Tennessee State and Florida A&M are set to rekindle one of HBCU football’s cornerstone rivalries.
The meeting, to be played on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, will mark the 56th all-time contest between the programs and their first clash since 2017, renewing a series that has long helped shape the national profile of Black college football.
Kickoff time for the game has not been announced.
“This rivalry represents the very foundation of HBCU football-tradition, excellence and community, ” said TSU athletic director Mikki Allen in a statement. “Reconnecting with Florida A&M allows us to honor the past while intentionally laying the groundwork for a long-term, annual matchup that our fans, alumni and student-athletes can look forward to for years to come.”
The schools have a long history
Tennessee State holds a 31–24 edge in the all-time series, a narrow margin that underscores how often the two schools have collided with something meaningful on the line. The Rattlers will get the first shot at swinging that pendulum back when they host in 2026, before the Tigers serve as the designated home team in 2027 as the rivalry continues its home-and-home revival.
Tennessee State and Florida A&M have met 21 times in classic settings, including 17 appearances in the Atlanta Football Classic/Atlanta Ebony Classic, where their matchups routinely drew large crowds and national attention. The series has also unfolded in the Gateway Classic in 1993, the Orange Blossom Classic in 1956, the John Merritt Classic in 2012 and the Tampa Classic in 2017, underscoring its status as a go-to showcase for HBCU football.
The rivalry has also woven itself into some of Tennessee State’s most celebratory weekends.
The Rattlers have served as TSU’s homecoming opponent four times—1971, 1979, 1994 and 2014—adding another layer of pageantry and pressure to the meetings. Each chapter has contributed to a shared history defined by marching bands, packed stands and games that often felt bigger than the scoreboard.
Looking ahead to 2026 matchup
When the teams take the field in Tallahassee in 2026, it will be more than just another nonconference date on the calendar. It will be a renewal of a series that has connected generations of players, coaches and fans, with memories stretching from the height of the civil rights era to the modern HBCU spotlight.
Florida A&M will head into the matchup under first-year head coach Quinn Gray, who has renewed hope in the football program because of his ties to the school and resume of coaching success.
Tennessee State, which made the FCS playoffs in 2024, is looking to get back on track under second-year coach Reggie Barlow after a disappointing 2025 campaign.
For both Tennessee State and Florida A&M, the resumption of this rivalry is a chance to honor that past while writing a new chapter in one of Black college football’s signature matchups.
