2025 HBCU football: Schedule, scores, rankings and updates

The 2025 HBCU football season will bring excitement, great games, rivalries and more. We'll be tracking the season from start to finish below with scores from every FCS HBCU football game, plus the latest news.

You can click or tap each of the links below to jump ahead to a section:

• 👀 This week's HBCU football schedule
• 📰 News and notes
• 📝 Key dates
• 🗓 Full HBCU football schedule and results
• 📚 HBCU Football Basics

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👀 This week's HBCU football schedule

See this week's HBCU football results in the FCS below.

Click or tap any of the games below for live stats | Click or tap here for a live scoreboard

Week 7 — Week 7 Power Rankings

Saturday, October 11

• 12 p.m. | Southern Connecticut State at Delaware State | ESPN+
• 1 p.m. | South Carolina State at North Carolina A&T | FloFootball
• 1 p.m. | Virginia-Lynchburg at Morgan State | ESPN+
• 1 p.m. | Howard at Sacred Heart | ESPN+
• 1:30 p.m. | Norfolk State at Wofford | ESPN+
• 2 p.m. | Campbell at Hampton | FloFootball
• 3 p.m. | North Carolina Central at Florida A&M | HBCU GO
• 3 p.m. | Westgate at Arkansas-Pine Bluff | SWAC TV
• 3 p.m. | Mississippi Valley State at Alabama A&M | SWAC TV
• 3 p.m. | Lincoln (CA) at Alcorn State | SWAC TV
• 3:30 p.m. | Alabama State at Jackson State | ESPNU
• 4 p.m. | Southern at Bethune-Cookman | SWAC TV
• 4 p.m. | Tennessee State at Southeast Missouri State | ESPN+
• 7 p.m. | Texas Southern at Grambling State | ESPN+

Click or tap here for a complete list of HBCU homecomings and classics in 2025.

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📰 HBCU football news and notes

Click or tap here to view the latest HBCU football standings in a new tab

Week 6

Georgia Football Classic canceled

The Georgia Football Classic is no more. The game that was going to feature Mississippi Valley State and Florida A&M will no longer be played in Atlanta, Georgia's Mercedez-Benz Stadium — home of the Atlanta Falcons and Celebration Bowl. Instead the game between MVSU and FAMU will be pushed back to November 29, after the regular season concludes for most FCS teams.

Click or tap here for more information from and/or

Top HBCU football players after one month

NCAA Digital's Stan Becton ranked the top HBCU football players in the FCS after one month. View the top-10 below and click or tap here for more info.

1. RB Chris Mosley, North Carolina Central
2. QB Andrew Body, Alabama State
3. DE Ckelby Givens, Southern
4. LB Erick Hunter, Morgan State
5. DL Quincy Ivory, Jackson State
6. QB Walker Harris, North Carolina Central
7. QB Kaiden Bennett, Delaware State
8. DL Thomas Johnson, North Carolina Central
9. CB Tyrell Raby, Grambling State
10. WR Jalen Jones, Alabama State

Players of the week

• Stats Perform HBCU FCS National Player of the Week: DE Michael Akins, Texas Southern
• Stats Perform HBCU FCS National Team of the Week: Jackson State
• MEAC Offensive Player of the Week: QB Walker Harris, North Carolina Central
• MEAC Defensive Player of the Week: DB Corey Chapman, Norfolk State
• MEAC Rookie of the Week: QB Raymond Moore III, Morgan State
• MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Week: OL Ja’Quan Sprinkle, North Carolina Central
• MEAC Specialist of the Week: DB Jadon Carter, Morgan STate
• SWAC Offensive Player of the Week: QB JaCobian Morgan, Jackson State
• SWAC Co-Defensive Player of the Week: DE Michael Akins, Texas Southern
• SWAC Co-Defensive Player of the Week: S Antwone Watts, Bethune-Cookman
• SWAC Newcomer of the Week: QB Christian Peters, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
• SWAC Specialist of the Week: RB Chaunzavia Lewis, Texas Southern

