ESPN’s 2026-27 HBCU college football schedule kicks off in Week 0

Press Release

August 27, 2026

Author

Amanda Brooks

Contact(s)

Amanda Brooks: Amanda.D.Brooks@espn.com; @BrooksAD

Courtney Clawson: Courtney.Clawson@espn.com; @CourtClawESPN

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Summary

  • Nearly 100 college football games featuring an HBCU team across 10 ESPN networks, including 69 ESPN+ exclusive games
  • 2026-27 season bookended by marquee ESPN Events matchups on ABC
  • Eight Homecoming games will be highlighted throughout the fall

ESPN’s industry-leading coverage of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) college football continues in 2026-27 with nearly 100 games featuring at least one HBCU program. From Week 0 in late August through the Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl in February 2027, HBCU teams can be seen across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, ACC Network, NFL Network, SEC Network+, ACCNX and ESPN+, with all games streaming on the ESPN App.

The slate builds immediately with a stacked Week 0 weekend highlighted by the Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff Presented by Toyota — Alabama A&M vs. Howard from Atlanta — on Saturday, Aug. 29 at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff is the first of three ESPN Events games throughout the 2026-27 HBCU season, continuing ESPN’s longstanding commitment to HBCU football.

HBCU teams are featured across ESPN networks nearly every weekend of the season with conference championships set for Saturday, Nov. 14 and Saturday, Dec. 5. The HBCU postseason and Bowl Season both kick off with the Cricket Celebration Bowl Presented by Toyota on Saturday, Dec. 12 at noon on ABC, crowning the HBCU national champion, while the Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl wraps up the season with the HBCU all-star game from Atlanta, Ga. on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 4 p.m. on NFL Network.

Marquee events and classic games

The 2026-27 schedule is anchored by signature events and storied rivalry classics, including:

  • Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff Presented by Toyota: Alabama A&M vs. Howard (Atlanta, Ga.) | Saturday, Aug. 29, 7:30 p.m. | ABC
    • ESPN Events owned-and-operated game
  • Birmingham Football Classic: Southern vs. Alabama State (Birmingham, Ala.) | Saturday, Aug. 29, 3 p.m. | ESPNU
  • John Merritt Classic: Jackson State vs. Tennessee State (Nashville, Tenn.) | Saturday, Aug. 29, 8:30 p.m. | ESPN+
  • Red Tails Classic: West Alabama vs. Tuskegee (Montgomery, Ala.) | Sunday, Aug. 30, 8 p.m. | ESPN2
    • ESPN Events owned-and-operated game
  • Orange Blossom Classic: South Carolina State vs. Florida A&M (Miami Gardens, Fla.) | Sunday, Sept. 6, 3 p.m. | ESPN
  • Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic: Albany State vs. Johnson C. Smith (Canton, Ohio) | Sunday, Sept. 6, 4 p.m. | NFL Network
  • State Fair Classic: Prairie View A&M vs. Grambling (Dallas, Texas) | Saturday, Sept. 26, 7 p.m. | ESPN+
  • Magic City Classic: Alabama State vs. Alabama A&M (Birmingham, Ala.) | Saturday, Oct. 31, Network/Time TBD
  • SIAC Championship | Saturday, Nov. 14, 10:30 a.m. | ESPNU
  • SWAC Championship | Saturday, Dec. 5, 2 p.m. | ESPN2
  • Cricket Celebration Bowl Presented by Toyota | Saturday, Dec. 12, Noon | ABC
    • ESPN Events owned-and-operated game
  • Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl | Saturday, Feb. 27, 4 p.m. | NFL Network

Schedules are subject to change. Please visit ESPNPressRoom.com and @ESPNPR for the latest updates on schedules, on-air teams and more.

