HBCU GO will launch its 2025 football coverage with a slate of games this weekend, including a Saturday doubleheader in Jackson, Mississippi, and the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic on Sunday.
Saturday’s action begins with No. 17 Jackson State Tigers hosting the Hampton Pirates. This matchup marks the first time Hampton will visit Jackson State in Mississippi; previously, all three meetings went in favor of Hampton. Their last encounter was during the 2008 MEAC/SWAC Challenge when Hampton defeated Jackson State 17-13.
Jackson State completed the previous season with a record of 12-2 overall and an 8-0 conference mark in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The Tigers led the conference in scoring and rushing while finishing second in total offense. Meanwhile, Hampton compiled a 5-7 overall record (2-6 CAA) and topped their conference in passing and total defense. T.C. Taylor (Jackson State) and Trenton Boykin (Hampton) will face off as head coaches for the first time.
The broadcast team for this game includes Charlie Neal on play-by-play, John Kelley as color analyst, and Lawrencia Moten on sideline reporting. The game is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. ET on HBCU GO.
Following this matchup, Fayetteville State Broncos face Benedict College Tigers in a CIAA vs. SIAC contest at 5 p.m. ET Saturday. This is their first meeting since September 2019, when Fayetteville State won 35-21 to even their all-time series at three wins each.
Last season saw Fayetteville finish at 4-5 overall (3-4 CIAA), marking the first time in six seasons they missed participating in their conference championship game. Benedict wrapped up last year rebuilding after losing coach Chennis Berry to South Carolina State and finished with a record of 4-6 overall (4-4 SIAC).
On Sunday, Aug. 31, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, Miles College Golden Bears meet Virginia Union University Panthers during the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic as part of Enshrinement Week activities on the Hall of Fame Campus. Both teams are reigning champions from their respective conferences: Miles holds last season’s SIAC title after going 10-3 under former coach Sam Shade; Chris Goode now takes over coaching duties for Miles against Dr. Alvin Parker’s Virginia Union squad that ended last season as CIAA champions with a record of 10-4.
The Classic will air nationally through both HBCU GO and NFL Network beginning at 4 p.m., marking what organizers describe as “the first-ever live simulcast” for an HBCU football event across these platforms.
Announcers include Steve Wyche providing play-by-play alongside analysts Bucky Brooks and Isaiah Stanback with Bridget Condon handling sideline coverage.
Doug Williams and James “Shack” Harris—founders of the Black College Football Hall—have worked together with the Pro Football Hall of Fame to bring this annual contest to Canton.
“Expect to have plenty of milestones…as HBCU GO and NFL Network will have the first-ever live simulcast,” according to network representatives.
As part of HBCU GO’s kickoff programming earlier announced by Steve Wyche on NFL Network: “Steve Wyche…will join the HBCU GO Kickoff Show this Saturday…(The network confirmed that Wyche will have a recurring role again this football season…He will be in the booth as a color analyst for the Hampton–Howard game…)”
Wyche is also set to interview Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton during Saturday’s program regarding his offensive philosophies developed through insights from Archie “Gunslinger” Cooley Jr., former Mississippi Valley State coach whose innovations helped quarterbacks like Willie “Satellite” Totten and receiver Jerry Rice achieve NCAA records.
“Cooley’s innovative offense…set numerous NCAA records…(San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame coach Bill Walsh invited Cooley to discuss his offensive approach…)”
Rice became widely recognized after being selected sixteenth overall by San Francisco—playing primarily alongside Joe Montana or Steve Young—and was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in twenty ten.
“The Wyche-Payton interview will provide additional texture to the legend…” sources say.
Another feature interview involves Alabama A&M offensive lineman Carson Vinson—the only player selected from an HBCU program during this year’s draft by Baltimore Ravens.
Reports indicate he is performing well enough during training camp to compete for a roster spot.
Wyche’s presence alongside co-hosts Tolly Carr (Winston-Salem University alum) and Nicole Hutchinson (Howard University alum) underscores HBCU alumni representation among broadcasters throughout opening weekend coverage.
Both Saturday contests—Hampton vs Jackson State followed by Fayetteville State vs Benedict College—and Sunday’s Classic are highlights among broader broadcasting plans yet to be announced by HBCU GO.
