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

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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.

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.

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
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