BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its 2025 SWAC Football schedule on ESPN highlighted by several highly anticipated games on ESPN’s linear and digital platforms.
Defending SWAC West Division champion Southern will kick off league coverage during Week 0 on Saturday, August 23rd when the Jaguars travel to Atlanta to face North Carolina Central in the 2025 Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff, live on ABC at 7:30 p.m. EST.
The schedule of SWAC games is highlighted by several Classic match-ups, including the Invesco QQQ Orange Blossom Classic (Howard vs. Florida A&M), the Boom Box Classic (Jackson State at Southern), the Magic City Classic (Alabama State vs. Alabama A&M), and the Florida Classic (Florida A&M vs. Bethune-Cookman).
The 2025 Pepsi SWAC Football Championship Game will air live on ESPN2 on Saturday, December 6th.
| Date | Time (ET) | Matchup | Platform |
| Sat, Aug 23 | 7:30 p.m. | North Carolina Central vs. Southern | ABC |
| Sat, Aug 30 | 4 p.m. | Howard vs. Florida A&M | ESPNU |
| Sat, Sep 6 | 7 p.m. | Alabama State at Southern | ESPN+ |
| Sat, Sep 27 | 7 p.m. | Jackson State at Southern | TBD |
| Sat, Oct 11 | 3:30 p.m. | Alabama State at Jackson State | TBD |
| Sat, Oct 11 | 7 p.m. | Texas Southern at Grambling State | TBD |
| Sat, Oct 18 | 4 p.m. | Alcorn State at Florida A&M | TBD |
| Sat, Oct 25 | 3:30 p.m. | Alabama State vs. Alabama A&M | TBD |
| Sat, Nov 1 | 7 p.m. | Jackson State at Florida A&M | TBD |
| Sat, Nov 8 | 4 p.m. | Southern at Alcorn State | TBD |
| Sat, Nov 22 | 3:30 p.m. | Alcorn State at Jackson State | TBD |
| Sat, Nov 22 | 3:30 p.m. | Bethune-Cookman vs. Florida A&M | TBD |
| Sat, Dec 6 | 2 p.m. | Pepsi SWAC Championship | ESPN2 |
| Sat, Dec 13 | 12 p.m. | Cricket Celebration Bowl | ABC |
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About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.
Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field and Tennis.
Women’s competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis and Volleyball.
