ORLANDO ― For the first time since 2019, Maroon and Gold are better than Orange and Green.
Florida A&M football faltered to Bethune-Cookman 38-34 in the 2025 Florida Classic at Camping World Stadium.
Saturday, Nov. 22, marked the end of the Rattlers’ four-game winning streak over the Wildcats in the annual Southwestern Athletic Conference and HBCU rivalry matchup.
FAMU erased a 24-9 deficit in the second half. The Rattlers (5-6, 4-3 in SWAC) outscored the Wildcats (6-6, 5-3 in SWAC) 25-14 and took the lead twice in the fourth quarter of the Week 13 game.
But it wasn’t good enough.
“Two occasions, we took the lead. Two occasions, we gave up the lead,” FAMU head coach James Colzie III said in the postgame press conference.
“The biggest thing for us finishing games. It’s something that I take pride in. We didn’t do that today.”
Altogether, Bethune-Cookman outgained FAMU 485-423 before the crowd of 55,528 in The City Beautiful.
On 4th and 8, with 22 seconds remaining, Bethune-Cookman scored the game-winning touchdown on a 41-yard touchdown pass by quarterback Timmy McClain to wide receiver Josh Evans.
Evans was wide open and running free to the endzone.
“We run our shell coverage, guys over the top trying to keep it in front,” Colzie broke down the play.
“Looked like we bit on something we don’t normally bite on. Kind of looked like he was chasing a ghost. You should never allow anybody to get behind. It was a day one call that we ran quite a few teams. Really want to see what happened and why it happened.”
FAMU quarterback RJ Johnson III threw a Hail Mary as time expired. But the football fell incomplete.
FAMU football offense picks up the pace after early challenges
The FAMU offense appeared lethargic in the first half, mustering only nine points.
The lone Rattlers touchdown in the first two quarters was a 44-yard touchdown pass by Johnson to receiver Armand Burris.
FAMU flipped an offensive switch in the second half, however.
FAMU scored 25 second-half points.
Johnson and Burris added another touchdown connection in the third quarter. This time, for 17 yards.
The FAMU quarterback finished 22-for-34 for 228 passing yards and threw for two touchdowns.
“He rose to the occasion,” Colzie said of Johnson.
After low production on the ground in the first half, FAMU also had two fourth-quarter rushing touchdowns.
Jamal Hailey had the most explosive play of the night, with a 72-yard scamper to outrun the Bethune-Cookman defenders en route to the endzone. Thad Franklin Jr. added a 19-yard rushing touchdown.
Franklin led the backfield with 11 attempts for 118 rushing yards and a touchdown. He was named FAMU’s Florida Classic Most Valuable Player.
“You see Jamal and Thad do the things that we know that they could do all year,” Colzie said of the run game. “Now the floodgates open a little bit as far as what we could do. Credit the offensive line, Thad, and Jamal.”
FAMU defense has up and down performance vs Bethune-Cookman
Besides forcing the Wildcats to fumble in the game’s first drive, the Rattlers couldn’t stop a nosebleed in the first half.
They allowed 24 points in the first half.
For the majority of the second half, FAMU upended the Bethune-Cookman offense. It allowed no scores in the third quarter.
But things changed in the fourth quarter.
Bethune-Cookman scored 14 fourth-quarter points off two touchdown passes by its quarterback, McClain.
One went to receiver Javon Ross for 67 yards, while the other was the game-winner to Evans.
McClain went 22-for-33 and passed for 274 yards and four touchdowns. He was named the Florida Classic’s overall game Most Valuable Player.
On the ground, running back Khamani Robinson led the Wildcats with 11 carries for 89 yards and added a touchdown.
FAMU football’s mishaps vs Bethune-Cookman in Florida Classic loss
FAMU had a few drawbacks that derailed its chances against Bethune-Cookman.
Franklin fumbled on a rush after securing a first down. It was recovered by Bethune-Cookman, which got a field goal on the ensuing drive.
FAMU kicker Daniel Porto also missed a point after touchdown following Johnson to Burris’ 44-yard touchdown.
Early in the game, the Rattlers were prone to penalties.
They cleaned up their play in the second half.
FAMU was flagged seven times for 70 yards. Bethune-Cookman had nine penalties and lost 90 yards.
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: Why FAMU football’s Florida Classic streak ended vs Bethune-Cookman
Reporting by Gerald Thomas III, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