Week 5

Players of the week

• Stats Perform HBCU FCS National Player of the Week: RB Chris Mosley, North Carolina Central
• Stats Perform HBCU FCS National Team of the Week: Howard
• MEAC Offensive Player of the Week: RB Chris Mosley, North Carolina Central
• MEAC Defensive Player of the Week: LB Ja’Quavion Smith, Howard
• MEAC Rookie of the Week: RB Randall Nauden, Morgan State
• MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Week: OL Trevon Humphrey, North Carolina Central
• MEAC Specialist of the Week: K/P Kaleb Robison, North Carolina Central
• SWAC Offensive Player of the Week: WR Maleek Huggins, Bethune-Cookman
• SWAC Defensive Player of the Week: DB Trevor Randle, Prairie View A&M
• SWAC Newcomer of the Week: RB Khamani Robinson, Bethune-Cookman
• SWAC Specialist of the Week: P/K Max Tulen, Bethune-Cookman

Week 4

Players of the week

The following players earned player of the week honors after their Week 3 performances:

• Stats Perform HBCU FCS National Player of the Week: QB Walker Harris, North Carolina Central
• Stats Perform HBCU FCS National Team of the Week: North Carolina A&T
• MEAC Offensive Player of the Week: QB Walker Harris, North Carolina Central
• MEAC Defensive Player of the Week: DL Thomas Johnson, North Carolina Central
• MEAC Rookie of the Week: RB Mason Pickett-Hicks, South Carolina State
• MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Week: OL Roger Smith, South Carolina State
• MEAC Specialist of the Week: K Nico Cavanillas Alti, South Carolina State
• SWAC Co-Offensive Player of the Week: QB Cornelious Brown IV, Alabama A&M
• SWAC Co-Offensive Player of the Week: QB Andrew Body, Alabama State
• SWAC Defensive Player of the Week: DB Jameel Sanders, Florida A&M
• SWAC Co-Newcomer of the Week: QB Jared Lockhart, Jackson State
• SWAC Co-Newcomer of the Week: RB Jaylen Jennings, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
• SWAC Specialist of the Week: K Victor Barbosa, Alabama A&M

Week 3

Game update

The Tampa Bay Football Classic is no more. Bethune-Cookman announced Monday that the Tampa Bay Football Classic is canceled and the game against Southern is back to Daytona Beach.

A Statement from Bethune-Cookman Athletics. |

— 🏈 Bethune-Cookman Football (@BCUGridiron)

Players of the week

The following players earned player of the week honors after their Week 2 performances:

• Stats Perform HBCU FCS National Player of the Week: QB Cornelious Brown IV, Alabama A&M
• Stats Perform HBCU FCS National Team of the Week: Delaware State
• MEAC Offensive Player of the Week: QB Kaiden Bennett, Delaware State
• MEAC Defensive Player of the Week: DL CJ Wesley, Howard
• MEAC Rookie of the Week: WR Maxim Copeland, Morgan State
• MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Week: OL Daniel Casillas Jr., Morgan State
• MEAC Specialist of the Week: K Evan Helfrich, Norfolk State
• SWAC Offensive Player of the Week: QB Cornelious Brown IV, Alabama A&M
• SWAC Co-Defensive Player of the Week: LB Lenore Jalil, Alabama State
• SWAC Co-Defensive Player: LB Matthew Cooks, Texas Southern
• SWAC Newcomer of the Week: DL Quincy Ivory, Jackson State
• SWAC Specialist of the Week: K Gerardo Baeza, Jackson State

Week 2

Players of the week

The following players earned player of the week honors after their Week 1 performances:

• Stats Perform HBCU FCS National Player of the Week: QB Andrew Body, Alabama State
• Stats Perform HBCU FCS National Team of the Week: Prairie View A&M
• OVC-BigSouth Football Freshman of the Week: WR DeVaughn Slaughter, Tennessee State
• CAA Defensive Player of the Week: LB Joshua Iseah, North Carolina A&T
• MEAC Offensive Player of the Week: RB Marquis Gillis, Delaware State
• MEAC Defensive Player of the Week: LB Quentin Johnson, Delaware State
• MEAC Rookie of the Week: RB Randall Nauden, Morgan State
• MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Week: OL Jerrod Burrell, Morgan State
• MEAC Specialist of the Week: K Matt Conord, Howard
• SWAC Co-Offensive Player of the Week: QB Andrew Body, Alabama State
• SWAC Co-Offensive Player of the Week: RB Ahmad Miller, Jackson State
• SWAC Defensive Player & Newcomer of the Week: DL Quincy Ivory, Jackson State
• SWAC Specialist of the Week: P Donovan Warren, Jackson State

Week 1

First Take visits Norfolk State

The hit daily sports talk show "First Take" visited the campus of Norfolk State ahead of NSU's season-opener against Towson. Checkout some clips from the show below.

