HBCU spring games are close — see when your FCS team hits the field

As March fades, HBCU football practice fields are coming alive this April with a full slate of spring games.

From Baton Rouge to Baltimore, programs are using the annual tune-up to showcase new talent, sharpen systems, and give fans an early glimpse of what’s to come this fall.

Here are all the spring game dates we know so far:

Southern University kicks off the schedule on April 4, as the Jaguars host what first-year coach Marshall Faulk is calling a spring showcase in Baton Rouge.

One day earlier, Florida A&M gets things started with an evening affair on April 3 at 6 p.m., setting the tone for a busy month ahead under new coach Quinn Gray.

 

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Mid-April filled with spring games

The April 11 weekend marks the most action-packed stretch, featuring a wave of spring finales across the SWAC, MEAC, OVC, and CAA.

Jackson State, the SWAC East champion, gets things rolling at 12:30 p.m., followed by Texas Southern at 1 p.m. North Carolina A&T also at 1 p.m. Alcorn State and North Carolina Central each take the field at 2 p.m. In comparison, Alabama A&M follows at 3 p.m. Alabama State, HBCU national champion South Carolina State and Tennessee State are also slated for the same weekend, adding to the crowded spring calendar.

 

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MEAC and CAA action continues later in the month

Morgan State takes the field on April 16, with Bethune‑Cookman following under the lights on April 17 at 6 p.m. A trio of spring games — Grambling State, Howard, and Hampton — headline April 18, giving fans in Louisiana and along the East Coast a final look at their squads before fall camp.

To close out the month, Arkansas–Pine Bluff and Norfolk State share the stage on April 25, both kicking off at 2 p.m. as the last Division I HBCUs to hold their spring exhibitions.

With new coaches, emerging stars, and transfer quarterbacks all looking to make their mark, April’s spring games promise to deliver more than just tune-up reps — they’ll serve as early statements for the chase to Atlanta and beyond this fall.

Division I HBCU spring game dates

April 3

• Florida A&M

April 4

• Southern University

April 11

• Alcorn State

• Alabama A&M

• Alabama State

• Jackson State

• Texas Southern

• NC Central

• Tennessee State

• North Carolina A&T

• South Carolina State

• Norfolk State

April 16

• Morgan State

April 17

• Bethune-Cookman

April 18

• Grambling State

• Howard

• Hampton

April 25

• Arkansas-Pine Bluff

TBA

• Delaware State
• Mississippi Valley State