Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{short description|College football kickoff game played in Ohio, U.S.A.}}
{{Collegebowl
| name = Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic
| full_name =
| nickname =
| defunct =
| logo =
| image_size =
| caption =
| stadium = Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium
| previous_stadiums =
| location = Canton, Ohio
| previous_locations =
| years = 2019–present
| previous_tie-ins =
| conference_tie-ins =
| payout =
| sponsors =
| former_names =
| prev_matchup_year = 2024
| prev_matchup_season = 2024
| prev_matchup_teams = Virginia State 23, Benedict 7
| next_matchup_year = 2025
| next_matchup_season = 2025
| next_matchup_teams = Virginia Union vs. Miles
}}
The Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic is a college football kickoff game that has been played annually since 2019 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. The game features a matchup of two historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). It is played on the Sunday before Labor Day. The Classic originated in 2019, with a matchup between the Alabama A&M Bulldogs and the Morehouse Maroon Tigers, and coincided with the Black College Football Hall of Fame's move to Canton from its previous location in Atlanta.
The 2020 edition of the Classic, scheduled between Howard and Central State,{{cite web |title=Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic - National Events - Events {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/classic20/ |website=www.profootballhof.com |accessdate=March 30, 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Kelley |first1=Kevin |title=Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic matchups set for 2020, 2021 |url=https://fbschedules.com/black-college-football-hall-of-fame-classic-matchups-set-2020-2021/ |website=FBSchedules.com |accessdate=March 30, 2020 |date=September 16, 2019}} was announced to have been cancelled on July 3, 2020, over concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web |last1=Kelley |first1=Kevin |title=2020 Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic canceled |url=https://fbschedules.com/2020-black-college-football-hall-of-fame-classic-canceled/ |website=FBSchedules.com |accessdate=July 5, 2020 |date=July 3, 2020}}
Since its inception, the game has been carried nationally by NFL Network
Game results
| class="wikitable"
!Season !Date ! " colspan="2" | Winners ! " colspan="2" | Runners-up !Television !Attendance !Ref. | ||
| 2019
| September 1 | 35 | 30
| style="text-align:center"|9,776 | {{cite web |last=Bona |first=Marc |title=Alabama A&M edges Morehouse College, 35-30, in 1st Classic |url=https://www.cleveland.com/sports/2019/09/alabama-am-edges-morehouse-college-35-30-in-1st-classic.html |website=Cleveland |accessdate=March 30, 2020 |date=September 2, 2019}}{{cite web |last=Bona |first=Marc |title=Why is the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic important? |url=https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2019/08/why-is-the-black-college-football-hall-of-fame-classic-important.html |website=Cleveland |accessdate=March 30, 2020 |date=August 31, 2019}} |
| 2020
|September 6 |colspan=6 style="text-align:center"|Game cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic. Originally Howard vs. Central State (OH). | ||
| 2021
| September 5 | 16 | 10
|rowspan=5|NFL Network | style="text-align:center"|14,682 |
| 2022
| September 4 | 41 | 21
| style="text-align:center"|13,989 |
| 2023
| September 3 | 45 | 13
| style="text-align:center"|9,333 | |
| 2024
| September 1 | 23 | 7
| style="text-align:center"|3,747 |
| 2025
| August 31 |colspan=4 style="text-align:center"|Virginia Union vs. Miles | style="text-align:center"| |
References
{{reflist}}
{{College football kickoff games}}
Category:College football kickoff games
Category:Recurring sporting events established in 2019
Category:American football competitions in Ohio
Category:Sports competitions in Canton, Ohio
Category:2019 establishments in Ohio
Category:Pro Football Hall of Fame