Norfolk State showed up and showed out for First Take's HBCU tour 😤 | |

— First Take (@FirstTake)

"To help these young men ... understand what greatness looks like, understand what success looks like, understanding what being men of character looks like, that means more to me than anything."

— on coaching at an HBCU 💪

— First Take (@FirstTake)

Preseason news

Before the season, we looked at some of the top storylines and players to follow for 2025. Click or tap the links below for more.

• 7 storylines to follow in the 2025 HBCU football season
• The top 3 players in HBCU football at every position entering 2025

The preseason is here, conferences are announcing their all-conference teams and predicted orders of finishes. Here's where HBCU programs landed.

MEAC

1. South Carolina State (5 first-place vote) — 63 points
2. North Carolina Central (4) —  61 points
3. Morgan State — 39 points
4. Norfolk State (1) — 36 points
5. Howard (1) — 33 points
6. Delaware State (1) — 20 points

SWAC East

1. Jackson State (16) —126 points
2. Florida A&M (3) — 99 points
3. Alabama State (2) — 91 points
4. Alabama A&M — 62 points  
5. Bethune-Cookman (1) — 45 points
6. Mississippi Valley State — 24 points 

SWAC West

1. Southern (17) —  120 points
2. Alcorn State (2) —  90 points
3. Prairie View A&M (1) —  72 points
4. Texas Southern —  60 points
5. Grambling State — 55 points
6. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1) —  28 points

Other HBCUs

• Tennessee State was predicted to finish 8th in the CAA.
• Hampton was predicted to finish 11th in the CAA.
• North Carolina A&T was predicted to finish last at 14th in the CAA. 

Preseason players of the year

• MEAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year – Running back Jason Collins Jr., Morgan State
• MEAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year – Linebacker Erick Hunter, Morgan State
• SWAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year – Quarterback Jacobian Morgan, Jackson State
• SWAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year – Defensive lineman Ckelby Givens, Southern

Defending Champs entering 2025

• The defending Celebration Bowl champion is Jackson State. The Tigers also won the SWAC after previously winning the SWAC East division.
• South Carolina State won the MEAC in 2024.
• The defending SWAC West division champion is Southern.

Click or tap here for a complete HBCU football championship history

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📝 Key dates for the 2025 HBCU football season

Here are some key dates for the 2025 HBCU football season.

Key dates

• krikya18.com's Preseason HBCU football power rankings will release on Friday, Aug. 1.
• The 2025 HBCU football season begins with the MEAC/SWAC Challenge on Saturday, Aug. 23.
• The 2025 FCS Playoffs start on the weekend of Saturday, Nov. 29.
• The 2025 SWAC Football Championship Game is on Saturday, Dec. 6.
• The 2025 HBCU football season concludes with the Celebration Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 13.

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🗓 Full HBCU football schedule and results

See a week-by-week HBCU football schedule in the FCS below. Stay tuned for HBCU football power rankings each week. 

All time Eastern | Click or tap any of the games below for live stats | Click or tap here for a live scoreboard

Week 0 — Preseason power rankings

Saturday, August 23

• North Carolina Central 31, Southern 14 (MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Atlanta)

Week 1 — Preseason power rankings

Thursday, August 28

• Delaware 35, Delaware State 17
• Towson 27, Norfolk State 7
• Northwestern State 20, Alcorn State 10 
• UAB 52, Alabama State 42

