The 2026 HBCU Football Homecomings and Classics Guide
The NCAA compiled the 2026 schedule of HBCU football homecomings and classics across the FCS.
According to a report published by NCAA.com, staff writer Stan Becton has compiled the official schedule detailing the homecoming games and major classics for the 2026 HBCU football season. The guide specifically covers programs competing within the Football Championship Subdivision.
Homecoming games represent central events on the calendars of historically Black colleges and universities. While the football contest provides the athletic focus, these weekends traditionally bring alumni and current students together on campus. Classics, meanwhile, often take place at neutral sites and pair prominent HBCU programs in games with distinct histories and regional significance.
The 2026 NCAA guide includes a broad calendar of these matchups. One of the earliest listed homecoming contests features Bethune-Cookman University hosting Virginia University of Lynchburg on Sept. 19.
The schedule also highlights an Oct. 3 game between Grambling State University and Alcorn State University. This matchup brings together two programs from the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
Another listed event is the Oct. 17 meeting between Howard University and Morehouse College in Washington. The game creates a showcase involving two institutions with long histories in HBCU athletics and education.
Beyond individual campus homecomings, the NCAA guide places those games within the larger structure of the HBCU football season. It references major events such as the MEAC/SWAC Challenge and the Celebration Bowl.
The MEAC/SWAC Challenge traditionally brings together teams from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and Southwestern Athletic Conference near the beginning of the season. The Celebration Bowl serves as a postseason destination connected to the champions of those conferences.
The compilation provides supporters with one centralized reference for planning travel and following the season’s cultural and athletic events. However, game dates, kickoff times and venues can be adjusted by schools, conferences or broadcasters.
Fans planning to attend any listed event should confirm the latest information directly with the participating institutions. The NCAA.com article reflects the schedule available when Becton’s guide was published and may not include later revisions.