The 2026 HBCU football classics schedule is loaded with marquee neutral-site games, homecoming rivalries and national-TV showcases, all building toward the Celebration Bowl in Atlanta. Below is the full rundown of every major classic with the matchup, site and TV info, plus a free printable schedule and a road-to-the-Celebration-Bowl tracker you can fill in all season.
Download the free printable 2026 HBCU Classics schedule (PDF)
2026 HBCU Football Classics Schedule
The season opens on national TV with the Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge on Saturday, August 29 and runs through the Celebration Bowl on December 12. Here is the full slate of marquee classics:
| Date | Classic | Matchup | Site | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29 | MEAC/SWAC Challenge | Alabama A&M vs Howard | Center Parc Stadium, Atlanta | ABC |
| Aug 29 | John Merritt Classic | Jackson State vs Tennessee State | Nissan Stadium, Nashville | TBD |
| Sep 5 | Pete Richardson Classic | Kentucky State vs Southern | A.W. Mumford Stadium, Baton Rouge | TBD |
| Sep 6 | Orange Blossom Classic | Florida A&M vs South Carolina State | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens | TBD |
| Sep 6 | Labor Day Classic | Prairie View A&M vs Texas Southern | Panther Stadium, Prairie View | TBD |
| Sep 6 | Black College Hall of Fame Classic | Albany State vs Johnson C. Smith | Tom Benson HOF Stadium, Canton | TBD |
| Sep 12 | Southern Heritage Classic | Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs Alcorn State | Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, Memphis | TBD |
| Sep 12 | Chicago Football Classic | Lincoln (PA) vs Mississippi Valley State | Chicago, IL | TBD |
| Sep 26 | State Fair Classic | Grambling State vs Prairie View A&M | Cotton Bowl, Dallas | TBD |
| Oct 3 | Gulf Coast Challenge | Alabama A&M vs Jackson State | Hancock Whitney Stadium, Mobile | TBD |
| Oct 31 | Magic City Classic | Alabama A&M vs Alabama State | Legion Field, Birmingham | ESPN family (expected) |
| Nov 21 | Florida Classic | Florida A&M vs Bethune-Cookman | Camping World Stadium, Orlando | ESPN family (expected) |
| Nov 26 | Turkey Day Classic | Tuskegee vs Alabama State | Cramton Bowl, Montgomery | TBD |
| Nov 28 | Bayou Classic | Grambling State vs Southern | Caesars Superdome, New Orleans | NBC (expected) |
| Dec 12 | Celebration Bowl | MEAC champion vs SWAC champion | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta | ABC |
TV networks marked “expected” follow the recent annual pattern and are not yet officially released for 2026. Dates and kickoff times can shift for television. The Circle City Classic runs as a high school showcase in 2026, so there is no college game this year.
How HBCU Classics and the Celebration Bowl Work
HBCU football is built around classics: marquee rivalry and neutral-site games, many attached to homecoming weekends, parades and battles of the bands. Several draw national television audiences, with the MEAC/SWAC Challenge and the Celebration Bowl airing on ABC.
Most classic programs compete in one of two Division I FCS conferences, the SWAC (Southwestern Athletic Conference) and the MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference). The SWAC decides its champion in a conference title game in early December, while the MEAC champion is determined by conference standings. Those two league champions then meet in the Celebration Bowl in Atlanta, widely recognized as the HBCU national championship, on Saturday, December 12, 2026 at noon ET on ABC.
Our printable includes a road-to-the-Celebration-Bowl tracker so you can follow both conference races and pencil in the two champions who reach Atlanta.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the 2026 HBCU football season kick off?
The marquee opener is the Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge between Alabama A&M and Howard on Saturday, August 29, 2026 at Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta, airing in primetime on ABC.
What is the Celebration Bowl?
The Celebration Bowl is the postseason game matching the SWAC champion against the MEAC champion at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. It is widely regarded as the HBCU national championship and airs on ABC. The 2026 game is set for Saturday, December 12 at noon ET.
What are the biggest HBCU classics of the year?
Among the most historic are the Magic City Classic (Alabama A&M vs Alabama State), the Bayou Classic (Grambling State vs Southern), the Florida Classic (Florida A&M vs Bethune-Cookman), the Orange Blossom Classic and the Southern Heritage Classic.
Is there a free printable HBCU schedule?
Yes. You can download our free printable 2026 HBCU Classics schedule and Celebration Bowl tracker using the button above, then print it for your wall, tailgate or watch party.
For more free printable schedules and brackets across every sport, visit SportsBrackets.net. You can also learn more about the title game at the official Celebration Bowl site.