Friday, August 29

• FIU 42, Bethune-Cookman 9

Saturday, August 30

• Jackson State 28, Hampton 14
• Howard 10, Florida A&M 9 (Orange Blossom Classic in Miami, Florida)
• Arkansas 52, Alabama A&M 7
• Tennessee State 24, North Carolina A&T 21
• Southern 34, Mississippi Valley State 29
• South Carolina State 16, Wofford 15
• New Hampshire 27, North Carolina Central 10
• South Alabama 38, Morgan State 21
• Texas Tech 67, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 7
• Grambling State 55, Langston 7 (in Shreveport, Louisiana)
• Prairie View A&M 22, Texas Southern 21

Week 2 — Week 2 power rankings

Saturday, September 6

• Delaware State 37, UAlbany 32
• Temple 55, Howard 7
• North Dakota State 59, Tennessee State 3
• Ohio State 70, Grambling State 0
• Southern Miss 38, Jackson State 20
• Old Dominion 54, North Carolina Central 6
• California 35, Texas Southern 3
• FAU 56, Florida A&M 14
• Hampton 27, Elizabeth City State 20
• Norfolk State 34, Virginia State 31 (OT)
• Miami (FL) 45, Bethune-Cookman 3
• South Carolina 38, South Carolina State 10
• Alabama A&M 41, Alcorn State 31
• Tarleton State 59, Mississippi Valley State 3
• Central Arkansas 41, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 17
• Alabama State 30, Southern 7
• UTRGV 27, Prairie View A&M 21
• Towson 27, Morgan State 22
• UCF 68, North Carolina A&T 7

Week 3 — Week 3 power rankings

Saturday, September 13

• Howard 38, Morehouse 10
• Delaware State 36, Bowie State 14
• Jackson State 30, Tuskegee 0
• Rutgers 60, Norfolk State 10
• Toledo 60, Morgan State 0
• Alabama A&M 23, Tennessee State 21
• Alabama State 37, Miles 9
• South Carolina State 55, Bethune-Cookman 41
• North Carolina Central 49, Fayetteville State 19
• Mississippi State 63, Alcorn State 0
• Grambling State 37, Kentucky State 31
• Lamar 31, Texas Southern 7
• Arkansas-Pine Bluff 34, Lincoln 8 
• Florida A&M 33, Albany State 25
• North Carolina A&T 33, Hampton 30
• Rice 38, Prairie View 17
• Southeastern Louisiana 56, Mississippi Valley State 3
• Fresno State 56, Southern 7

Week 4 — Week 4 power rankings

Saturday, September 20

• Morgan State 27, Central State 0
• South Florida 63, South Carolina State 14
• Delaware State 33, Saint Francis (PA) 10
• Bethune-Cookman 35, Edward Waters 9
• Howard 34, Hampton 7 (Truth & Service Classic in Washington, DC)
• Sacred Heart 31, Norfolk State 28
• North Carolina Central 62, North Carolina A&T 20 (Aggie-Eagle Classic)
• Alabama A&M 49, Lane 7
• Grambling State 31, East Texas A&M 28
• Prairie View A&M 27, Northwestern State 24

Week 5 — Week 5 Power Rankings

Saturday, September 27

• Sacred Heart 35, Delaware State 31
• Wagner 18, Norfolk State 13
• Elon 41, Hampton 20 
• Morgan State 24, Miles 17 (Circle City Classic in Indianapolis, IN)
• Richmond 13, Howard 12
• Alabama State 42, Florida A&M 14
• Bethune-Cookman 41, Alabama A&M 34
• Maine 37, North Carolina A&T 30 
• Tennessee Tech 35, Tennessee State 8
• Texas Southern 23, Mississippi Valley State 20
• Charleston Southern 31, South Carolina State 24
• Prairie View A&M 38, Grambling State 13
• Jackson State 38, Southern 13
• Arkansas-Pine Bluff 24, Alcorn State 20
• North Carolina Central 50, East Texas A&M 42

Week 6 — Week 6 Power Rankings

Saturday, October 4

• Monmouth 49, Delaware State 38
• Georgetown 27, Morgan State 24
• South Carolina State 49, Savannah State 6
• Alabama State 52, Bethune-Cookman 35
• Eastern Illinois 31, Tennessee State 7
• William & Mary 38, North Carolina A&T 34
• Hampton 41, Norfolk State 34 (Battle of the Bay)
• Prairie View A&M 13, Alcorn State 12
• Jackson State 57, Alabama A&M 24
• Texas Southern, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 7

