Mississippi Valley State-FAMU in Atlanta is set. Here's the kickoff time

Weeks after it was announced that Florida A&M would play Mississippi Valley State in Atlanta, a kickoff time has been declared.

The game, originally scheduled for Oct. 4 at Rice-Totten Stadium in Itta Bena, Mississippi, was moved to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

This significant move follows last season’s dramatic showdown at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, where the Delta Devils triumphed over the Rattlers by a score of 24–21, ending FAMU’s historic 23‑game home winning streak.

Angela Suggs, FAMU’s Vice President and Athletic Director, confirmed the move, stating, “They opted to come to FAMU, Georgia—commonly referred to as Atlanta. So, on October 4, we won’t be in Itta Bena, Mississippi. Instead, we will face Mississippi Valley State University at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.”

“It’s their own game. It was their choice. You know, we, you know, we were set to go out to it,” she said. “I don’t know where we were going to stay — Jackson, I guess. I know we were going to bring some people, because we travel well.”

The matchup will be played at 4 p.m. CST on Saturday, Oct. 4., according to Mississippi Valley State.

A Rematch With Added Stakes

This year’s matchup carries extra weight for the Rattlers, who are looking to avenge a stunning 24-21 defeat to the Delta Devils last season—a loss that snapped FAMU’s 23-game home winning streak at Bragg Memorial Stadium, a run that had lasted more than five years.

That win was MVSU’s lone victory in an otherwise difficult season, as the Delta Devils finished 1-11.

Both teams enter the 2025 contest with new leadership and renewed ambitions. FAMU, under second-year head coach James Colzie III, is coming off a 7-5 campaign. Mississippi Valley State, meanwhile, will be led by new head coach Terrell Buckley. Notably, both Colzie and Buckley are former Florida State cornerbacks, adding an intriguing subplot to the coaching matchup.