2026-27 HBCU College Football on ESPN Networks

Date Time (ET) Game Where to Watch
Thu, Aug 27 7 p.m. Mississippi Valley State at Nicholls ESPN+
Sat, Aug 29 3 p.m. Birmingham Football Classic: Southern vs. Alabama State (Birmingham, Ala.) ESPNU
6 p.m. Savannah State at South Carolina State ESPN+
7:30 p.m. Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff Presented by Toyota: Alabama A&M vs. Howard (Atlanta, Ga.)^ ABC
8:30 p.m. John Merritt Classic: Jackson State vs. Tennessee State (Nashville, Tenn.) ESPN+
9 p.m. Prairie View A&M at Tarleton State ESPN2
Sun, Aug 30 8 p.m. Red Tails Classic: West Alabama vs. Tuskegee (Montgomery, Ala.)^ ESPN2
Thu, Sep 3 7 p.m. Bethune-Cookman at UCF ESPN+
8 p.m. Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Missouri SEC Network
Fri, Sep 4 7 p.m. North Carolina A&T at Georgia State ESPN+
Sat, Sep 5 3 p.m. Tennessee State at Georgia SEC Network+
5 p.m. Alcorn State at Southern Miss ESPN+
5 p.m. Port City Classic: Tuskegee vs. Fort Valley State (Mobile, Ala.) ESPN+
6 p.m. Norfolk State at Old Dominion ESPN+
6 p.m. West Virginia State at Robert Morris ESPN+
6 p.m. Delaware State at William & Mary ESPN+
10 p.m. Morgan State at Arizona State ESPN+
10 p.m. Mississippi Valley State at Sacramento State ESPN+
Sun, Sep 6 Noon Labor Day Classic: Texas Southern at Prairie View A&M ESPN2
3 p.m. Orange Blossom Classic: South Carolina State vs. Florida A&M (Miami Gardens, Fla.) ESPN
4 p.m. Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic: Albany State vs. Johnson C. Smith (Canton, Ohio) NFL Network
Thu, Sep 10 8 p.m. Florida A&M at Miami ACC Network
Fri, Sep 11 7 p.m. Norfolk State at Virginia ACCNX
Sat, Sep 12 1 p.m. Central State at Morehouse ESPN+
4 p.m. Alabama State at Troy ESPN+
6 p.m. Aggie-Eagle Classic: North Carolina A&T at North Carolina Central ESPN+
6 p.m. Kentucky State at Clark Atlanta ESPN+
7 p.m. Southern at Houston ESPN+
7 p.m. Arkansas Baptist at Houston Christian ESPN+
8 p.m. Prairie View A&M at Baylor ESPN+
8 p.m. Grambling at TCU ESPN+
Sat, Sep 19 1 p.m. Benedict at Fort Valley State ESPN+
6 p.m. North Carolina Central at Gardner-Webb ESPN+
7 p.m. Delaware State at South Florida ESPN+
7 p.m. South Carolina State at Furman ESPN+
7 p.m. Alcorn State at North Alabama ESPN+
Thu, Sep 24 7 p.m. Benedict at Tuskegee ESPN2
Sat, Sep 26 1 p.m. Kentucky State at Albany State ESPN+
1 p.m. Edward Waters at Morehouse ESPN+
4 p.m. North Carolina Central at East Carolina ESPN+
6 p.m. Fort Valley State at West Georgia ESPN+
7 p.m. State Fair Classic: Prairie View A&M vs. Grambling (Dallas, Texas) ESPN+
TBD Boombox Classic: Southern at Jackson State ESPN+
Sat, Oct 3 1 p.m. Morgan State at Villanova ESPN+
2 p.m. Kentucky State at Edward Waters ESPN+
2 p.m. Norfolk State at Robert Morris ESPN+
3 p.m. Lane at Miles* ESPN+
4 p.m. Tennessee State at Western Illinois ESPN+
6 p.m. Texas Southern at Florida Atlantic ESPN+
6 p.m. Allen at Savannah State ESPN+
Sat, Oct 10 Noon Robert Morris at Morgan State* ESPN+
1 p.m. William & Mary at North Carolina Central* ESPN+
1 p.m. Clark Atlanta at Fort Valley State ESPN+
1 p.m. Howard at Penn ESPN+
3:30 p.m. UT Martin at Tennessee State ESPN+
6 p.m. South Carolina State at Charleston Southern ESPN+
Sat, Oct 17 1 p.m. Allen at Clark Atlanta* ESPN+
2 p.m. Edward Waters at Benedict* ESPN+
3 p.m. Albany State at Tuskegee ESPN+
3:30 p.m. Morehouse at Howard* ESPN+
6:30 p.m. Morgan State at Tennessee State ESPN+
TBD Florida A&M at Jackson State TBD
Fri, Oct 23 5 p.m. North Carolina Central at Delaware State ESPN2
Sat, Oct 24 1 p.m. Benedict at Albany State ESPN+
1:30 p.m. Norfolk State at South Carolina State* ESPN+
3 p.m. Howard at Morgan State ESPN+
3 p.m. Central State at Miles ESPN+
3:30 p.m. Charleston Southern at Tennessee State ESPN+
7 p.m. Prairie View A&M at East Texas A&M ESPN+
Thu, Oct 29 7 p.m. South Carolina State at Morgan State ESPNU
Sat, Oct 31 2 p.m. Howard at North Carolina Central ESPN+
2 p.m. Delaware State at Norfolk State ESPN+
2 p.m. Savannah State at Benedict ESPN+
2 p.m. Albany State at Clark Atlanta ESPN+
2 p.m. Tennessee State at Lindenwood ESPN+
TBD Magic City Classic: Alabama State vs. Alabama A&M (Birmingham, Ala.) TBD
Thu, Nov 5 5 p.m. South Carolina State at Howard ESPNU
Sat, Nov 7 Noon North Carolina Central at Norfolk State ESPN+
1 p.m. Morgan State at Delaware State ESPN+
2 p.m. Fountain City Classic: Fort Valley State vs. Albany State (Columbus, Ga.) ESPN+
2 p.m. Central State at Benedict ESPN+
3:30 p.m. Miles at Tuskegee* ESPN+
3:30 p.m. Southeast Missouri State at Tennessee State ESPN+
Sat, Nov 14 10:30 a.m. SIAC Championship ESPNU
Noon Norfolk State at Morgan State TBD
1 p.m. Delaware State at Howard TBD
1:30 p.m. North Carolina Central at South Carolina State TBD
3:30 p.m. Eastern Illinois at Tennessee State ESPN+
TBD Jackson State at Alabama State TBD
Sat, Nov 21 Noon Howard at Norfolk State TBD
1:30 p.m. Delaware State at South Carolina State TBD
1:30 p.m. Tennessee State at Gardner-Webb ESPN+
2 p.m. Morgan State at North Carolina Central TBD
3:30 p.m. Florida Classic (Orlando, Fla.): Florida A&M vs. Bethune-Cookman ESPN+
TBD Jackson State at Alcorn State TBD
TBD Prairie View A&M at Alabama State TBD
Sat, Dec 5 2 p.m. SWAC Championship ESPN2
Sat, Dec 12 Noon Cricket Celebration Bowl Presented by Toyota (Atlanta, Ga.)^ ABC
Sat, Feb 27 4 p.m. Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl (Atlanta, Ga.) NFL Network

*Homecoming game
^ESPN Events games

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