Week 7

Saturday, October 11

• 12 p.m. | Southern Connecticut State at Delaware State | ESPN+
• 1 p.m. | South Carolina State at North Carolina A&T | FloFootball
• 1 p.m. | Virginia-Lynchburg at Morgan State | ESPN+
• 1 p.m. | Howard at Sacred Heart | ESPN+
• 1:30 p.m. | Norfolk State at Wofford | ESPN+
• 2 p.m. | Campbell at Hampton | FloFootball
• 3 p.m. | North Carolina Central at Florida A&M | HBCU GO
• 3 p.m. | Westgate at Arkansas-Pine Bluff | SWAC TV
• 3 p.m. | Mississippi Valley State at Alabama A&M | SWAC TV
• 3 p.m. | Lincoln (CA) at Alcorn State | SWAC TV
• 3:30 p.m. | Alabama State at Jackson State | ESPNU
• 4 p.m. | Southern at Bethune-Cookman | SWAC TV
• 4 p.m. | Tennessee State at Southeast Missouri State | ESPN+
• 7 p.m. | Texas Southern at Grambling State | ESPN+

Week 8

Saturday, October 18

• 1 p.m. | Hampton at Villanova | FloFootball
• 3 p.m. | Grambling State at Arkansas-Pine Bluff | SWAC TV
• 3 p.m. | Virginia-Lynchburg at Texas Southern | SWAC TV
• 3 p.m. | Lincoln (CA) at Mississippi Valley State | SWAC TV
• 4 p.m. | Alcorn State at Florida A&M | ESPN Family of Networks 
• 5 p.m. | Prairie View A&M at Southern | HBCU GO
• 5:30 p.m. | Howard at Tennessee State | ESPN+

Week 9

Saturday, October 25

• 1 p.m. | Campbell at North Carolina A&T | FloFootball
• 1 p.m. | Delaware State at North Carolina Central | TBD TV
• 2 p.m. | South Carolina State at Norfolk State | ESPN+
• 2 p.m. | Monmouth at Hampton | FloFootball
• 2:30 p.m. | Western Illinois at Tennessee State | ESPN+
• 3 p.m. | Mississippi Valley State at Alcorn State | SWAC TV
• 3 p.m. | Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Bethune-Cookman | SWAC TV
• 3 p.m. | Lincoln (CA) at Prairie View A&M | SWAC TV
• 3:30 p.m. | Morgan State at Howard | ESPN+TBD TV
• 3:30 p.m. | Alabama State vs. Alabama A&M (Magic City Classic in Birmingham, AL) | ESPN Family of Networks
• 5 p.m. | Florida A&M at Southern | SWAC TV
• 8 p.m. | Jackson State vs. Grambling State (Las Vegas HBCU Classic in Las Vegas, NV) | HBCU GO

Week 10

Thursday, October 30

• 7:30 p.m. | Norfolk State vs. Delaware State (in Philadelphia, PA) | ESPNU

Saturday, November 1

• 12 p.m. | Towson at North Carolina A&T | FloFootball
• 2 p.m. | Morgan State at South Carolina State | TBD TV
• 3 p.m. | Alcorn State at Texas Southern | HBCU GO
• 3 p.m. | Mississippi Valley State at Bethune-Cookman | SWAC TV
• 3 p.m. | Southern at Arkansas-Pine Bluff | SWAC TV
• 3 p.m. | Alabama A&M at Grambling State | SWAC TV
• 3 p.m. | Alabama State at Prairie View A&M | SWAC TV
• 3:30 p.m. | North Carolina Central at Howard | ESPN+
• 4:30 p.m. | Lindenwood at Tennessee State | ESPN+
• 7 p.m. | Jackson State at Florida A&M | ESPN Family of Networks

