HBCU Football Schedules, How to Watch | Week 1

HBCU football schedules are full of intrigue and drama as the 2023 Cricket Celebration Bowl Trophy quest kicks off in Week 1.

HOUSTON — HBCU football schedules are full of intrigue and drama as the 2023 Cricket Celebration Bowl Trophy quest kicks off in Week 1.  Last weekend, the football season opened with the Jackson State Tigers trouncing the South Carolina State Bulldogs 37-7 in the 2023 Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge.  The reigning champions from North Carolina Central will open the season with a rivalry game against Winston-Salem at 4 PM ET on ESPN+.  

In addition, a series of HBCU Football Classics will get the fans in a frenzy during the 2023 Labor Day weekend, starting with the Brick City Classic, Chicago Football Classic, Labor Day Classic (Montgomery, AL), 38th Labor Day Classic (Houston, TX), and Orange Blossom Classic.  Which teams will earn the rights to compete for the 2023 HBCU Football Championship?  Let's look a the Week 1 schedule.

SWAC - Week 1

Thursday, Aug. 31

• Arkansas Pine-Bluff - 7, Tulsa - 42

Saturday, Sept. 2

• Grambling State University vs. Hampton University (Brick City Classic in Harrison, New Jersey) 3 PM CT, NFL Network
• Central State vs. Mississippi Valley State (Chicago Football Classic in Chicago, Illinois) 3 PM CT, HBCU GO
• Southern at Alabama State (Labor Day Classic) 5 PM CT, ESPN+
• Alabama A&M at Vanderbilt, 6 PM CT, SEC Network+/ESPN+
• Bethune-Cookman at Memphis, 6 PM CT, ESPN+
• Alcorn State at Southern Miss, 6 PM CT/ ESPN+
• Prairie View at Texas Southern (38th Labor Day Classic) 7 PM CT, ESPN+

*FuboTV has HBCU College Games

Sunday, Sept. 3

• Jackson State at Florida A&M (Orange Blossom Classic) 2 PM CT, ESPN, HBCU+ (Streaming Live)

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Howard Falls to Eastern Michigan; Credit: David Sierra, Howard Athletics

MEAC - Week 1

Friday, Sept. 1

• Howard - 23, Eastern Michigan - 33

Saturday, Sept. 2

• Bowie State at Delaware State, Noon CT, ESPN+
• Virginia State at Norfolk State, 1 PM CT, ESPN+
• Winston-Salem State at North Carolina Central, 3 PM CT, ESPN+
• Morgan State at Richmond, 5 PM CT, FloSports/NBCS Washington
• South Carolina State at Charlotte, 5 PM CT, ESPN+

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Sept. 17, 2022; Morehouse Maroon Tigers fell to the Howard Bison 31-0 in the 2022 HBCU NYC Football Classic at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. Mandatory Credit: Kyle A. Mosley, HBCU Legends

SIAC - Week 1

Thursday, Aug. 31

• Albany State 7, Wingate 30
• Clark Atlanta 20, Kentucky State 34

Saturday, Sept. 2

• Florida Memorial at Edward Waters, 5 PM CT
• Shaw at Benedict, 5 PM CT, The Grio
• Savannah State at Southeastern, 6 PM CT
• Miles at Lane, 6 PM CT
• Erskine College at Allen, 6 PM CT

Sunday, Sept. 3

• Morehouse vs. Virginia Union (Black College Football Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio) 3 PM CT
• Tuskegee vs. Fort Valley State (Red Tails Classic in Montgomery, Alabama) 6 PM CT

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Fayetteville State falls to UNC Pembroke on late field goal: Credit: Ezekiel Best

CIAA - Week 1

Thursday, Aug. 31

• Clarion 30, Lincoln (PA) 20

Friday, Sept. 1

• Fayetteville State - 17, UNC Pembroke - 19  (RECAP)

Saturday, Sept. 2

• Johnson C. Smith at West Virginia Wesleyan, Noon CT
• Catawba College at Elizabeth City State, Noon CT
• St. Augustine's at Lenoir-Rhyne, 3 PM CT
• Bluefield State at Livingstone, 5 PM CT

HBCU Independents

Thursday, Aug. 31

• North Carolina A&T - 6, UAB - 35

Saturday, Sept. 2

• Tennessee State at Notre Dame, 2:30 PM CT, NBC/Peacock