Quick Thoughts on HBCUGo’s 2025 Schedule

HBCUGo has a robust 26-game slate featuring teams from five different conferences. Naturally, this slate has plenty of quirks and storylines.

Hampton Makes Its First Appearances on HBCUGo

The CAA’s media deal with FloSports is one of the most polarizing in the FCS. Although the CAA’s media deal pays well, several schools get few opportunities on linear television. Hampton makes two appearances on HBCUGo. On August 30th, they travel to Jackson State for their first appearance.

Three weeks later, HBCUGo will air the Truth and Service Classic against Howard for the first time. These appearances are Hampton’s first on a national linear platform since the 2023 Brick City Classic on NFL Network. It is also the first time the Battle of the Real HU is on national linear television since NBC Sports Network (RIP) aired the 2021 edition.

Mississippi Valley State Gets Snubbed

Every SWAC team makes an appearance on HBCUGo, except for one. Mississippi Valley State will not appear on HBCUGo this season. The Delta Devils are far from the SWAC’s most marketable program, and went 1-11 last year. Nonetheless, HBCUGo gave 3-9 Arkansas Pine-Bluff three appearances and 2-10 Bethune-Cookman two.

The Delta Devils’ game with defending Celebration Bowl champion Jackson State on November 8th would have been an ideal game to give Mississippi Valley State an appearance. Instead, HBCUGo will air Florida A&M/Arkansas-Pine Bluff. To make matters worse, HBCUGo will air Jackson State’s game against hapless Bethune-Cookman the following week. Mississippi Valley State should be appalled by this schedule mismanagement.

Gulf Coast Challenge Gets the (HBCU) Go-Ahead

The Gulf Coast Challenge at Mobile’s venerable Ladd-Peebles Stadium is slowly becoming a staple of the SWAC schedule. It will air on linear television for the first time in its six-year history. YouTube and ESPN+ previously handled broadcasting duties.

HBCUNY Classic Leaves CNBC For HBCUGo

Howard’s yearly New York City metro clash with Morehouse moves away from the NBC family of networks for the first time. The move helps bring the rivalry to a broader audience after being an afterthought on CNBC. The rivalry peaked at 20,000 fans on the network in 2023 when Fort Valley State played Morehouse (Viewership numbers provided by Sports Media Watch).

Plenty of DII HBCUs Left Out

Only nine of the SIAC’s 13 members and five of the CIAA’s 11 members appear on HBCUGo this year. While the SWAC brings the most casual viewers to HBCUGo, it is possible to distribute more windows to the SIAC and CIAA. Four SWAC schools have three appearances or more on HBCUGo. Additionally, two CIAA schools and two SIAC schools have multiple appearances.