Week 11

Saturday, November 8 

• 12 p.m. | North Carolina A&T at Stony Brook | FloFootball
• 1 p.m. | Maine at Hampton | FloFootball
• 1:30 p.m. | Howard at South Carolina State | ESPN+
• 2 p.m. | Norfolk State at North Carolina Central ;| ESPN+
• 2 p.m. | Tennessee State at UT Martin | ESPN+
• 3 p.m. | Florida A&M at Arkansas-Pine Bluff | HBCU GO
• 3 p.m. | Jackson State at Mississippi Valley State | SWAC TV
• 3 p.m. | Bethune-Cookman at Grambling State | SWAC TV
• 3 p.m. | Prairie View A&M at Alabama A&M | SWAC TV
• 3 p.m. | Texas Southern at Alabama State | SWAC TV
• 3:30 p.m. | Delaware State at Morgan State | TBD TV
• 4 p.m. | Southern at Alcorn State | ESPN Family of Networks

Week 12

Friday, November 14

• 5:30 p.m. | South Carolina State at North Carolina Central | ESPN2

Saturday, November 15

• 12 p.m. | Monmouth at North Carolina A&T | FloFootball
• 12 p.m. | Morgan State at Norfolk State | ESPN+
• 1 p.m. | Howard at Delaware State | ESPN+
• 1 p.m. | William & Mary at Hampton | FloFootball
• 1 p.m. | Bethune-Cookman at Jackson State | TheGrio
• 2:30 p.m. | Gardner-Webb at Tennessee State | ESPN+
• 3 p.m. | Grambling State at Alcorn State | SWAC TV
• 3 p.m. | Florida A&M at Alabama A&M | SWAC TV
• 3 p.m. | Texas Southern at Southern | SWAC TV
• 3 p.m. | Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Prairie View A&M | SWAC TV
• 5 p.m. | Alabama State vs. Mississippi Valley State | SWAC TV

Week 13

Saturday, November 22

• 12 p.m. | North Carolina Central at Morgan State | TBD TV
• 1 p.m. | Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Alabama State | TheGrio
• 1 p.m. | Hampton at Rhode Island | FloFootball
• 1 p.m. | South Carolina State at Delaware State | ESPN+
• 2 p.m. | Tennessee State at Charleston Southern | ESPN+
• 2 p.m. | North Carolina A&T at Elon | FloFootball
• 3 p.m. | Mississippi Valley State at Prairie View A&M | SWAC TV
• 3 p.m. | Alabama A&M at Texas Southern | HBCU GO
• 3:30 p.m. | Alcorn State at Jackson State | ESPN Family of Networks
• 3:30 p.m. | Bethune-Cookman vs. Florida A&M (Florida Classic in Orlando, FL) | ESPN Family of Networks
• 3:30 p.m. | Norfolk State at Howard | ESPNU or ESPN+

Week 14

Thursday, November 27

• 3 p.m. | Tuskegee at Alabama State | SWAC TV

Saturday, November 29

• 2 p.m. | Southern vs. Grambling State (Bayou Classic in New Orleans, LA) | NBC/Peacock
• 3 p.m. | Florida A&M at Mississippi Valley State | SWAC TV

Week 15 - Conference Championships

Saturday, December 6

• 2 p.m. | SWAC No. 2 at SWAC No. 1 (SWAC Championship Game) | ESPN2

Week 16 - Bowls

Saturday, December 13

• 12 p.m. | MEAC Champion vs. SWAC Champion (Celebration Bowl in Atlanta, GA) | ABC

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📚 HBCU Football Basics

There are 21 football programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) at the FCS level. FCS HBCU football programs primarily play in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) or the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).

Below are all the HBCU football programs and the conference they will play in for the 2024 season.

MEAC

• Delaware State
• Howard
• Morgan State
• Norfolk State
• North Carolina Central
• South Carolina State

SWAC

• East Division
  • Alabama A&M
  • Alabama State
  • Bethune-Cookman
  • Florida A&M
  • Jackson State
  • Mississippi Valley State
• West Division
  • Alcorn State
  • Arkansas-Pine Bluff
  • Grambling State
  • Prairie View A&M
  • Southern
  • Texas Southern

CAA*

• Hampton
• North Carolina A&T

OVC-Big South Football Association*

• Tennessee State

*The CAA and Ohio Valley are not "HBCU conferences"