Football legends, marching bands, music and HBCU culture are taking center stage in Canton this weekend as the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic Weekend continues through Sunday.
The four-day celebration honors the players, coaches and contributors whose careers helped shape the history of football at historically Black colleges and universities, while bringing a slate of community events to the Hall of Fame Village and downtown Canton.
Adrian Allison, chief relationship officer for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, told Jordan Miller News on Friday that approximately 130 people have been inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame.
Canton serves as the permanent home of the Black College Football Hall of Fame, with its inductees recognized inside the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“We’ve taken this weekend to honor them, to celebrate them for what they’ve done,” Allison said. “They are trailblazers in our country. They broke barriers that needed to be broken.”
The relationship between the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Black College Football Hall of Fame dates to 2016. The first Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic was held in Canton in 2019, and the event has returned annually with the exception of the COVID-19 pandemic year.
Allison said 33 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame are also members of the Black College Football Hall of Fame.
“This is our weekend to celebrate them,” Allison said.
Nineteen Black College Football Hall of Famers are expected to be in Canton for this year’s festivities.
The weekend is about more than football, Allison said, with organizers emphasizing education, community service and opportunities for people to learn more about the history and impact of HBCUs.
Events Friday included a community partnership with Habitat for Humanity and a preview of Maria Taylor’s documentary examining the history of the Black quarterback. Black College Football Hall of Famers James “Shack” Harris and Doug Williams, two pioneering NFL quarterbacks, were also scheduled to participate in a discussion following the preview.
Saturday’s schedule includes the James Hardie Clearview Golf Classic at Clearview Golf Club, followed by the unveiling of plaques honoring the Black College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 at 4:30 p.m. inside the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The celebration then moves to Centennial Plaza in downtown Canton.
Albany State University’s Marching Rams Show Band and Johnson C. Smith University’s International Institution of Sound Marching Band will face off during the free Classic Battle of the Bands beginning at 5 p.m.
The music continues at 8 p.m. with the free Faith, Family & Football Gospel Concert at Centennial Plaza, featuring gospel artist James Fortune. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.
Allison said the combination of football, bands, music and fellowship is an important part of showcasing HBCU culture.
The four-day schedule culminates Sunday, Sept. 6, when the Albany State Golden Rams meet the Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium for the “Clash at the Classic” game.
Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.
The matchup features the defending champions of two HBCU conferences. Albany State represents the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, while Johnson C. Smith represents the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
Allison said organizers reached agreements with the two conferences to bring their champions to Canton for the game.
“We said, ‘Bring your champions to Canton,’” Allison said.
A Classic Tailgate is scheduled from 1 to 3:30 p.m. inside Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium before kickoff. A game ticket is required to enter the tailgate.
The festivities will continue after the final whistle with the “Fifth Quarter,” an HBCU tradition in which the two schools’ marching bands trade performances inside the stadium.
Allison said the weekend is intended to be a celebration for the entire Canton community, regardless of whether someone has a connection to an HBCU.
“Everybody’s invited to come out and fellowship and have a good time,” Allison said. “It really is a fun family atmosphere and a great celebration.”
