HBCU Football is here: A Look Ahead to HBCU Classics in Week One

The HBCU football season kicked off with a dominant win from Jackson State over South Carolina State in the MEAC/SWAC challenge. The Tigers won convincingly 37-7 over the Bulldogs and proved they didn’t need Coach Prime… at least in Week zero.

There will be five HBCU classic games in Week One. There will be a three-game slate of Labor Day Classics, the Inaugural Brick City Classic, the Chicago Football Classic and the big showdown in the Orange Blossom Classic.

Florida A&M seeks revenge on Jackson State for last year’s embarrassing loss, 59-3. This will be the second game of the season for JSU and the second under head coach T.C. Taylor. 

The Tigers look to continue showing the rest of HBCU football that they don’t need Deion to win. Vanderbilt transfer Jeremy Moussa looks to lead the Rattlers and give the Tigers their first loss of the season.

Moussa was named Offensive Player of the Year in the SWAC. The Rattler quarterback wants to build off his 2,735 passing yards and 21 touchdowns campaign last season. 

Rattlers want to get to a 10-win season, as they’ve been on the verge the past few seasons, winning nine games. Moussa and the Rattlers are poised for another great season in 2023.

Norfolk State will host Virginia State to kick off the Labor Day Classic series at 2 p.m., followed by Southern visiting Eddie Robinson Jr. and the Alabama State Hornets. Prairie View A&M will travel to Texas Southern at 8 p.m. to wrap up the Labor Day Classic series.

The Inaugural Brick City Classic will be hosted in Harrison, New Jersey, between the Tigers of Grambling State and the Pirates of Hampton. Both teams come off a four-win season and look to improve in 2023. 

Both teams have a star defensive player who received preseason hype and look to add on their big year from last year.

Hampton linebacker Qwahsin Townsel was named to the 2023 preseason All-Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) team. Townsel led the Pirates with 100 tackles last year, and he looks to build a strong campaign in 2023.

Grambling’s Sundiata Anderson was named SWAC preseason Player of the Year. Anderson received well deserved hype in the HBCU football world, looking to follow up a strong campaign from last year.      

On Sept. 2 at 3 p.m., we’ll see which defensive star can help their squad win and kick off their 2023 campaign with a win.

The 25th Annual Chicago Football Classic will be played at Soldier Field. Central State will play Mississippi Valley State. There will be events and activities leading up to the game, which kicks off at 4 p.m.

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