeat of HBCU football lies in the culture—and the culture creates commerce:

• Food vendors serve soul food with long lines and fast hands.
• Black-owned clothing brands set up shop near tailgates.
• DJs and step teams make every weekend feel like a block party with a purpose.

In short, HBCU football supports a whole ecosystem of creators, entrepreneurs, and local businesses.

Final Whistle: It’s Bigger Than the Game

Football season at an HBCU isn’t just about the scoreboard—it’s about the dollars, pride, and power that come with it. From band battles to vendor villages, game day brings life to campuses and dollars to the doorstep of entire communities.
So next time you’re at a game, remember: you’re not just witnessing a sport—you’re part of an economic movement that’s helping HBCUs and their hometowns thrive.

So let’s show and up support our HBCUs and vendors during one of the most economical seasons of the year! Your support matters!

In State HBCU 2025 Schedule
** Make sure you confirm kick-off and local broadcast times in your area.

🏈 Special Mention: Week Zero Football Classic (August 30, 2025)

The Week Zero Labor Day Classic double header, taking place on Saturday, August 30, 2025, at Legion Field, will feature Clark Atlanta University football team in a thrilling matchup against Valdosta State University and Fort Valley State University vs University of West Alabama. This event is set to be a memorable day filled with football, community, and celebration, accompanied by the largest BBQ festival in Alabama.

Group ticket packages are available, and purchasing in bulk will ensure that students, faculty, alumni, and supporters can come together and show their team support.

Please reach out for ticket packages and additional details. We hope to see you there!

• Valdosta State University vs Clark Atlanta University – 12:15pm Kickoff
• Fort Valley State University vs University of West Alabama – 4:15pm Kickoff

For additional information email info@weekzero.org or visit https://weekzero.org/

 🏈 Alabama State University Hornets (SWAC, FCS)

2025 schedule includes:*

• Aug 28 (Thu) @ UAB – Protective Stadium, Birmingham, AL – 7:30 PM
• Sep 6 (Sat) @ Southern University – 6:00 PM
• Sep 13 (Sat) vs Miles College – 4:00 PM / White Out at ASU Stadium
• Sep 27 (Sat) @ Florida A&M – TBD
• Oct 4 (Sat) vs Bethune‑Cookman – 3:00 PM
• Oct 11 (Sat) @ Jackson State – TBD
• Oct 25 (Sat) @ Alabama A&M – 2:30 PM
• Nov 1 (Sat) @ Prairie View A&M – TBD

SWAC conference games still to release, totaling 12 games including two non‑D1 matchups and one FCS non‑conference game

🏈 Alabama A&M University Bulldogs (SWAC, FCS)

2025 schedule includes:

• Aug 30 (Sat) @ Arkansas (FBS opponent) – 4:15 PM ET / 3:15 PM CT
• Sep 6 (Sat) vs Alcorn State – 7:00 PM – White Out Louis Crews Stadium, Huntsville
• Sep 13 (Sat) @ Tennessee State – \~3:30 PM CT (Legacy Series in Nashville)
• Sep 20 (Sat) vs Lane College – 6:00 PM – Boots & Buckles / Suicide Awareness Night, Huntsville
• Sep 27 (Sat) @ Bethune‑Cookman – 2:00 PM CT – SWAC matchup
• Oct 4 (Sat) vs Jackson State – 4:00 PM – Gulf Coast Challenge at Ladd‑Peebles Stadium, Mobile
• Oct 11 (Sat) vs Mississippi Valley State – 2:00 PM – Homecoming, Huntsville
• Oct 25 (Sat) vs Alabama State – 2:30 PM – Magic City Classic at Legion Field, Birmingham
• Nov 1 (Sat) @ Grambling State – TBD
• Nov 8 (Sat) vs Prairie View A&M – 3:00 PM
• Nov 15 (Sat) vs Florida A&M – 2:00 PM
• Nov 22 (Sat) @ Texas Southern – 2:00 PM

A 12‑game slate highlighted by matchups against an SEC opponent, three classic games, and multiple SWAC rivals.

🏈 Tuskegee University Golden Tigers (SIAC, Division II)

2025 schedule includes:

• Aug 31 (Sun) vs Winston‑Salem State – Red Tail Classic, Cramton Bowl, Montgomery – 6:00 PM
• Sep 6 (Sat) vs Central State (OH) – Cleve L. Abbott Stadium – 6:00 PM
• Sep 13 (Sat) @ Jackson State – Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium – 2:00 PM
• Sep 18 (Thu) @ Benedict College – 7:00 PM ET – Columbia, SC
• Sep 27 (Sat) vs Fort Valley State – 2:00 PM – Cleve L. Abbott Stadium, Tuskegee
• Oct 4 (Sat) vs Morehouse – Morehouse Classic at the Cramton Bowl, Montgomery – 6:00 PM
• Oct 18 (Sat) @ Albany State – 1:00 PM ET – Albany, GA
• Oct 25 (Sat) vs Allen University – 2:00 PM – Tuskegee
• Nov 1 (Sat) vs Lane College – Homecoming Game, 2:00 PM – Tuskegee
• Nov 8 (Sat) @ Miles College – 3:00 PM – Sloan‑Alumni Stadium, Fairfield
• Nov 27 (Thu) @ Alabama State – TBD – Turkey Day Classic at ASU Stadium

Tuskegee total: at least 11 games, mixing SIAC conference rivals and classic non‑conference matchups.

🏈 Miles College Golden Bears (SIAC, NCAA Division II)

• Aug 31 (Sun) Virginia Union – Canton, OH (Hall of Fame Stadium) – Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic – 3:00 PM
• Sep 6 (Sat) @ Edward Waters – Jacksonville, FL – SIAC road game – 4:00 PM
• Sep 13 (Sat) @ Alabama State – Montgomery, AL – FCS opponent, ASU Stadium – 5:00 PM
• Sep 20 (Sat) Savannah State – Fairfield, AL (Sloan-Alumni Stadium) – Prince Hall Americanism Football Classic – 3:00 PM
• Sep 27 (Sat) Morgan State – Indianapolis, IN (Lucas Oil Stadium) – Circle City Classic, neutral-site – 3:00 PM
• Oct 4 (Sat) Kentucky State – Fairfield, AL – SIAC home game at Sloan-Alumni Stadium – 3:00 PM
• Oct 11 (Sat) @ Lane College – Jackson, TN – Road SIAC contest – 2:00 PM
• Oct 18 (Sat) Clark Atlanta – Fairfield, AL – Homecoming game, Sloan-Alumni Stadium – Time TBA
• Oct 25 (Sat) @ Central State (OH) – Wilberforce, OH – SIAC road match – 1:00 PM
• Nov 1 (Sat) @ Fort Valley State – Fort Valley, GA – SIAC road game – Time TBA
• Nov 8 (Sat) Tuskegee University – Fairfield, AL – Senior Day rivalry game – Time TBA