2017 Black College Football Classics

Players getting unified of purpose before the game

Black College Football Classics are unlike other football bowl games, such as the Rose Bowl or Orange Bowl. Accompanied by parades, concerts before the game, and alumni social events that often include golf, they are black cultural institutions. Though most of the football games are outstanding, the real show is the half time Battle of the Bands. Savvy fans get their concession refills before Half Time. Established classics attract large crowds of alumni, fans, pro scouts, national sports networks and corporate sponsorships. Some classics fill up all hotel rooms in a big city. So make your travel plans early!

SEPTEMBER

Palmetto Capital City Classic
9/02/17; Livingstone vs. Benedict; Columbia, SC; http://www.palmettoccc.com

MEAC-SWAC Challenge
9/03/17; Arkansas Pine Bluff vs. South Carolina State; Daytona Beach, FL; http://espnevents.com/meac-swac/

Labor Day Classic
Postponed; Prairie View vs. Texas Southern; Houston, TX; http://pvpanthers.com

Southern Heritage Classic
9/09/17; Tennessee State vs. Jackson State; Memphis, TN; http://www.southernheritageclassic.com

Winston-Salem Classic
9/09/17; Winston-Salem State vs. Bowie State; Winston-Salem, NC; http://www.wssurams.com/sports/

Down East Viking Football Classic
9/17/16; Elizabeth City State vs. Morehouse; Rocky Mount, NC; http://www.ecsu.edu/events

Prince Hall Masons Americanism Classic
9/23/17; Miles vs. Morehouse; Montgomery, AL; http://www.bamastatesports.com

Eddie McGirt Classic
9/23/17; Elizabeth City State vs. Johnson C. Smith; Elizabeth City, NC; http://www.goldenbullsports.com

Circle City Classic
9/23/17; Central State vs. Kentucky State; Indianapolis, IN; http://www.circlecityclassic.com

Hall of Fame Game
9/23/17; Jackson State vs. Arkansas Pine Bluff; Jackson, MS; http://gojsutigers.com/footballschedule-2-2/

Chicago Football Classic
9/30/17; Clark Atlanta vs. Grambling State; Chicago, IL; http://www.chicagofootballclassic.biz

West End Classic
9/30/17; Edward Waters vs. Virginia State; Salisbury, NC; http://bluebearathletics.com/

John Merritt Classic
9/30/17; Eastern Illinois vs. Tennessee State; Nashville, TN; http://www.merrittclassic.com

A typical Battle of the Bands show at Black College Football Classics

OCTOBER

State Fair Classic
10/07/17; Grambling vs. Prairie View A&M; Dallas, TX; http://www.gsutigers.com

Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic
10/07/17; Tuskegee vs. Morehouse; Columbus, GA; http://www.tuskegee-morehouse.com

5th Quarter Classic
10/14/17; Florida A&M vs. Tuskegee; Mobile, AL; weblink

Black Wall Street Classic
10/14/17; Langston vs. Texas College; Tulsa, OK; http://www.langston.edu/events/

Boom Box Classic
10/21/17; Jackson State vs. Southern University; Jackson, MS; weblink

Morgan-Howard Classic
10/21/17; Morgan State vs. Howard; Washington, DC
http://morganstatebears.com/

Magic City Classic
10/28/17; Alabama State vs. Alabama A&M; Birmingham, AL; http://www.themagiccityclassic.com

Red River Classic
10/28/17; Grambling State vs. Texas Southern; Grambling, AL; http://www.gsutigers.com

NOVEMBER

Commemorative Classic
11/04/17; Johnson C. Smith vs. Livingstone; Salisbury, NC; http://commemorativeclassic.net

Raleigh Classic
11/04/17; Shaw vs. St. Augustine’s; Durham, NC
http://www.shawbears.com/sports/fball/

Fountain City Classic
11/04/17; Albany State vs. Fort Valley State; Columbus, GA; http://www.fvsusports.com

Battle of the Bay
11/18/17; Norfolk State vs. Hampton; Hampton, VA; http://www.nsuspartans.com

Florida Classic
11/18/17; Florida A&M vs. Bethune-Cookman; Orlando, FL; http://www.floridaclassic.org

Turkey Day Classic
11/23/17; Alabama State vs. Cheyney; Montgomery, AL; http://www.bamastatesports.com

Bayou Classic
11/24/17; Grambling State vs. Southern; New Orleans, LA; http://www.mybayouclassic.com

SIAC Football Championship; TBD; http://www.thesiac.com

CIAA Football Championship; TBD; http://www.theciaa.com

DECEMBER

SWAC Football Championship; TBD; Houston, TX; http://www.swac.org

Celebration Bowl
12/17/16; MEAC Champion vs. SWAC Champion; Atlanta, GA; http://www.thecelebrationbowl.com

Black College Football Classics page will be updated at the season progresses. Note that the MEAC Champion is determined by regular season record.