Florida A&M returning to Orange Blossom Classic in 2025. What to know about the game
After a one-year hiatus, the Florida A&M Rattlers are set to return to the Orange Blossom Classic this season.
FAMU will face Howard in the 2025 edition of the Orange Bowl Classic in what will be a matchup that honors the game's long history. FAMU and Howard played in the first Orange Bowl Classic in 1933 in Jacksonville before the game eventually moved to Miami in 1947 (with stops in Orlando, back in Jacksonville and Tampa along the way).
The game is scheduled for Aug. 30 at Hard Rock Stadium. Kickoff time has not yet been announced.
The teams have faced each other twice in the Orange Blossom Classic (1933 and 1974). They last met on the field in the 2023 Celebration Bowl, which FAMU won 30-26.
'This year's matchup is not only a rematch of their 2023 Celebration Bowl showdown, but it also takes us back to the very beginning,' Kendra Bulluck-Major, the Orange Blossom Classic's executive director, said in a press release announcing the matchup. 'The inaugural Orange Blossom Classic in 1933 featured these two historic programs — Florida A&M and Howard — facing off at the Black Only's Ballpark in Jacksonville, Florida, in front of 2,000 fans. To see this rivalry come full circle, while celebrating the rich history and legacy of HBCUs, is truly special. We are excited to bring this experience to fans during Labor Day Weekend 2025.'
Prior to last season, Florida A&M had played in every Orange Blossom Classic, a game featuring Historically Black Colleges and Universities which first ran from 1933-1978 and then resumed as an annual game starting in 2021. The Rattlers are 27-21-1 all-time in the Orange Blossom Classic.
The 2024 game saw North Carolina Central beat Alabama State 31-24.
'The Orange Blossom Classic represents much more than football—it's a celebration of community, culture, and the incredible legacy of HBCUs,' said Oliver Gilbert III, Commissioner of Miami-Dade County's District 1. 'Bringing FAMU and Howard together again continues the tradition of excellence that this game has always embodied. Labor Day Weekend 2025 will be one to remember, and Miami Gardens is ready to welcome fans and alumni to this historic event.'
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