The Florida Blue Florida Classic kick off on November 23! Don't miss out on all the excitement when Bethune Cookman takes on Florida A&M.
The nation’s premier HBCU football rivalry returns to Orlando when the Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats meet the Florida A&M University Rattlers in the Florida Blue Florida Classic on November 23, 2024 at Camping World Stadium.
Admission includes the world-famous Disney halftime show featuring the Marching Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman and the Marching “100” from FAMU.
The Florida Classic is more than just a football game and more than an in-state rivalry. It is now the nation’s largest football game between two Historically Black College/University (HBCU) schools, surpassing the Bayou Classic between Grambling and Southern in New Orleans as the top-attended game in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision.
Since its inception in 1978, over 2 million spectators have attended the game (2,214,060).
In addition to the star power on the gridiron — with such names as Rashean Mathis, Nick Collins, Eric Weems and Quinn Gray dotting rosters since the move to Orlando — FAMU’s Marching 100 and B-CU’s Marching Wildcats always provide the perfect soundtrack for Classic weekend with their memorable halftime performances, while the pregame FanFest outside the stadium offers a tailgate experience unlike any other.
The Classic boasts strong economic, cultural, and social significance. As such, it also serves as a successful fundraiser for education initiatives at both universities. The Florida Classic is a major event for people all over the state and the nation to celebrate their culture, diversity, and love for the rival teams. The game also offers a perfect opportunity to meet and bond with family, friends, colleagues, and college comrades over a competitive game, good food, and great music.
Today, it is one of the most anticipated college football bowl games in the country and boasts an average of 60,000 spectators per game. The highest attendance, 73,358 attendees, was recorded in Orlando in 2003.
Fans who miss the game can also catch it from the comfort of their homes, courtesy of ESPN Networks. ESPN Classic has been televising the action-packed game nationally in the past years as part of their multi-year contract with former B-CU and FAMU conference—Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Despite the teams’ departure for the Southwestern Athletic Conference, it seems the ESPN Network will keep televising the game nationally.
What’s more, the game garners the winning university bragging rights. It also offers the perfect recruitment opportunity for both universities as current students, prospects, and parents interact.
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