A few of the fiercest rivalries in HBCU lore are set to take center stage during the 2024-2025 basketball season as part of the CBS Sports Classic HBCU Showcase on December 28.
“As part of CBS Sports’ ongoing commitment to HBCUs, we are excited to provide a national audience for these programs, student-athletes, coaches, and fans,” said Dan Weinberg, Executive Vice President of Programming with CBS Sports. “The CBS Sports Classic: HBCU Showcase will highlight two great rivalry games as well as celebrate the HBCU experience and the incredible atmospheres on these campuses.”
“CBS Sports Classic: HBCU Showcase” to feature HBCU rivalry games in college basketball doubleheader on Dec. 28. @NCCU_MBB at @ncatmbb @HUMensBB at @Hampton_MBB pic.twitter.com/rhy7v9A9J1
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) July 22, 2024
The doubleheader begins revisiting the Aggie-Eagle Classic when North Carolina Central goes on the road to face North Carolina A&T at 2:00 p.m. ET.
NC Central is looking to win for the second year in a row on A&T’s home floor.
“Like all of the best rivalries, the competition between North Carolina A&T and North Carolina Central University is built on our shared respect and admiration for each other. These two institutions each have a rich and storied history, and both have provided a pathway for so many Black Americans to be successful in every imaginable aspect of public service and private enterprise. Many families in North Carolina and surrounding states celebrate graduates from both universities, making this game truly a family feud. We are excited that CBS Sports will bring this historic rivalry to a national audience.”
-North Carolina A&T Athletic Director Earl M. Hilton III
That game will be immediately followed by the renewing of the Battle of the Real HU between Howard and Hampton on the Pirates’ home floor at 4:00 p.m. ET.
In two matchups last season, these two teams each won, with Hampton squeaking out a win in their most recent game as part of the Invesco QQQ Legacy Classic.
“The Hampton-Howard series is one of the great HBCU rivalries in college basketball, with the two teams having faced each other 92 times. The fans of both teams always look forward to any time our schools matchup and having CBS take an interest in nationally broadcasting this game on its primary platform to illustrate the passion and competitiveness of the players and fans will allow an unprecedented audience the opportunity to see the excitement and emotion connected to the game and HBCU basketball.”
-Hampton Athletic Director Anthony D. Henderson Sr.
This is one of many HBCU basketball classics designed to increase awareness of and celebrate HBCUs in front of a nationally televised audience.
Other notable HBCU basketball showcase games include the Chris Paul HBCU Tip-Off played between schools at the Division II level, the Invesco QQQ Legacy Classic and the NBA HBCU Classic played during NBA All-Star Weekend.
