Defending SIAC champion Albany State and defending CIAA champion Johnson C. Smith are set to play in the Black College Hall of Fame Classic on Saturday, Sept 6 at Tom Benson Field at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
Albany State will enter the 2026 season as the reigning SIAC champion after a 12–1 season in which the Golden Rams went to the NCAA Division II quarterfinals.
JCSU is coming off a history CIAA title, the program’s first in more than five decades. It has been one of the most dramatic turnarounds in recent HBCU football history.
The pairing mirrors a familiar theme for the Black College Hall of Fame Classic. Just last season, the event featured a CIAA champion vs. SIAC champion showdown, reinforcing the game’s growing role as a true measuring stick for Division II HBCU powers.
Albany State new coach David Bowser was on the staff at Johnson C. Smith as the
special assistant to the head coach, director of player personnel and linebackers coach.
Founded in 2019 and played at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, the game coincides with the permanent home of the Black College Football Hall of Fame inside the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Established by NFL pioneers James “Shack” Harris and Doug Williams, the Hall honors the players, coaches, and contributors who shaped the Black college game long before it received national recognition.
The Classic itself has grown into more than a game. It’s a weekend-long cultural celebration — complete with tailgating, marching bands, concerts, and community events — designed to spotlight the full experience of HBCU football.
Past matchups have included:
- 2019: Alabama A&M vs. Morehouse
- 2021: Grambling State vs. Tennessee State
- 2022: Central State vs. Winston-Salem State
- 2023: Virginia Union vs. Morehouse
- 2024: Virginia State vs. Benedict
- 2025: Virginia Union vs. Miles