Cam Newton is turning a brief television stint into a new opportunity to celebrate HBCU culture.
Following the cancellation of 106 & Sports after one season on BET+, the former NFL MVP announced Wednesday that he will reinvest his earnings from the show into a six-stop college football tailgate tour set for this fall. The project, Newton said, will focus on showcasing the traditions, programs, and people that make historically Black colleges and universities unique.
“I took on the BET project for one reason: to give back and shine a light on the excellence of our HBCUs — their student-athletes, their academic programs, their alumni, and that one-of-a-kind gameday experience,” Newton said in a statement posted to LinkedIn.
106 & Sports, filmed in Atlanta, featured Newton alongside co-host Ashley Nicole Moss and centered heavily on HBCU sports throughout its eight-episode run. Newton said he was proud of the show’s impact but believes the independently funded tour will be a more authentic way to connect with HBCU communities.
According to the release, the tour will generate new video content for Newton’s 4th and 1 podcast while spotlighting standout athletic programs and exploring the “heritage” of each campus. Four of the six stops are expected to be at HBCUs, with a full schedule to be unveiled soon.
“You give me that @PatMcAfeeShow deal… I’ll show you what box office REALLY is!”
Cam Newton doesn’t want to join @CollegeGameDay… he wants his OWN version for HBCUs pic.twitter.com/BJA0grHmkL
— 4th&1 with Cam Newton (@4thand1show) July 25, 2025
“Now that we’ve reached the conclusion of our run with 106 & Sports, I’m taking 100% of my earnings from the show and putting it right back into the community”, Newton said.
“Introducing the ‘4th & 1 with Cam Newton’ College Tailgate Experience. We’re taking the energy from the set to the culture. Coming to a campus near you this fall. Stay tuned and if you want to partner hit me up.”
Newton added that his commitment to HBCUs is personal. While his parents and siblings all attended historically Black institutions, Newton took a different path through Florida, Blinn College in Texas, and ultimately Auburn University, where he captured the Heisman Trophy and a national championship in 2010. Newton’s brother, Caylin Newton, played quarterback at Howard.
