FAMU football releases kickoff times for 2025 home schedule; will play two night games
On Thursday, June 12, the Rattlers announced the kickoff times for their five home games on Ken Riley at Bragg Memorial Stadium.
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On Saturday, Sept. 13, FAMU's Week 3 home opener versus Albany State will be a nighttime kickoff, starting at 7 p.m. The Rattlers versus Golden Rams is a homecoming for Albany State head coach Quinn Gray, a record-breaking quarterback at FAMU and a member of the school's sports hall of fame.
The Rattlers' Southwestern Athletic Conference home opener versus the Alabama State Hornets, a Week 5 matchup, will begin at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27. The following week, FAMU hosts North Carolina Central, a team it last faced in a 28-21 victory in 2019, at 3 p.m.
FAMU's awaited homecoming football game versus Alcorn State will get a 4 p.m. kickoff. FAMU versus Alcorn State's Week 8 game on Saturday, Oct. 18, will be the teams' first meeting since 1987, a game the Braves prevailed in 17-15.
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FAMU's home finale will be under the bright lights against the defending Black College Football National Champions, Jackson State, starting at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1.
Since the Rattlers joined the SWAC in 2021, the winner of the FAMU-Jackson State has moved on to claim the league title and advance to the Celebration Bowl, which is the de facto Black College National title game. Last year, the Jackson State Tigers hosted and defeated the Rattlers 35-21 en route to a 12-2 record and a Celebration Bowl victory over South Carolina State.
Florida A&M Rattlers' head coach James Colzie III yells during the game against the Jackson State Tigers in Jackson, Miss., on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024.
FAMU football will play four away games at Florida Atlantic (Sept. 6), Southern (Oct. 25), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Nov. 8), and Alabama A&M (Nov. 15).
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Moreover, the Rattlers have three neutral site games with Miami's Orange Blossom Classic versus Howard (Aug. 30), Mississippi Valley State in Atlanta (Oct. 4), and Orlando's Florida Classic against Bethune-Cookman (Nov. 22).
Florida A&M Football 2025 Schedule
Week 1: Saturday, Aug. 30 ― vs. Howard (Orange Blossom Classic at Miami Gardens' Hard Rock Stadium), 4 p.m., ESPNU
Week 2: Saturday, Sept. 6 ― at Florida Atlantic, 6 p.m., ESPN Plus
Week 3: Saturday, Sept. 13 ― vs. Albany State, 7 p.m.
Week 4: BYE/OPEN WEEK
Week 5: Saturday, Sept. 27 ― vs. Alabama State (SWAC), 3 p.m.
Week 6: Saturday, Oct. 4 ― vs. Mississippi Valley State (SWAC/at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
Week 7: Saturday, Oct. 11 ― vs. North Carolina Central, 3 p.m.
Week 8: Saturday, Oct. 18 ― vs. Alcorn State (SWAC/Homecoming), 4 p.m.
Week 9: Saturday, Oct. 25 ― at Southern (SWAC)
Week 10: Saturday, Nov. 1 ― vs. Jackson State (SWAC), 7 p.m.
Week 11: Saturday, Nov. 8 ― at Arkansas-Pine Bluff (SWAC), 3 p.m.
Week 12: Saturday, Nov. 15 ― at Alabama A&M (SWAC), 3 p.m.
Week 13: Saturday, Nov. 22 ― vs. Bethune-Cookman (SWAC/Florida Classic at Orlando's Camping World Stadium)
Saturday, Nov. 29 ― NCAA FCS Playoffs Begin (If Necessary)
Saturday, Dec. 6 ― SWAC Championship Game (If Necessary)
Saturday, Dec. 13 ― Celebration Bowl at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium (If Necessary)
Monday, Jan. 5, 2026 ― NCAA FCS National Championship Game at Nashville's FirstBank Stadium (If Necessary)
All times listed are in Eastern Standard Time.
Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.
Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU football to host nighttime games vs Albany State, Jackson State
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